In case you missed it, Anime NYC happened from November 18-20, 2022, in New York City. There, Crunchyroll hosted a panel featuring Kaguya-sama’s producers along with Aoi Koga, the voice actress of Kaguya Shinomiya.
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War Panel at Anime NYC
During the panel, Koga shared some of her thoughts on playing the beloved character. While they weren’t present at the event, her co-stars Konomi Kohara (Chika), Ryota Suzuki (Ishigami), and Miyu Tomita (Iino) recorded special video messages for fans in attendance. Also at the event were Yuichiro Kikuchi (A-1 Pictures Producer) and Tatsuya Ishikawa (Aniplex Producer). The two shared some interesting details about the anime’s production, including the story behind Chika’s dance from Season 1. Along with the panel, fans were also treated to a special screening of the upcoming Kaguya-sama: Love Is War anime movie. While it’s not complete yet, fans were able to watch a TV episode’s worth of footage at Anime NYC. Also revealed at the event was the fact that the movie will be released in select US cinemas in early 2023. This follows the movie’s December release in Japan and subsequent Japanese TV broadcast. In case you missed its announcement, the anime movie is the follow-up to the show’s third season, and it adapts the First Kiss Never Ends Arc of the manga. YOU MIGHT LIKE: Where to Read Kaguya-sama: Love Is War After the Anime
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War Chika Dance Story
During the panel, Kikuchi recounted the Chika Dance which became a viral hit after it was released. If you need a refresher, Episode 3 of Kaguya-sama Season 1 featured a one-off ending featuring Chika dancing to a song performed by her voice actress. While it’s not relevant to the story, the staff wanted to animate the ending in one cut to make it leave a mark on the viewers. It was also made to function as a promotional video on its own for the anime. After they finished the dance, Kikuchi remembered how the staff was bewildered about what they had just made. But as soon as it aired, it became a big hit, enough that it continues to be a popular meme in the anime community. Kikuchi shared that this moment was influential in how the show’s staff worked on the anime. Even today, the staff still want to surprise viewers and make their work different and stand out. This creativity of animation can be clearly seen in Kaguya-sama: Love Is War’s next seasons, especially in Season 3 as it also had some special endings. While the anime’s story will continue with the movie, the manga source material has recently ended its run on Weekly Young Jump. Discover more anime news and info by following us on Twitter @epicstreamanime. READ NEXT: Kaguya-sama: Love Is War Ending Explained