Anime fans, mark your calendars! Kyoto Animation has just dropped the first trailer for their highly anticipated TV anime, CITY – The Animation, set to premiere on July 6, 2025.
Directed by the acclaimed Taichi Ishidate known for his stunning work on Violet Evergarden and Beyond the Boundary this new series promises to bring a fresh dose of absurd humor and heartfelt moments to the screen. Adapted from the manga CITY by Keiichi Arawi, the mastermind behind the beloved Nichijou, this project is already generating buzz as a must-watch for comedy enthusiasts.
A Glimpse Into the Absurd World of CITY
The newly revealed trailer offers a tantalizing peek into the quirky, unpredictable world of CITY – The Animation. Based on Arawi’s gag comedy manga, the series follows the misadventures of a colorful cast of characters navigating life in a bustling, not-so-ordinary town.
Fans of Nichijou will recognize Arawi’s signature style: a blend of surreal humor, slice-of-life charm, and offbeat scenarios that turn the mundane into the hilarious. The trailer teases a vibrant animation style, eccentric character dynamics, and the kind of laugh-out-loud moments that only Arawi can deliver. While Nichijou fans might still be holding out hope for a second season, CITY – The Animation feels like a spiritual successor, offering a fresh yet familiar take on Arawi’s comedic genius.
The manga, serialized in Kodansha’s Morning magazine from 2016 to 2021, wrapped up with 13 volumes of absurd antics, and now Kyoto Animation is bringing that chaos to life with their renowned production quality.
Kyoto Animation’s Triumphant Return
For Kyoto Animation, CITY – The Animation marks a significant milestone. It’s the studio’s first entirely new TV anime project in six years, following the tragic arson attack in 2019 that claimed 36 lives and deeply affected the anime community.
Since then, KyoAni has been steadily rebuilding, delivering sequels and films like Violet Evergarden: The Movie and Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S. With CITY, the studio is stepping into uncharted territory once again, showcasing their resilience and commitment to creating innovative, high-quality animation.
Under Taichi Ishidate’s direction, the series is poised to combine KyoAni’s signature visual polish with Arawi’s wild storytelling. Ishidate’s track record with emotionally resonant and beautifully crafted works like Violet Evergarden suggests that CITY might offer more than just laughs, perhaps a touch of heart amidst the absurdity.
What We Know So Far
☀️PV第1弾公開☀️
— 『CITY THE ANIMATION』公式 (@city_anime_info) March 23, 2025
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『CITY THE ANIMATION』
ABCテレビ、TOKYO MX、
テレビ愛知、BS11にて
7月6日より放送開始‼️
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The trailer introduces us to the main trio: Midori Nagumo, Niikura, and Wako Izumi, voiced by an all-star cast including Mikako Komatsu (Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash), Aki Toyosaki (K-On!), and Yui Ishikawa (Attack on Titan).
These college students are at the center of the chaos, each bringing their own quirks to the table. Midori, a penniless dreamer. Niikura, an aspiring photographer with a knack for punchlines; and Wako, a mysterious stalker with an enigmatic edge, promise a dynamic interplay that will drive the series’ humor.
The trailer also hints at the show’s vibrant setting, a city brimming with oddball residents and unexpected twists. From playground antics to everyday absurdities, CITY – The Animation looks set to capture the charm of Arawi’s manga while elevating it with KyoAni’s meticulous animation.
The Legacy of Keiichi Arawi: Crafting Absurdity into Art
In the world of manga and anime, few creators have carved out a niche as distinctive as Keiichi Arawi. Born on December 29, 1977, in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, Arawi has become a celebrated figure, renowned for his ability to transform the mundane into the magnificently absurd. With a career spanning over two decades.
His legacy is defined by his unique comedic voice, innovative storytelling, and an unshakable connection with fans who adore his offbeat humor. As Kyoto Animation prepares to bring his manga CITY to life with CITY – The Animation on July 6, 2025, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on the indelible mark Arawi has left on the industry.
Early Beginnings and the Birth of a Style
Arawi’s journey into manga began modestly. After working as a typesetter, he debuted as a manga artist at 19 with short stories in Media Factory’s Comic Flapper. His first serialized work, KazeMachi, ran briefly in 2006, but it caught the eye of Kadokawa Publishing.
That same year, Arawi launched Nichijou (My Ordinary Life) in Monthly Shōnen Ace, a series that would become his breakout hit. Winning Kadokawa’s 22nd ACE Award for New Artists, Nichijou marked the arrival of a creator unafraid to defy convention.
What set Arawi apart was his knack for blending slice-of-life simplicity with surreal, gag-driven comedy. Nichijou which ran until 2015 follows a trio of high school girls and a cast of quirky characters, including a robot schoolgirl and a talking cat, in a world where the ordinary spirals into the bizarre.
From a principal wrestling a deer to a child professor building androids, Arawi’s humor thrives on the unexpected. His clean, rounded art style and impeccable timing turned these absurdities into a cohesive, laugh-out-loud experience, earning the series a cult following and a beloved 2011 anime adaptation by Kyoto Animation.
A Master of Subversion
Arawi’s legacy isn’t just in making people laugh, it’s in how he subverts expectations. He parodies manga tropes with a gleeful irreverence, taking familiar archetypes like the “energetic idiot” or “stoic genius” and amplifying them to absurd heights before grounding them in relatable humanity.
This balance of chaos and heart is a hallmark of his work. Nichijou doesn’t just revel in randomness, it finds poignancy in the quiet moments between the gags, a testament to Arawi’s skill as both a comedian and a storyteller.
After concluding Nichijou, Arawi could have rested on his laurels, but he instead launched CITY in Kodansha’s Morning magazine in 2016. Running until 2021, CITY shifts the focus to a chaotic urban setting and a new trio of college students Midori, Niikura, and Wako whose misadventures echo Nichijou’s spirit but explore a broader canvas.
While maintaining his signature absurdity (think landladies chasing rent with supernatural vigor), CITY experiments with a slightly more narrative-driven approach, showcasing Arawi’s evolution as an artist. Its critical acclaim, including praise as a top continuing series at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, solidified his reputation as a creator who could reinvent himself without losing his core appeal.
Resilience and Reinvention
Arawi’s legacy also reflects resilience. After Nichijou ended due to burnout, he took a break, dabbling in illustration before returning with CITY. In 2021, he surprised fans by resuming Nichijou’s serialization, proving his passion for manga endured.
This return, coupled with new projects like the strip Amemiya-san in 2022, shows a creator unwilling to be defined by past successes alone. His foray into animation with self-produced YouTube shorts in 2020 further highlights his versatility, as he voiced and animated quirky tales that echo his manga’s charm.
Now, with CITY – The Animation on the horizon, directed by Taichi Ishidate and produced by Kyoto Animation, Arawi’s influence is poised to reach new heights. Set to air on July 6, 2025, this adaptation promises to marry his absurd gag comedy with KyoAni’s renowned visual storytelling a reunion of sorts with the studio that elevated Nichijou.
It’s a testament to how Arawi’s work resonates across mediums, drawing in both longtime fans and newcomers eager for his brand of humor.
A Lasting Impact
Keiichi Arawi’s legacy lies in his ability to find the extraordinary in the everyday. His works Nichijou, CITY, and beyond, have redefined comedy in manga and anime, inspiring creators to embrace the weird and wonderful.
His characters, from Nano the robot to Midori the penniless dreamer, are more than punchlines; they’re endearing oddballs who remind us that life’s absurdity is worth celebrating. As CITY – The Animation approaches, Arawi’s influence continues to grow, proving that his quiet, reclusive persona belies a creative force that speaks volumes through laughter.
In an industry often driven by trends, Arawi stands out as a singular voice, one that dares to be different and, in doing so, leaves a legacy of joy, creativity, and a little bit of glorious nonsense.
