Ichjinsha announced that Tomo Nagawa's manga Would you like to be a tanuki? (Omae, Tanuki ni Narane--ka?) is being adapted into a television anime, with a teaser video and visual now available.

The creative team brings considerable pedigree to the project. Jun Kamiya, who directed Kingdom season 1 and Hikaru no Go, is taking the helm at Nippon Animation. Masaki Wachi, the supervising director and scriptwriter for both seasons of Kingdom, is handling scripts for the anime. Character designer Cocoro Takemoto (known for Genbanojō and Hakushon Daimaō 2020) rounds out the core team, alongside composer Minako Seki, who scored Kingdom seasons 1 and 2.

The manga follows Koganemaru, a mythical tanuki who approaches humans struggling with life's challenges. Rather than offering direct help, Koganemaru poses a curious question: would they like to try becoming a tanuki themselves? Through this unusual proposition, characters discover what truly matters in their own lives.

Nagawa launched the series in Ichijinsha's Comic Pool digital magazine back in April 2021. The manga has been steadily published since, with the ninth compiled volume already released in October 2025. Volume 10 is set to arrive on May 25, 2026—perfectly timed with the anime announcement.

The premise offers an intriguing blend of fantasy and introspection, anchored by Japanese folklore. Having a director and composer with Kingdom's track record suggests the anime will prioritize character depth and thoughtful storytelling over spectacle. Kamiya's previous work demonstrates his ability to balance ensemble casts and episodic narratives, which could serve this story's structure well.

While details like episode count, air date, and streaming availability haven't been confirmed yet, fans of character-driven fantasy and Japanese mythology should keep an eye out for further announcements from Nippon Animation.