A new key visual of the characters has also been revealed.
It was announced back in August 2025 that the romcom light novel series “Tenkō-saki no Seiso Karen na Bishōjo ga, Mukashi Danshi to Omotte Issho ni Asonda Osananajimi Datta Ken” (The Neat and Beautiful Girl at My New School Was My Childhood Friend Whom I Thought Was a Boy and I Played Together With) is getting an anime adaptation. Popularly known in Japan as Tenbin, the show is set to air in July 2026. The announcement came with new cast members and more details.
Tenbin anime new cast, staff, and other details
It was previously announced that Ikumi Hasegawa will voice the main heroine Haruki Nikaido. A new statement from her reads (machine translated):
I'm Ikumi Hasegawa, and I'll be voicing Haruki Nikaido. As the title suggests, Haruki is a girl who possesses both a pure and innocent side and a mischievous side like an elementary school boy. It was a very rewarding and enjoyable time to play Haruki, who shows so many emotions, from joy and anger to sadness and happiness! I'm sure you'll be touched by how Hayato and Haruki, upon their reunion, navigate the changes in their relationship while bridging the gap of time they've been apart! Please look forward to the broadcast!
Newly announced cast members of the anime includes:
- Shunichi Toki as Hayato Kirishima
Cast comment (machine translated):
I'll be voicing Hayato Kirishima!! I think high school students are really mysterious creatures. They possess both the intelligence of adults and the innocence of children. They harbor many feelings in their hearts, but sometimes they're unaware of them, or they deliberately try not to acknowledge them. I thought this work beautifully portrays that unique atmosphere, and I'm very impressed. I will do my best to express that feeling! Thank you very much!!
- Miharu Hanai as Himeko Kirishima
Cast comment (machine translated):
I'm Miharu Hanai, and I'll be voicing Himeko Kirishima. Himeko is Hayato's younger sister, and everyone calls her ‘Hime-chan’! She's energetic and friendly, so I think she's the life of the party in this story, but Hime-chan also has some worries she can't tell anyone. I hope you'll enjoy the story, including that!
- Natsumi Haruse as Minamo Mitake
Cast comment (machine translated):
I'm Natsumi Haruse, and I'll be voicing Minamo Mitake. When I met Minamo at the audition, I was struck by her adorable, small-animal-like cuteness and her incredibly gentle, motherly warmth, and I immediately fell head over heels for her. I was so happy when I heard I'd passed the audition. I put my heart and soul into portraying Minamo, who lives each day to the fullest. Thank you very much!!
- Fuka Izumi as Saki Murao
Cast comment (machine translated):
I'm Fuka Izumi, and I'll be playing the role of Saki Murao! The exquisite sense of distance and relationships among kids of this age...! It's irresistible, isn't it...! They're all kids who think about various things when interacting with others, and I think they're amazing for their age. They're wonderful kids. Among them, Saki is truly pure, honest, a good, cute, strong-willed, and passionate girl, and the more I get to know her, the more I wish she would be happy. Enjoy the anime! I would be very happy if you could also keep an eye on Saki!
Chuanfeng Xu is directing the Tenbin anime at project No. 9, with Deko Akao writing the scripts. N-Nei Kurahashi designs the characters while Daiki Hachimaki is the sound director. Ryosuke Nakanishi, Naoki Tani, and Yuri Morita are composing the music for the series while Pony Canyon produces it.
The anime is based on the popular light novel series written by Yu Hibari and illustrated by Shiso. It began serialising on the user generated website Shōsetsuka ni Narō in June 2020. Kadokawa acquired it later and began publishing it as a book series under their Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint in 2021. A manga adaptation by Kina Ōyama has also been serialised. Ōyama also drew an illustration to celebrate the second season.
The story of the series follows a boy named Hayato Kirishima who used to have a best friend named Haruki as a child. When he transfers from the countryside to a city high school, he meets his best friend again. But the friend he thought was a boy is actually a beautiful, athletic, and popular girl. A high-school romcom adventure begins!