The Hono no Tokyujo Dodge Danko spokon reveals trailer and confirms its premiere for July

Sports anime loves its tropes. Selfish strikers. Unbreakable teams. The genre keeps recycling the same playbook. But back in the nineties,
the real terror wasn’t about ego or unity — it was about dodging a rubber ball straight to the face.
Now Dodgeball claims its place on the court again, and the new generation is ready to leave no stone unturned.

When and Where It Drops

The animated adaptation of Hono no Tokyujo Dodge Danko has locked in its premiere: Episode 1 arrives July 6. For those on Japanese soil, an exclusive preview of the first two chapters hits the big screen on June 21 at Shinjuku Wald 9 cinemas in Tokyo.

A new promotional video accompanied the announcement.

It lets us hear the high-energy opening performed by Momoiro Clover Z, contrasting with the softer ending by idol unit iris. Two moods. One show. The tonal range is deliberate.

New Voice Cast Additions

• Sumire Uesaka as Hako Mikasa
  — Famous for Hayase Nagatoro in
  Ijiranaide, Nagatoro-san and Shalltear in
  Overlord.
• Kanna Nakamura as Hayami Hiura
  — Known for Urushi Yaotome in
  Soredemo Ayumu wa Yosetekuru.
• Yuka Iguchi as Jyuri Igarashi
  — Myne’s unmistakable voice in Honzuki no Gekokujou
  and Index in Toaru Majutsu no Index.
• Satomi Akesaka as Ruka Sakamoto
  — Remembered for playing the ruthless Esdeath in
  Akame ga Kill!.
• Fairouz Ai as Zoe
  — Who gave us the chaotic Power in Chainsaw Man
  and Jolyne Cujoh in
  JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.
• Mariya Ise as Ran Midou
  — The legendary voice of Killua Zoldyck in Hunter x Hunter
  and Ray in The Promised Neverland.

Previously Confirmed Cast

• Manaka Nakayama as Danko Ichigeki
  — An emerging seiyuu taking the lead role in this sequel.
• Kaori Maeda as Chinko Kobotoke
  — The lovely Shizuku Osaka in
  LoveLive! Nijigasaki Gakuen School Idol Doukoukai.
• Akira Sekine as Mochiko Etai
  — Princess in Princess Principal.
• Taichi I as Susan Canon
  — Recognized for Kenya Kobayashi in Erased.
• Yuki Sasahara as Honey Otohana
  — The sweet Emilico in Shadow House.
• Katsuyuki Konishi as Danpei Ichigeki (adult)
  — The explosive Tengen Uzui in Kimetsu no Yaiba
  and Kamina in
  Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.
• Tetsu Inada as Chinnen Kobotoke
  — The imposing Endeavor in Boku no Hero Academia.
• Yuki Wakai as Peiko Nikaido
  — Known for Leona West in PriPara.
• Noriko Hidaka reprising her classic role as
  Danpei (original, in flashbacks) and acting as
  narrator.
  The eternal Akane Tendo in Ranma ½.

Production Team

Behind the deadly matches sits studio CUE, with Hiroshi Ikehata directing. General script is handled by Kazuho Hyodo, tasked with keeping the comic pacing sharp through every rally. Character designs — preserving that
classic essence — are courtesy of Narihito Sekikawa, who also serves as chief animation director.

The latest update added several heavyweights:

• Masahiro Sato — art direction
• Ryo Kimura — color design
• Yasunori Iwasaki &
  Ren Tsukagoshi — frenetic soundtrack
• Yuichi Imaizumi — sound director (supervising)

What This Sequel Actually Is

If the protagonist’s last name rings a bell and you’ve got a few gray hairs to show for it, here’s why: this is the direct sequel to Hono no Tokyuji Dodge Danpei, the iconic manga by Tetsuhiro Koshita that dominated the industry between 1989 and 1995.

The new stage of the franchise began serialization in November 2022 through Weekly CoroCoro Comic. Its sixth compilation volume recently shipped in August 2025 under the Shogakukan imprint.

The premise remains a spokon of pure stock. But this time the torch passes to Danko Ichigeki,
daughter of the legendary Danpei. Her goal: form the strongest dodgeball team of the current era,
facing tough rivals while forging unbreakable bonds with her teammates.

A shot of pure retro adrenaline mixed with modern
sports anime sensibilities — proving that some formulas never really get old.

The Bigger Picture

With this wave of sequels to classic sports franchises hitting hard, the question lingers: are you excited to see new generations take up the legacy, or do you believe these stories belong sealed in the trunk of memories from the nineties?

• Does the return of dodgeball as a serious threat signal a craving for simpler, more visceral stakes in sports narratives?
• When a sequel passes the torch, does it ever truly satisfyboth the old fans and the new audience it needs to survive?
• What does it say about the industry’s confidence in original concepts when the surest bet is a polished retread of a proven formula?