TV anime "BANANA FISH", Yuma Uchida will play the role of Ash and Kenji Nojima will play the role of Eiji Okumura!　The first PV has also been released!

The main cast, first key visual, and PV of "BANANA FISH," which was announced as an anime adaptation as part of manga artist Akio Yoshida's 40th anniversary project, have been revealed.

BANANA FISH" is one of the best works by Akio Yoshida, a manga artist who has created numerous hits such as "Umimachi diary", and will be adapted into an anime on Fuji TV's "Noitamina" in 2018 as part of its 40th anniversary project. The staff includes director Hiroko Utsumi ("Free!"), series composition by Koji Seko ("Inuyashiki"), character design by Akemi Hayashi ("Doukyusei"), and animation production by MAPPA (Yuri!!! on ICE). on ICE") will produce the animation.

A production announcement was held in Tokyo this time, announcing the main cast including Yuma Uchida as Ash Lynx, the first PV, key visuals, and additional staff.

Producers Manabu Otsuka (MAPPA Co., Ltd.) and Kyoko Uryu (Aniplex Co., Ltd.), as well as Yuma Uchida, who plays Ash Links, and Kenji Nojima, who plays Eiji Okumura, made surprise appearances at the production announcement and excited the audience.

In addition, the design of the reprint edition box set of the original "BANANA FISH" comic, which will be released on March 9, was also unveiled.

Comments from the cast and staff have been received, and will be introduced below.

Comments】 ※Titles omitted

Yuma Uchida as Ash Lynx
I read the original story and was fascinated by it. I am very happy but at the same time tense, as I have always wanted to follow Ash's life. I would like to carefully cherish every word.
Thank you very much for your support for the "BANANA FISH" anime!

Kenji Nojima as Eiji Okumura
I feel a sense of responsibility to take on the anime adaptation of a work that has remained immensely popular over the years and is now considered a legend. I hope that I can carefully work with the work one by one to meet the expectations of the fans, while at the same time bringing out the charm that only animation can bring. I look forward to working with you all!

Hiroaki Hirata as Max Robo
BANANA FISH" has been very popular since it was first serialized, and it is a great honor for me to be asked to appear in the "noitamina" slot for the anime adaptation. I will do my best to live up to the expectations of the fans of the original work. I am very honored to be asked to play the role and will do my best to meet the expectations of the fans of the original work.

Unsho Ishizuka as Dino Golzine
The title "BANANA FISH" suggests that it is a mysterious story. My role is that of Golzine, an Italian boss who stands in the way of the main character. What is interesting, however, is that he loves Ash, and not just treats him like an obstacle. He hates Ash because he loves him, and Golzine stands in his way with a more intense hatred than the usual hatred. The overall tone of the film has the feel of a foreign painting rather than an anime. It is a rather sturdy work, as if you are watching an adult film, so please look forward to it. I am a very stubborn old man myself.

Koko Utsumi, Director
When I read the original story for the first time, I was fascinated by the profound storyline and the relationship between Ash and Eiji that is at the heart of it. So, I was very much attracted to the relationship between Ash and Eiji, which is at the heart of the story!　I hope that you will watch the relationship between the two change through the hard storyline, and the characters who are intertwined with it, with a sense of suspense. And if it is possible to make an anime in this day and age, I hope that the anime will be a modern version of "BANANA FISH" and show a new aspect of this fascinating work. The revived Ash and his friends - please don't miss it!

Series Composition by Koji Seko
First and foremost, I am honored to be involved with Akio Yoshida's huge work "BANANA FISH" in the form of a script. Writing the script reminded me of the time when I was 20 years old and reading Yoshida's works in a corner of Tokyo, and I felt nostalgic. It was the coolest, saddest, hardest, most romantic work I have ever read. I wrote the script with the hope that it would become such a work. I played the music I listened to back then.

Akemi Hayashi, character designer
I am once again feeling the responsibility of working on this work, BANANA FISH, but I am also having a lot of fun in my daily work. Although it is an old work, the staff is working hard every day to bring you images of what it would have been like if Ash, Eiji, and the other characters had lived in this time period.

Music: Shinichi Osawa (MONDO GROSSO)
This is an anime adaptation of a classic manga more than 20 years after its creation. We hope to breathe new life into the manga with music throughout the entire story.

[Work information
TV anime "BANANA FISH

＜Anime broadcast and distribution information
Broadcasting will begin in July on Fuji Television's "Noitamina" and other channels!
Exclusive distribution in Japan and overseas on Amazon Prime Video

＜May cast

Ash Lynx: Yuma Uchida
Eiji Okumura: Kenji Nojima
Max Lobo: Hiroaki Hirata
Dino Golzine: Unsho Ishizuka

<Staff>
Original story: Akio Yoshida "BANANA FISH" (Shogakukan Flower Comics)
Director: Hiroko Utsumi / Series Composition: Koji Seko / Character Design: Akemi Hayashi
Chief Animation Director: Ayumi Yamada, Shinpei Kamada / Hard-boiled Supervisor: Koji Kuki / Color Design: Chikako Kamada
Art Director: Toshiharu Mizutani / Director of Photography: Yusuke AwawaYusuke / Editing: Hiroshi Okuda / Music: Shinichi Osawa / Sound Director: You Yamada
Animation Production: MAPPA

＜Synopsis

New York. Ash, a boy with exceptionally good looks and outstanding fighting skills.
As a leader of a street gang, he hears a man killed by his crew say the mysterious words "banana fish" at the moment of his death. At the same time, he meets a Japanese boy, Eiji Okumura, who has come to Japan as a photographer's assistant. Together they pursue the mystery of the "banana fish"...

Related Information

Comic Natalie has a special interview with the director, Hiroko Utsumi, and the character designer, Akemi Hayashi!
#1

Yuma Uchida as Ash Lynx and Kenji Nojima as Eiji Okumura will appear at"Plus Ultra" - Fuji TV Anime Lineup Presentation 2018 to be held on March 8 at 18:00!
For more information, click here → #

Original Story Information
■ "BANANA FISH" reprint edition BOX Vol.1~4 will be published 4 months in a row from March 9!
The yellow cover of Flower Comics is completely reproduced! Includes "PRIVATE OPINION" and all other extra volumes not included in the comics!
Each volume comes with a super luxury bonus!
(Vol.1-3 Special Postcard Set of 8 cards, Vol.4 Reprint Edition of Eiji Okumura's first photo book "NEWYORK SENSE")

Official anime website
Official Twitter】@bananafish_tv

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