Here's an official report from the advance screening of "Wandance," held on Saturday, September 27, 2025. This event featured appearances by voice actors Koki Uchiyama, Hina Yomiya, Ayaka Suwa, Toshiki Masuda, and top dancer KAITA, part of the dance cast.
Additionally, a collaboration between the Japan Sports Agency and "Wandance" has been announced, including a collaborative visual and message.
The anime "Wandance" is set to air from Wednesday, October 8, 2025 (Japan Time) and will be available for streaming on Disney+.
<The following content is quoted from the official announcement>
Official Report: "Wandance" Advance Screening
A special advance screening of the anime "Wandance" was held on Saturday, September 27th, at Shinjuku Picadilly in Tokyo, Japan. The event featured an impressive lineup, including voice actors Koki Uchiyama-san (Kaboku Kotani), Hina Yomiya-san (Hikari Wanda), Ayaka Suwa-san (On Miyao), and Toshiki Masuda-san (Iori Itsukushima). Adding a unique touch to the production, top dancer KAITA-san, who served as Kaboku Kotani's dance model, also made a special appearance.
Upon taking the stage, the guests were met with enthusiastic cheers from the attending fans.
When asked about his impressions of the anime, Uchiyama-san expressed his amazement at the dance scenes, noting, "We did the voice recording while watching the motion capture footage, and I thought the fusion of CG and 2D animation was incredible." Yomiya-san echoed this excitement, stating, "I was really looking forward to the dance scenes, and I think they turned out to be captivating moments that make you want to see what happens next."
The cast also shared insights into their character portrayals. Suwa-san explained her focus on Megumi, saying, "While On is a straightforward and natural character, I worked with the staff to bring out her more subdued side as a dancer. I also thought about how to convey On's charm as the club president while acting." Masuda-san, on the other hand, emphasized the chemistry between Kabo and Wanda, sharing, "I really liked the chemistry between Kabo and Wanda, so I wanted to preserve that. I tried to act as a senior who's neither too close nor too distant from them, always mindful of not showing any pathetic sides of myself."
During a discussion about personal weaknesses and how they overcame it, just like the story of Kabo, Yomiya confessed her inability to open plastic bottles. This revelation delighted the cast, who drew parallels to Wanda's weak grip strength. Uchiyama humorously advised Yomiya to "keep embracing this side of hers", while Suwa suggested a collective effort, stating, "We'll all open Yomiya's bottles together," highlighting a sense of teamwork akin to their on-screen roles.
The "Wandance" series features motion capture performances by Japan's leading dancers, under the guidance of dance producer RIEHATA. When KAITA-san, who portrays Kaboku Kotani's dance, took the stage, he was met with enthusiastic applause. Addressing the difficulties of embodying a dance character, KAITA-san shared that being asked to dance as if he had only two months of experience was "the hardest thing I've ever done." He found it to be a valuable opportunity to revisit his beginner's mindset, reminiscent of his own early dancing days.
The event continued with an impromptu dance lesson by KAITA-san, who taught the audience the "isolation" technique from "Wandance." The audience enthusiastically followed KAITA-san's lead, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
The stage event concluded successfully, leaving the audience eagerly anticipating the series' broadcast next month.
"Wandance," a beloved manga series serialized in Kodansha's "Afternoon" comic magazine, has sold over 1.1 million copies and achieved international recognition, with publications in 10 languages. It received the "You Should Read This Manga 2023" award in North America, signaling its potential for an anime adaptation. Fans worldwide have eagerly awaited this adaptation, which is now set to premiere on October 8th.
The story centers on high school student Kaboku Kotani (voiced by Koki Uchiyama), who struggles with a stutter and self-expression. His classmate, Hikari Wanda (voiced by Hina Yomiya), who fearlessly expresses herself, introduces him to the world of dance. Through "freestyle" dance, a non-verbal form of expression, Kotani embarks on a coming-of-age journey of self-discovery.
The narrative is further enriched by a diverse cast of characters and their unique dance styles. These include On Miyao (voiced by Ayaka Suwa), the dance club's captain and ace; Iori Itsukushima (voiced by Toshiki Masuda), a talented "ghost member"; and Gaku Kabeya (voiced by Yuma Uchida), a formidable rival B-BOY from another school.
For the anime adaptation, renowned Japanese dancer RIEHATA has joined as the dance producer. Top dancers have been cast, and their movements will be captured using motion capture technology to create an authentic and unprecedented street dance anime.
A special advance screening of the "Wandance" anime was held on September 27th at Shinjuku Picadilly, featuring appearances by the main voice and dance cast. The regular broadcast will commence on October 8, 2025, with online streaming available on Disney+.
Advance Screening Full Footage
Collaboration with Japan Sports Agency Announced: Special Visual & Message
A collaboration between the Japan Sports Agency and "Wandance" has been announced! The collaborative visual and message have been released.
Collaboration Visual
Message
Sports Transcend Words ~ Dancing Connects Hearts ~
The anime "Wandance" is set in a high school dance club, portraying the protagonists' growth as they nurture connections beyond words through dance. It reveals the appeal of dance as a sport and its various expressive possibilities.
The Japan Sports Agency hopes that through this collaboration, many children will discover the joy of sports and find opportunities to connect with peers. We are committed to creating an environment where children's activities become richer and more enjoyable, enabling them to continue engaging in sports and cultural artistic activities throughout their lives.
About Anime "Wandance"
Synopsis
Kaboku Kotani is starting high school, and he plans to do what he’s always done: go along with his friends, keep quiet, and not to draw too much attention to himself. After all, it’s hard enough to get by with a stutter like his—why make things worse by standing out from the crowd? But then he sees another first-year, Hikari Wanda, dancing like no one is watching—or like she doesn’t care who sees her. It makes Kaboku wonder: Could he reach that same freedom? To find his way to Wanda, he does something he never thought he could: He joins the dance club. After all, every routine begins with a single step, right?
Join Kaboku and Wanda as they freestyle their way to life and love!
Cast
Kaboku Kotani: Koki Uchiyama
Hikari Wanda: Hina Yomiya
On Miyao: Ayaka Suwa
Iori Itsukushima: Toshiki Masuda
Gaku Kabeya: Yuma Uchida
Usen Takumi: Yu Hayashi
Assei: Chikahiro Kobayashi
© Kodansha, Coffee, "Wandance" Production Committee
*Some parts of this text have been translated using machine translation
