Rascal Does Not Dream anime's University Arc confirms 2025 premiere

Modified Aug 04, 2024 22:48 GMT

Friday, August 2, 2024, saw the Rascal Does Not Dream anime franchise confirm the release window of its upcoming 'University Arc,' slated for a general 2025 premiere. Unfortunately, the announcement (which came via the Aniplex x Kadokawa Anime Matsuri livestream event earlier in the day) did not reveal any additional release information on the arc beyond this.

However, at the very least, it was confirmed that the Rascal Does Not Dream anime’s 'University Arc' would be adapted into a television anime series rather than a film or series of films. This marks the franchise’s first return to a television anime format since 2018’s Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai, which was followed up by three films in 2019 and 2023.

Rascal Does Not Dream anime’s 'University Arc' set to air under Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus title

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The Rascal Does Not Dream anime’s 'University Arc' will officially run under the title of Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus, which is the same format the anime’s previous releases have taken. The arc it will adapt is fully titled the 'University Student Arc,' but is often shortened by fans and others to just 'University Arc.' The television series will be the fifth project overall in the anime franchise’s history, and the first since two films were released in 2023.

The second of these two films was titled Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid and was released in Japan on December 1, 2023. This was a sequel to the first, which was titled Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out and opened in Japanese theaters on June 23, 2023. This film was a sequel to June 2019’s Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl, which in turn was a sequel to the aforementioned Bunny Girl Senpai television anime series.

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The television anime series premiered in Japan in October 2018 and ran for 13 episodes, adapting the first five volumes of author Hajime Kamoshida and illustrator Keji Mizoguchi’s original light novels. The light novel series, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, is simply titled Rascal Does Not Dream, and has more than three million copies in circulation. The 14th volume will ship in Japan on August 9, followed by the 15th and final on October 10.

The story focuses on high school student Sakuta Azusagawa, whose life becomes strange after meeting teenage actress Mai Sakurajima while she’s dressed as a bunny girl. Only Sakuta can notice her, whether she’s dressing normally or attempting to be more discreet. Sakuta calls this phenomenon Adolescence Syndrome, determined to solve the mystery behind it while getting closer to Mai and meeting other girls who suffer from the same affliction.