Aniplex has officially announced a new installment in the “Seishun Buta Yarou” (Rascal Does Not Dream) anime series, titled “Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus,” set to premiere in 2025. The announcement comes as the franchise celebrates its 10th anniversary.
The new series will adapt the “University Arc” of Hajime Kamoshida’s light novel series, featuring both returning and new cast members. Reina Ueda joins the cast as the new character Miniskirt Santa, alongside series veterans Kaito Ishikawa (Sakuta Azusagawa) and Asami Seto (Mai Sakurajima).
The press release also announced cast members, including:
- Queen Ueda like Miniskirt Santa.
- Kaito Ishikawa like Sakuta Azusagawa.
- Asami Seto like Mai Sakurajima.
Production Team
The production team remains consistent with previous adaptations, with Sōichi Masui returning as director at CloverWorks studio. Key staff members include Masahiro Yokotani handling series composition, Satomi Tamura as character designer, and fox capture plan composing the music.
Franchise Milestones
This announcement follows the successful completion of the light novel series, which concluded in October 2024 with its fifteenth volume. The franchise has achieved significant success, with over 3 million copies in circulation.
The “Rascal Does Not Dream” series has maintained a strong presence in the anime industry since its first adaptation in 2018, followed by multiple successful film releases, including the recent “Sister Venturing Out” and “Knapsack Kid” installments in 2023.
Promotional Materials
The announcement was accompanied by new promotional materials, including character visuals and a teaser trailer, showcasing the series’ signature blend of romance, supernatural elements, and coming-of-age themes.
Seishun Buta Yarou Series Synopsis
One day, in the library where Sakuta Azusagawa studies, he comes across an unexpected sight: a beautiful high school girl dressed as a bunny. She turns out to be Mai Sakurajima, a famous former actress and fellow student at Minegahara High School. However, his surprise at seeing Mai dressed so daringly in the library is nothing compared to his surprise at realizing that he is the only one who can see her. Remembering an event from his past, Sakuta offers to help Mai discover the reason for her invisibility. Despite their initially troubled relationship, the two soon become close: Mai and Sakuta learn to appreciate each other and their friendship blossoms into a budding romance.
This further fuels his determination to solve Mai’s dilemma. As the investigation progresses, Sakuta attributes Mai’s situation to an urban legend known as Adolescence Syndrome: strange phenomena that occur in youth, unexplained by science and often dismissed as delusions. With few promising results, Mai’s situation worsens to the point where going unnoticed is the least of her worries. Can Sakuta and Mai solve the mystery of their teenage syndrome before it disappears completely?
