A TV anime adaptation of Spirit Circle, the reincarnation fantasy manga by Satoshi Mizukami, has been officially announced. The series is set to broadcast and stream from December 2026. The announcement was accompanied by a teaser visual, a first promotional video, and the main cast lineup.

Story

Spirit Circle follows Futa Okeya, a middle-school student who can see spirits, and Kouko Ishigami, a mysterious transfer student who suddenly appears — and immediately tries to kill him. The reason lies in a “karmic grudge from their past lives.” To uncover the truth, Futa uses a device called the “Spirit Circle” to relive multiple past lives spanning from ancient times to the far future. The original manga ran in Young King Ours (Shonen Gahosha) from 2012 and concluded in March 2016, collected in six volumes.

The Final Work of the Late Director Tatsuo Sato

The project was helmed by Tatsuo Sato — celebrated for his SF coming-of-age works Martian Successor Nadesico, Mouretsu Pirates, and Stellvia of the Universe — who served as both director and series composer. Tragically, Sato passed away in April, making Spirit Circle his final directorial work. Assistant director Kentaro Mizuno stepped up to lead the team in carrying out Sato’s vision through to completion.

NAGOMI, EOTA, and Twin Engine issued a joint statement: “We inherited the director’s intentions and will for this work and were able to bring it to completion. We will press forward as one to deliver this, his final directorial work, to audiences everywhere. We express our deepest respect and gratitude for his immense achievements, and offer our heartfelt condolences.”

Cast and Theme Song

The main voice cast is as follows:

• Futa Okeya — voiced by Koki Ura
• Kouko Ishigami — voiced by Anna Nagase
• Run — voiced by Eri Yukimura
• East — voiced by Yuichi Nakamura

The first PV features actual character voices, including Kouko’s striking line directed at Futa: “You’re going to die for me seven more times!!” The video also showcases glimpses of the pair’s past lives across different eras, as well as appearances by Run and East.

The ending theme, 「此処がどんな世界でも」(Koko ga Donna Sekai demo), will be performed by Anna Nagase — marking her first solo vocal recording.

Comments from Staff and Cast

Satoshi Mizukami (original author): “Spirit Circle is getting an anime! It’s a story that journeys through seven lives across different eras and settings — requiring seven times the usual world-building. I’m deeply grateful to all the staff who overcame those challenges, and to Director Tatsuo Sato. Whether you’ve read the manga or not, please enjoy it to the very end.”

Kentaro Mizuno (assistant director): “This is a classic Bildungsroman — a juvenile SF adventure story — and it arrives just as the manga marks its 10th anniversary since completion. Staff and cast alike poured their souls into depicting Futa and Kouko’s story of reincarnation. All 18 episodes, watch as many times as you like!”

Koki Ura (as Futa Okeya): “Futa is a regular middle-school boy — flustered by a cute transfer student, goofing around with classmates. But meeting Kouko forces him to confront ‘a self that isn’t himself’ through his past lives. I hope viewers can experience alongside Futa the weight of emotions that can’t simply be sorted into good and evil.”

Anna Nagase (as Kouko Ishigami): “When I read the original manga, I found it so compelling that I finished all the volumes in a single day. I felt strongly that this work demands a high level of technique and expressiveness from its voice actors. I approached every recording session carefully tracing Kouko’s resolve, determination, and delicate emotions.”

Eri Yukimura (as Run): “Run is a boundlessly cheerful, healing presence. I was so happy to be able to play her. This work places great importance on the bonds between people — lives from different eras and lands circling around to connect in the present. I hope everyone enjoys that world.”

Yuichi Nakamura (as East): “This isn’t a work with a simple, straightforward plot — it’s one I’d really like people to watch carefully. Please watch over the protagonist as he comes to understand what it means to ‘live’ across many different eras and worlds. I hope to contribute to the world of Spirit Circle through the role of East.”

Production Details

• Broadcast: December 2026
• Director / Series Composition: Tatsuo Sato
• Assistant Director: Kentaro Mizuno
• Character Design: Satoru Fujimoto
• Animation Production: NAGOMI × EOTA (Twin Engine Group)