Written by: Allysa Malicdem
Published on: August 21, 2021 at 2:25 PM PHT (GMT+8)
The official YouTube channel of Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK) has released on Friday a special preview video for the upcoming TV live-action adaptation of Tomohito Oda’s ‘Komi Can’t Communicate’ (Komi-san wa, Komyushō desu.) manga. The video contains previews to the upcoming series and features short interview clips of the cast. The 8-episode live-action drama is set to premiere on September 6 at 10:45 JST via NHK’s General’s “Yorudora” late-night programming block.
Playing the main character Shōko Komi is Elaiza Ikeda while the “wallflower” Hitohito Tadano will be played by Takahisa Masuda of Japanese boy band NEWS.
Directors Yoshihito Okashita and Eiji Ishii work for the live series with script writer Fumie Mizuhashi. Included in the production staff are producer Hiroyuki Ōnuma, executive producers Toshikazu Higuchi and Asako Takagi and coordinating producer Tо̄ichirо̄ Rutо̄. Music composition is handled by Eishi Segawa.
It was previously announced that the manga is also inspiring a TV anime adaptation set to premiere on October 6. Animation Studio OLM is in-charge of the animation production.
The original Japanese manga series is written and illustrated by Tomohito Oda. It has been serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday since May 2016 and Shogakukan published the series into individual tankōbon volumes which has been collected into 20 volumes as February 18, 2021 with the first volume published on September 16, 2016.
Sales: As of February 2021, the first twenty tankōbon volumes had over 5.2 million copies in circulation.
Popularity: On a poll conducted by AnimeJapan last March 25, 2021, the light novel-turned-manga series ranked eighth in the "Most Wanted Anime Adaptation" (Manga/Light Novels Fans Can't Wait to be Animated).
AniRadioPlus describes the story as:
“I want to talk, but I can’t”. Imagine being caught with such dilemma, unable to communicate your thoughts, but irking inside to make people understand you. This follows the story of Shōko Komi, a girl popular for her stoic beauty and elegance but has some serious issues in striking a conversation with anyone. The only one who can help her complete her mission of befriending and talking to 100 people is her seat mate, Hitohito Tadano. This is a story of coming-of-age, packed with scenes that will surely earn big smiles and good laughs with a tinge of heartaches and misfits. Holding on to that promise, how can the two complete the task with the air of budding romance?
Sources: Anime News Network | NHK official YouTube channel
