With You and the Rain (AME TO KIMI TO), adapting Kō Nikaidō’s surreal manga, premieres , with a simulcast on Crunchyroll. Its cast now includes Shūhei Sakaguchi, Kambe, and Miyamoto, joining established voices like Saori Hayami and Yōji Ueda. The series, produced by Lesprit under Volume Tsukimisato’s direction, blends absurd humor with heartfelt moments, mirroring the manga’s seven-volume run in Young Magazine.
Surreal Comedy and Absurdity
With You and the Rain is a “surreal comedy” about a woman and a dog—or something that looks like a dog. You know, the kind of story that’s so absurd it’s almost believable. But here’s the kicker: the manga, published since 2020 in Young Magazine, has seven volumes and a cult following in Japan, yet it’s been virtually invisible outside its niche. Fast forward to 2025, and suddenly, it’s a blockbuster? You know… like a soufflé that’s been in the oven for years but only now gets plucked from the oven by a celebrity chef.
They’ll tell you With You and the Rain is a “surreal comedy” about a woman and a dog—or something that looks like a dog. You know, the kind of story that’s so absurd it’s almost believable. But here’s the kicker: the manga, published since 2020 in Young Magazine, has seven volumes and a cult following in Japan, yet it’s been virtually invisible outside its niche. Fast forward to 2025, and suddenly, it’s a blockbuster? You know… like a soufflé that’s been in the oven for years but only now gets plucked from the oven by a celebrity chef.
Release and Timing
The anime’s premiere is , which is 18:30 on July 4th in Spain (UTC+2). You’d think that’s a time slot for a midnight snack, not a global premiere. And yet, ASAHI TV and 23 affiliated chains are airing it in a block called Numanimation—a term that sounds like a mix of “numb” and “animation,” as if the show’s absurdity is a numbness to the senses. Crunchyroll’s simulcast? Sure, but why not just stream it at 3 PM?
Cast and Production
- Saori Hayami as Fuji Anna, a role that’s literally a name you’d find in a spreadsheet.
- Shūhei Sakaguchi as HIURA Mitsuho and Kambe as Hojo Yume add to the dramatic tension of a story where the protagonist’s pet might be a ghost, a robot, or a metaphor for loneliness.
- The production team? Lesprit under Volume Tsukimisato, who directed Bikkuri-Men—a show so bizarre it’s like a tiramisu with a twist of surrealism.
The manga’s premise—adoption of a questionable creature—is exactly the kind of absurdity that’s been mocked for years. Yet now, it’s a curiosity in 2025. You know, the year when even a dinner roll can be a viral sensation.
But let’s not get carried away. The show’s charm lies in its deliberate weirdness: a woman’s daily routine with a creature that’s part dog, part enigma, part existential crisis. It’s like a stew that’s been simmering for years but now gets served with a side of celebrity endorsements.
The Punchline
With You and the Rain isn’t just an anime—it’s a soufflé of absurdity, cooked by a team that’s literally in the kitchen of animation, serving up a dish that’s both ridiculous and oddly comforting. You’ll watch it, you’ll laugh, and you’ll wonder why the world waited so long to finally eat it.
