The anime adaptation of Ira Ishida’s (石田 衣良) 1998 award-winning mystery novel “Ikebukuro West Gate Park” (池袋ウエストゲートパーク) is confirmed to premiere in July 2020. A teaser visual and cast members are revealed.
The novel has been adapted into a very successful TV series directed by Tsutsumi Yukihiko (堤幸彦) and starred Tokio lead singer Tomoya Nagase (長瀬 智也). A manga adaptation was also created by Sena Aritō in 2001 and has been collected in four volumes.
▍Story
It is set in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro ward, in the eponymous “Ikebukuro West Gate Park”, where crime and gang’s fight frequently happens.
The series revolves around 20-year-old Makoto, known as “Troubleshooter of Ikebukuro”, who frequently gets involved in highly dangerous situations, usually against his own judgment. Along for the ride are his best buddies Shun, Masa, and Takashi, the enigmatic leader of a local gang in Ikebukuro.
▍Staff and Production
The series is animated by Doga Kobo and directed by Tomoaki Koshida (越田知明), with Fumihiko Shimo (志茂文彦) handling series composition, and “Puella Magi Madoka☆Magica” chief animation director Junichirō Taniguchi (谷口淳一郎) designing the characters.
▍ Cast
■ Makoto – CV: Kentaro Kumagai (熊谷健太郎)
■ Takashi – CV: Kōki Uchiyama (內山昂輝)
■ Kyōichi – CV: Reiou Tsuchida (土田玲央)