Historical anime The World Is Dancing dropped its final pre-broadcast trailer today, with the premiere exactly one week away. Singapore and Southeast Asia fans can catch it via Muse Communication — mark 29 June on your calendar.
Dancing Through the Muromachi Period
Based on Kazuto Mihara’s manga serialised in Kodansha’s Morning magazine (2021–2022, six volumes), The World Is Dancing follows Oniyasha — the childhood name of Zeami Motokiyo, the historical figure credited as the father of Noh theatre. Set in 14th-century Japan during the chaotic Northern and Southern Courts conflict, the story revolves around a deceptively simple question: why do people dance? When Oniyasha witnesses a performance he instinctively knows is “good,” something shifts — and a lifelong artistic obsession begins.
The anime is produced by Cypic and directed by Toshimasa Kuroyanagi, with series composition by Sawako Kawamitsu and character design by Keigo Sasaki. What sets it apart from most historical productions: choreography for the Noh sequences was supervised by a Kanze-school Noh performer, supported by choreographers who also worked on the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Opening Ceremony. The dance scenes are being held to a standard well above typical anime stagecraft.
Watch the Final Trailer
The final trailer, released today by Shochiku, previews the ending theme “Namonai Hana” (Unnamed Flower) performed by three-piece band hockrockb, and introduces the last two newly-announced cast members. The footage shows Oniyasha’s troupe navigating the political intrigues of the Muromachi court alongside the electrifying rivalries between performance schools.
A Cast That Actually Sings
The World Is Dancing assembled one of the more eye-catching voice casts of the summer season. Yumiri Hanamori leads as Oniyasha, with Katsuyuki Konishi as troupe master Kan’ami, Takahiro Sakurai as the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, Romi Park as rival performer Zojiro, Maaya Uchida as Kogane, Mamiko Noto as Nariko, and Inori Minase as Chiharu.
Today’s announcement rounded out the ensemble with two veterans: Yoji Matsuda joins as Inuo, a mysterious figure who drifts in and out of Oniyasha’s life and shapes his artistic path, and Miyuki Sawashiro takes on Shirabyoshi, a woman struggling to survive the era’s brutal social order. Matsuda noted this is his first time appearing as a series regular in a serialised animation.
Crucially, the performers are not just lending their voices — they are singing in-show. Hanamori and Park have already recorded songs for the series, heard in an earlier music trailer. The opening theme, “Shusho” by Macaroni Empitsu, feels like a perfect match for a story about finding one’s artistic voice in a turbulent age.
How Singapore and SEA Fans Can Watch
Muse Communication holds streaming rights for South and Southeast Asia. Singapore fans should keep an eye on the Muse Asia YouTube channel and affiliated platforms for the rollout — a precise SEA start date has not been officially announced at time of writing, but Muse titles typically follow the simulcast window closely.
The series lands early on Amazon Prime Video Japan on 29 June at 22:00 JST, ahead of its main television broadcast on 2 July on Tokyo MX and BS Asahi in Japan. HIDIVE is streaming it from 29 June for North America and several English-language markets. The world premiere of Episode 2 will screen live at Anime Expo 2026 on 2 July at 6:45 pm PDT.
For more of the season’s anime offerings, browse our Manga & Anime coverage.
Last words
Summer 2026 is not short on anime, but The World Is Dancing occupies a lane entirely its own — a slow-burn historical drama about the birth of Noh theatre, assembled with real choreographic craft and a singing cast that includes some of Japanese voice acting’s biggest names. If the final trailer is any measure, Cypic is building something quietly worth following. Check Muse Asia when the 29 June window opens, and dive in from the start.
