Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus anime reveals additional cast, new visual, and more ahead of 2025 premiere

On Saturday, November 23, 2024, Aniplex streamed a new teaser video for the Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus anime, the television adaptation of the University Arc of the Rascal Does Not Dream light novel series, ahead of its 2025 premiere. The short clip unveiled a new visual and additional cast and revealed details regarding the returning staff members.

Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus is based on volume 13 of the original Rascal Does Not Dream light novel series by author Hajime Kamoshida and illustrator Keiji Mizoguchi. ASCII Media Works has serialized the light novel series from April 2014 to October 2014 for 15 volumes. The upcoming anime is set to cover the University Arc, one of the most compelling arcs in the franchise.

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Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus anime unveils a visual for Miniskirt Santa and reveals new cast and staff

On Saturday, November 23, 2024, the official staff held the Aobuta Fes- Seishun Buta Yarou wa Colorful Album no Yume wo Minai event in Shinjuku, Japan. During the event, the staff unveiled a new promotional clip for the Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus anime.

The short clip featured a new visual for the series, showcasing Miniskirt Santa. The illustration contains a catchphrase in Japanese, which reads "Adolescence Never Ends" in English. According to the short clip, Reina Ueda voices the Miniskirt Santa.

She's a mysterious character who one day appears in front of Sakuta and introduces herself as Touko Kirishima, an unknown internet singer. Interestingly, she's invisible to everyone other than Sakuta Azusagawa. Fans can hear a preview of her voice in the video.

Aniplex originally uploaded the video on its official YouTube channel. At the same time, the anime's official X account and website have shared the clip with fans. Besides the visual, the short clip confirms that the Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus anime will be released in 2025.

Moreover, the staff has revealed new character visuals for Sakuta Azusagawa (VA: Kaito Ishikawa) and Mai Sakurajima (VA: Asami Seto), who are now portrayed as college students. In other words, the previous cast members are returning to the Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus anime.

Mai Sakurajima in the anime (Image via CloverWorks)

Additionally, the anime features returning staff members, with Soichi Masui reprising his role as the director at the CloverWorks studio, Masahiro Yokotani as the series supervisor/composition writer, Satomi Tamura as the character designer, Fox Capture Plan as the composer, and Yoshikazu Iwanami as the sound director. More staff will be revealed in the future.

The Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus anime covers the University Arc from volume 13 of the original Aobuta light novel series. The volume centers around Sakuta, Mai, and Ikumi's shared dream, which only increases the mystery of Touko Kirishima. Sakuta discovers there are multiple versions of Touko Kirishima, so he must find the real one before it's too late.

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