The official trailer for the upcoming TV anime adaptation of There’s No Way I’ll Be Your Lover! Unless… (abbreviated as WATANARE), alongside new character visuals and voice cast announcements. The anime is being produced by Studio MOTHER, known for their work on More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers and As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I’ll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World.
Based on the light novel series written by Teren Mikami and illustrated by Eku Takeshima, and published under Shueisha’s Dash X Bunko label, WATANARE is a school-set girls’ love comedy that sets out to explore friendship, identity, and emotional growth.
In the newly released trailer, viewers are introduced to protagonist Renako Amaori (voiced by Kanna Nakamura), who struggles with her self-image, and her encounter with Mai Oduka (voiced by Saori Onishi), the school’s admired “superstar.” Other main characters — Ajisai Sena (Yukari Anzai), Satsuki Koto (Kana Ichinose), and Kaho Koyanagi (Takako Tanaka), also make their appearance, with Ichinose and Tanaka being newly confirmed additions to the Japanese voice cast.
Kana Ichinose, who plays Satsuki Koto, shared her thoughts on the character and the series:
WATANARE was full of unpredictable turns of events. I was surprised every time! Each character is very strong, and I hope you enjoy the speed at which the characters with rich personalities talk to each other. Sazuki is a cool beauty, but she may also have a frank and honest side to her. Please enjoy the daily lives of the Renako and her friends!
Meanwhile, Takako Tanaka, voicing Kaho Koyanagi, also reflected on her experience:
Since I read the original story and auditioned for the role, I felt that I could naturally and easily get into the character of Kaho, and I thought it would be fun to play the role, so I am very grateful for the opportunity to be entrusted with this role!
I am trying my best to express her mascot-like appearance and make the audience love her even more. It seems that the main character, Rena-chin, has an irresistible charm (?) that attracts people. Please be careful to stay away from the screen so that you don’t become her lover! Please look forward to the broadcast of the slapstick girl love comedy anime “WATANARE”!
Official Synopsis for There’s No Way I’ll Be Your Lover! Unless…
There’s No Way I’ll be Your Lover! Unless… (abbreviated: WATANARE) is a non-stop girls’ love comedy set in a school environment with a cast of richly individual characters. The main character, Renako Amaori, who had a lonely time in junior high school, makes her debut in high school and meets her classmate, school superstar Mai Oduka. The two share each other’s worries and become secret friends…
“Are we friends or Lovers…?”
A new era of coming-of-age girls’ love comedy begins!
Anime’s Creative Team
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Original Work | Teren Mikami (Writer), Eku Takeshima (Illustrator) |
| Publisher | Shueisha (Dash X Bunko) |
| Director | Natsumi Uchinuma |
| Series Composition / Script | Naruhisa Arakawa |
| Character Design | kojikoji |
| Chief Animation Directors | Misaki Kaneko, Haruki Moriya, Takashi Shiokawa, Kino, Tokino Keinosuke Ami |
| Colour Setting | Mitsuko Sekimoto |
| Art Directors | Yuri Takagi, Keito Watanabe |
| Director of Photography | Takuma Morooka |
| Editing | Ichiro Chaen |
| Sound Director | Takayuki Yamaguchi |
| Music | Yoshiaki Fujisawa |
| Animation Production | Studio MOTHER |
Japanese Voice Cast
| Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Renako Amaori | Kanna Nakamura |
| Mai Oduka | Saori Onishi |
| Ajisai Sena | Yukari Anzai |
| Satsuki Koto | Kana Ichinose |
| Kaho Koyanagi | Takako Tanaka |
