The completion screening of the theatrical anime film Seishun Buta Yarou wa Dear Friend no Yume wo Minai was held on October 4 at Shinjuku Wald 9 in Tokyo. Four lead cast members took the stage: Ishikawa Kaito (Azusagawa Sakuta), Seto Asami (Sakurajima Mai), Iwami Manaka (Mihigashi Miori), and Minase Inori (Makinohara Shoko). Tickets were allocated by lottery from more than 10,000 applicants — a competition rate exceeding tenfold.
“Can You Even Believe It’s Over?”
The film, set to open in Japan on October 16, marks the conclusion of the beloved “Aobuta” series. Ishikawa opened by turning to the audience: “It’s ending, you know. Can everyone really believe that?” The crowd responded with a chorus of “We can’t!” He admitted he hadn’t fully processed it himself, adding, “I truly believe this is a finale worthy of the series, and I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”
Seto expressed bittersweet feelings about the ending but assured fans that “just as you’ve received something from every entry in the series, this film will absolutely reach your hearts too.” Iwami described how everyone involved — staff, cast, and fans alike — had treasured every single second spent with “Aobuta.”
Iwami then sheepishly admitted she had already watched the film ahead of the event. Ishikawa playfully scolded her with a “Hey, that’s not allowed!” When she said she had become a brand-new fan of the series, Ishikawa quipped from the perspective of a longtime fan, “If you’re a new ‘Buta Yarou,’ then I suppose it’s fine that you watched early” — drawing laughter from the audience. Minase called the theatrical release of the finale “the best possible ending.”
Ishikawa Kaito Arrived at the Recording Booth at the Last Second — Because He Didn’t Want It to End
When the conversation turned to the dubbing sessions, Seto reflected that she approached her performance “watching over Sakuta from both my own perspective and Mai’s.” Ishikawa, however, made a candid confession: “I hated the idea of it ending so much that I showed up to the recording studio at the absolute last minute. Because once I walked in, it would be over.” He laughed, noting that he was out of breath when he arrived — which turned out to be serendipitous, since Sakuta is shown running in the film’s opening scene.
Iwami said she felt her way through Miori’s new dimensions in this installment, unsure how far to push her performance, but felt a real sense of satisfaction once she saw the finished product with animation and voice work combined. Minase described her reaction to the completed film: “Even though it’s a conclusion, I found myself feeling strangely hopeful — it was that kind of ending.”
“I Hope You Leave the Theater a Little Kinder”
During closing remarks, Minase likened the film to life itself: “Your emotions can’t keep up, but the film moves forward mercilessly — just like life does.” She urged fans to take note of how the characters, especially Sakuta, embody the idea that a single feeling or action can change the future.
Iwami gave the finale her full endorsement: “I’m confident everyone will feel it was worth following this series all the way to the end.” Seto addressed the fans directly: “There are people who have been with this series as long as I have — or even longer. I hope each of you takes away whatever this story has to offer you personally.”
Ishikawa closed the event with a deep bow of gratitude: “The fact that this film exists and that we can share it with you today is because all of you never stopped wanting to watch Seishun Buta Yarou.” He then left the audience with a warm final thought: “If you walk out of the theater even a little bit kinder than when you walked in, that would make me truly happy.”
Film Details
Seishun Buta Yarou wa Dear Friend no Yume wo Minai
Release date: October 16, 2026 (Japan)
Staff
- Original story: Kamoshida Hajime (Dengeki Bunko “Seishun Buta Yarou” series) / Original illustrations: Mizoguchi Keiji
- Director: Masui Soichi
- Series composition & screenplay: Yokotani Masahiro
- Character design: Tamura Satomi
- Music: fox capture plan
- Animation studio: CloverWorks
- Distributor: ANIMEC
Cast
- Azusagawa Sakuta — Ishikawa Kaito
- Sakurajima Mai — Seto Asami
- Hirokawa Uzuki — Amemiya Sora
- Akagi Ikumi — Yamane Aya
- Himeji Sara — Obara Yoshimi
- Mihigashi Miori — Iwami Manaka
- Iwamizawa Nene — Ueda Reina
- Koga Tomoe — Higashiyama Nao
- Futaba Rio — Tanezaki Atsumi
- Toyohama Nodoka — Uchida Maaya
- Azusagawa Kaede — Kubo Yurika
- Makinohara Shoko — Minase Inori
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