Netflix Announces English Dub Cast and Staff for Akane-banashi Anime
Netflix has revealed the English dub cast and production team for the first two episodes of the Akane-banashi anime adaptation, with the dubbed episodes set to premiere on May 17.
English Dub Cast
The voice cast features:
- Abby Trott as Akane Osaki
- Xander Mobus as Shinta Arakawa
- Rebecca Wang as Masaki Osaki
- Brook Chalmers as Shiguma Arakawa
- Evan Michael Lee as Issho Arakawa
- Rich Brown as Zensho Arakawa
- Kirk Thornton as Ikken Arakawa/Yanagiya
- Mona Marshall as Yoshino
- Clifford Chapin as Kimihisa Kashio/Emcee (episode 1) and Riichi (episode 2)
- Dorah Fine as Mrs. Ozaki
- Matt Shipman as Kaisei Arakawa (episode 2)
- Darius Marquis Johnson as Guriko Arakawa (episode 2)
Additional voice work in the first two episodes is provided by Darius Marquis Johnson, Matt Shipman, Dorah Fine, Kirk Thornton, and Rich Brown.
English Dub Staff
The production team includes:
- Production: Bang Zoom! Studios
- Executive Producer: Eric P. Sherman
- Co-Producers: Mami Okada and Mio Moroe
- Associate Producer: Misa Shimogata
- ADR Director/Writer: Alex Von David
- Casting Director: Mami Okada, CSA
- Production Assistant: Alisa Ogura-Traxler
- Sound Supervisor: Patrick Rodman, CAS
- Re-Recording Mixer: Michael Brooks
- Recording Engineer: Kenneth Thompson
- Dialogue Editors: Esgardo Valadez and Keeley Pierson (from episode 2)
- Audio Operations Supervisor: Ismael Yanez
- Assistant Engineer: Mara Westgaard
- Video Coordination: Kevin Ross
- Video Editor: Megumi M. Tsuji
- Closed Captions: Kaylyn Saucedo
- Spotting: Breaugh Olson
- Translation: Yuki Urakawa
Global Streaming Availability
The anime began airing on TV Asahi’s “IMAnimation” block on April 4 and is available worldwide through various platforms:
- Free streaming on the Akane-banashi Global YouTube channel (North America and Latin America)
- Aniverse in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
- ADN in France, Monaco, Andorra, Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxembourg
- Anime Box in Spain
- Anime Generation in Italy
- Ani-One YouTube channel in Asia Pacific (excluding Korea and China)
- Regional platforms in Taiwan (Bahamut, ChungHwa Telecom MOD & Hami Video, LiTV & Ofiii, Line TV, My-Video, Catchplay, friDay)
- Bahamut in Hong Kong and Macao
- Catchplay in Indonesia
- TrueID in Thailand
- playmax.mn (STAR TV) in Mongolia
- Laftel and Aniplus Channel in South Korea
About the Story
“With only your voice and body—master the art.”
Akane Osaki, captivated since childhood by the magical performances of her father, Shinta Arakawa, witnesses a shocking incident during his decisive performance for promotion to shin’uchi master rank. Six years later, now a high school student, she sets her sights on becoming a shin’uchi herself—pushing forward in the highly competitive world of rakugo.
A passionate and authentic rakugo drama begins now!
Manga Background
The manga, created by writer Yūki Suenaga and illustrator Takamasa Moue, launched in February 2022. Shueisha published the 21st compiled volume on April 3. The series has received recognition including:
- Nominations for the 47th Kodansha Manga Awards and 16th Manga Taisho awards
- A #4 ranking in Takarajimasha’s Kono Manga ga Sugoi! guidebook for male readers
- Inclusion on the ALA’s YALSA 2024 list of Great Graphic Novels for Teens
- Featured on The New York Public Library’s Best Books list for teens in 2023
The manga is published in English by Viz Media’s Shonen Jump and Shueisha’s MANGA Plus services, with Viz Media also handling print publication.
