Fans of Bocchi the Rock! will get a new chance to return to theaters, though this time the anime’s shyest girl will have to let someone else take the lead. Aniplex officially announced a new film titled Bocchi the Rock! Hoshi no Ashiato, set to premiere in 2027 in Japan. The project will tell a story prior to the TV series’ events, focusing on the past of the Ijichi sisters.

The announcement came with a first trailer and a promotional image showing Seika and Nijika during their childhood. And no, this time it’s not another episode compilation like the 2024 films, but an adaptation of the special story included at the end of the fifth volume of Aki Hamaji’s original manga, titled Hoshi ni Tamukeru Ai no Hana.

Seika and Nijika’s past will hit the big screen

The film will take us about ten years back, when the Ijichi sisters were far from meeting Hitori Gotoh and the rest of Kessoku Band’s members. The story will begin with a painful separation between them and show the events that shaped their dreams, including the path that led Seika to become the manager of STARRY, the small concert venue where the main characters usually gather.

In fact, Aki Hamaji herself explained that this story was born after an anime recording session, when she decided to delve into the past of the sisters mentioned during the first season’s eighth episode. The author also noted that Erika Yoshida’s script will expand on the manga’s events, so even those familiar with the original material will find more details about the Ijichi family.

Regarding the production team, Shin Wakabayashi will handle direction at CloverWorks, after previously directing Wonder Egg Priority. The script will be handled by Erika Yoshida, who worked on the first season of Bocchi the Rock!, while character designs will be by Yukiko Horiguchi, known for her work on K-ON!, another popular musical franchise.

It was also confirmed that Maaya Uchida will return as Seika Ijichi, a voice actress known for playing Rikka Takanashi in Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!. Sayumi Suzushiro will reprise her role as Nijika Ijichi, after participating in productions like Kaguya-sama: Love is War, where she voiced Kei Shirogane.

It’s worth remembering that Bocchi the Rock! premiered its first season in October 2022, turning Hitori Gotoh’s and her band’s social misadventures into one of the most recognized musical animes in recent years. Later, the franchise returned to theaters with Bocchi the Rock! Re: and Bocchi the Rock! Re:Re:, two compilation films released in 2024.

Meanwhile, the second season is still in production, though it has no confirmed release date yet. This means the new film will be an independent project from the TV continuation, so fans will have two different productions to look forward to.

Are you interested in learning about Seika and Nijika’s past, or would you rather the franchise focus on continuing Bocchi and her band’s adventures?