Kenjirō Tsuda has been cast as Nyakkuru in Soreike! Anpanman: Pantan to Yakusoku no Hoshi (Pantan and the Promised Star), the 37th installment in the long-running Anpanman franchise. This marks Tsuda's first voice role in the series.

Nyakkuru is a pivotal character in the film—a former adventurer who once traveled alongside the main character Pantan in search of the rainbow star. The film itself centers on Pantan, a red panda voiced by guest star Tao Tsuchiya, who's on a quest to find treasure hidden in a rainbow star. Pantan's mission stems from a promise made to an adventurer years ago. When Pantan crosses paths with Anpanman, the hero agrees to help the red panda achieve his goal.

Director Hiroyuki Yano, a franchise veteran, is helming the project with screenwriter Shoji Yonemura, another longtime contributor to the series. The film's score comes from the familiar hands of franchise composers Taku Izumi and Hiroaki Kondō.

The movie arrives in Japanese theaters on June 26. This follows the success of last year's 36th film, Soreike! Anpanman: Chapon no Hero!, which earned approximately 132.7 million yen (roughly $924,000) in its opening weekend and ranked eighth at the box office.

The Anpanman franchise has maintained an impressive streak since 1989, releasing a new theatrical film every summer. The television series itself has been running continuously since 1988, making it one of anime's most enduring properties. The franchise continued after creator Takashi Yanase's death in 2013, with subsequent films maintaining the spirit of his original work.

With Tsuda's addition to the cast, the film brings fresh talent to a beloved institution while relying on the experienced creative team that's kept the franchise thriving for over three decades.