Bocchi the Rock! Announces 2027 Prequel Movie Focusing on the Ijichi Sisters

The anime's official account announced the project on November 1, 2026, alongside a first promotional video and a teaser visual. The movie is titled Bocchi the Rock! Hoshi no Ashiato and will arrive in Japanese theaters in 2027. The announcement presents the film as a prequel to the main story, taking place before the members of Kessoku Band come together.

The Ijichi Sisters Take Center Stage in a Prequel Story

The new movie focuses on Seika Ijichi and her younger sister, Nijika. The story takes place approximately ten years before the main events and revolves around a shared dream shaped by a parting. Seika, who is known for managing the live music venue STARRY, will be the protagonist of this new story. The project adapts Hoshi ni Tamukeru Ai no Hana, a special short chapter by Aki Hamaji about the sisters' past. The chapter was originally published in Manga Time Kirara MAX and is included in the manga's fifth volume. Its story explores the relationship between Seika and Nijika and provides further insight into the events behind STARRY's origins.

Shin Wakabayashi Directs the Movie with the Original Voice Cast Returning

The production brings together several professionals involved in the Bocchi the Rock! television adaptation, with a creative team led by Shin Wakabayashi. CloverWorks will once again handle the animation, while Aniplex will participate in the movie's distribution. The main staff announced so far includes:

• Director: Shin Wakabayashi
• Screenplay: Erika Yoshida
• Character Design: Yukiko Horiguchi
• Animation Production: CloverWorks
• Distribution: Aniplex

The announcement also confirms the return of the two actresses who voiced the sisters in the television series. Maaya Uchida will reprise her role as Seika Ijichi, while Sayumi Suzushiro will return as Nijika Ijichi.

• Maaya Uchida as Seika Ijichi
• Sayumi Suzushiro as Nijika Ijichi

The Manga Already Has Eight Volumes Published in Spain

Aki Hamaji's original manga began serialization in 2017 in Houbunsha's Manga Time Kirara MAX magazine. It is a four-panel manga that combines comedy, music, and everyday life through a group of young girls who share a passion for playing in a band. In Spain, Bocchi the Rock! is licensed by Editorial Ivrea. According to Listado Manga, the Spanish edition currently has eight published volumes, meaning readers can also access the volume containing the special story about the Ijichi sisters.

The original television adaptation premiered in October 2022 and ran for twelve episodes produced by CloverWorks. The series follows Hitori Gotoh, an extremely shy student who dreams of playing in a band and finding success with her guitar. Her life begins to change when she meets Nijika and eventually joins Kessoku Band. The anime is available in Spain on Crunchyroll, both in its original Japanese version with subtitles and with a Spanish dub. The platform also provides an opportunity to meet the characters ahead of the new movie's release.

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