“Love Live! Sunshine!!” Fantasy Spin-Off Anime “Genjutsu no Yohane -SUNSHINE in the MIRROR-” Announces July 2023 Premiere

Mar 5

The official website for the “Love Live! Sunshine!!” fantasy spinoff anime “Genjutsu no Yohane -SUNSHINE in the MIRROR-” announced the July 2023 premiere with a new teaser promotional video and key art. The new anime is centered on the character Yohane in a fantasy world with the Aqours members.

Initially thought as an April Fool’s joke by fans when the franchise announced the anime in April 2022, the anime is based on an illustration series and short manga originally in the “Love Live! Days Love Live!” magazine.

According to the official website, the anime is “The story of that child that everyone knows, that everyone doesn't know. Numazu is a scenic port town surrounded by the sea and mountains. Yohane, a girl who hasn't become accustomed to her surroundings since she was a child, lived at a distance from everyone in the city. Walk with a girl who can't be honest, A mysterious world you know.” The original Aqours members from “Love Live! Sunshine!!” will return to star in the new anime including: Aika Kobayashi as “Yohane”, Kanako Takatsuki as “Hanamaru”, Arisa Komiya as “Dia”, Ai Furihata as “Ruby”, Anju Inami as “Chika”, Shuka Saitō as “You”, Nanaka Suwa as “Kanan”, Rikako Aida as “Riko”, and Aina Suzuki as “Mari”.

Asami Nakatani will be directing the anime at Sunrise. Toshiya Ono will be writing the scripts as series composer and Yumiko Yamamoto is the character designer. Tatsuya Kato is returning as music composer. Sunrise's collective pen-name Hajime Yatate is credited as the original creator and Sakurako Kimino with the original concept.

The “Love Live!” franchise is a multimedia project that includes anime, manga, light novels, music and video games. “Love Live! School Idol Project” TV anime premiered in 2013 with a 13-episode first season. The series continued with a second season in 2014. “Love Live! The School Idol Movie”, which was a sequel to the TV anime, was released in 2015. Seasons 1, 2 and the movie are available to stream on Funimation in subtitles and English dubbing.

“Love Live! Sunshine!!” TV anime Season 1 premiered in 2016. Followed by Season 2 premiered in 2017 and then “Love Live! Sunshine!! The School Idol Movie Over the Rainbow” anime film in 2019. Seasons 1 and 2 can currently be steamed on Crunchyroll and Funimation in subtitles and English dubbing.

“Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club” TV anime premiered in October 2020 and is available to stream on Funimation and Crunchyroll in subtitles and English dubbing. Season 2 premiered on April 2, 2022 and is available to stream on Crunchyroll. The “Love Live!” franchise recently announced a “Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club” film sequel that is set to be release in 2023.

“Love Live! Superstar!!” TV anime premiered in July 2021 and Season 2 premiered on July 17, 2022. Seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Crunchyroll. The “Love Live!” franchise recently announced a third season for “Love Live! Superstar!!”.

Sources: “Yohane” Anime website and Twitter. Love Live! website, Twitter, Youtube. Funimation website. Crunchyroll website.