The production committee behind the animated adaptation of Seven Sleeping Beauties (known as Shichinin no Nemuri-hime in Japan) just revealed the week’s big surprise. Through an official portal, it was confirmed that this comedy and fantasy gem will land on Japanese television in 2027. The announcement came with a conceptual visual art showing the design of the chaotic princesses who will star in this new franchise.

An unusual production alliance

To bring this story to the screen flawlessly, the project is being handled by a joint effort between Studio Gokumi and AXsiZ SMASH. The director’s chair is occupied by Mankyū, who must maintain the fast-paced comedy with the help of Keiichirō Ōchi in script composition. The task of adapting the distinctive traits of the seven protagonists for animation fell to designer Masaru Koseki.

Voice cast

• Aya Yamane (Secelia Dote in Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury) as Flora.
• Yoshino Aoyama (Hitori Gotoh in Bocchi the Rock!) as Kiara.
• Miku Itō (Miku Nakano in The Quintessential Quintuplets) as Claire.
• Ayasa Itō (Kaoruko Hanayagi in Revue Starlight) as Mia.
• Kana Ichinose (Fern in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End) as Charlotte.
• Fūka Izumi (Utena Hiiragi in Gushing over Magical Girls) as Yūka.
• Rina Kawaguchi (up-and-coming actress) as Eliza.

The fairy tale that went off the rails

This story originated from Fiok Lee, who began serializing the original manga in Kodansha’s prestigious Afternoon magazine early in 2023, securing its twelfth compiled volume this July. The premise gives a twisted twist to the classic trope: the small kingdom of Amaryllis falls under a deadly witch’s curse, putting all its inhabitants into eternal slumber. Prince Alec, from a neighboring nation, travels there intending to kiss the princess and break the spell, but upon infiltrating the royal chambers, he faces a major logistical problem: there are seven sleeping princesses, and none will wake until kissed by him.

With so many main characters, do you think the studio can give each princess fair development without making the story feel rushed?