Recently, Ohta Shuppan publishing house has announced that the manga “Awajima Hyakkei” by Takako Shimura will be adapted into anime, as indicated on the promotional banner accompanying the fifth volume of the work, which will go on sale in just a couple of days, on May 13th. Unfortunately, this announcement is quite limited, as it does not detail what format this animated project will take, nor the production team, or the studio that will be in charge of the project.
The manga “Awajima Hyakkei” is written and illustrated by Takako Shimura, following a group of girls who are students at a school of music and opera. It began publishing in July 2011 on the PocoPoco manga website but was moved in July 2016 to the Ohta Web Comic site of the Ohta Shuppan publisher. The serialization was paused for three long years, returning later in January 2022, and going through another significant hiatus from August 2022 to November 2023. Eventually, it concluded its serialization on March 15th of this year. This work received the Excellence Award at the Japan Media Arts Festival in 2015.
In this “omnibus series” about coming of age, which context we have already explained, each chapter will focus on a different girl.
As we know, this is not the first time that a work by Shimura has been adapted into anime. Previously, in 2009, the adaptation of the manga “Aoi Hana” (“Sweet Blue Flowers”) premiered in Japan. This series had 11 episodes directed by Kenichi Kasai, and animated by J.C. Staff. Later in 2011, the manga “Hourou Musuko” (“Wandering Son”) also received its anime adaptation in series format, with 11 episodes animated by AIC studio and directed by Ei Aoki, with scripts by Mari Okada. Even more recently, in 2020, the manga “Happy-Go-Lucky Days” was brought to the big screen in an animated film format by Liden Films Kyoto Studio.
Synopsis
“Awajima Hyakkei” by Takako Shimura follows the life and experiences of a group of girls who are students at a specialized school in music and opera. The manga focuses on how these young artists navigate through the challenges of a rigorous and highly competitive academic environment, passionately dedicating themselves to the study of classical music and opera.
Throughout the narrative, personal relationships among the students are explored, tinged with friendship, rivalry, and the common desire for improvement. Interactions with their teachers also play a crucial role, as they act not only as instructors but also as mentors who deeply influence their artistic and personal development. This focus on relational dynamics adds a rich layer of emotional depth to the manga.
Finally, “Awajima Hyakkei” not only stands out for its focus on musical education and operatic performance but also for how these artistic disciplines affect the growth and self-understanding of the protagonists. The manga offers a comprehensive view of how art can transform and define a person’s identity, showcasing the power of music to connect people beyond their individual differences.
As we have already mentioned, this is not the first time we receive an adaptation of a work by Takako Shimura, and she has certainly delighted us in the past. If you feel like me, that we expect nothing less from a new adaptation based on her story, please leave us your opinion and expectations in the comments, because you know, we will be reading you! 🙂
Images Source: Reddit
