Bocchi the Rock! marked the anime’s first anniversary with a new illustration, featuring all the members of their popular Kessoku Band. The main character Hitori Gotoh takes center stage, while Nijika, Ryo, and Ikuyo display their typical demeanors. The author and illustrator of the original manga, Aki Hamaji posted the art to X (formerly Twitter) on October 8, 2023. See the poster below:
Hamaji accompanied the post with a short message:
“Bocchi the Rock! anime’s first anniversary! Please continue supporting us from now on too #BocchiTheRock“
Director Keiichiro Saito posted about the anniversary:
“Already a year…!! This year since Bocchi the Rock! started airing has truly been substantial. I hope it will continue to be loved for a long time to come!“
Yoshino Aoyama, who voiced Bocchi, also joined him:
“Woooow it’s broadcast’s 1st anniversary! I’m so excited! I feel every day that the existence of Hitori Goto is truly irreplaceable to me. Since there is also a theater compilation [coming up], I hope it continues to receive looots of love!!!!“
Saku Mizuno, who voiced Ryo, added:
“It’s been one year since the TV anime started airing! Thank you as always! I’m looking forward to the Bocchi the Talk! Live on 10/14 too!“
Aoyama was among the favorite voice actors of Anime Corner readers, finishing fifth in the Top Seiyuus of 2022 poll. The upcoming theater compilation refers to the much-anticipated movie recapping the events of the first season, set to premiere in Spring 2024.
As Bocchi the Rock! celebrates its anniversary, below is the list of some staff who worked on the anime:
- Chief Director: Keiichiro Saito
- Script: Erika Yoshida
- Chief Animator Director/Character Design: Kerorila
- Assistant Director: Yusuke Yamamoto
- Live director: Yusuke Kawakami
- Live animator: Yuki Ito
- Color Designer: Asuka Yokota
- Art Director: Yasunao Moriyasu
- Director of Photography: Tsubasa Kanamori
- CG director: Katsuaki Miyaji
- Live CG director: Hiroaki Uchida
- Editor: Daisuke Hiraki
- Sound director: Akiko Fujita
- Sound effects: Shota Yaso
- Animation studio: CloverWorks
Crunchyroll licenses the anime for North America and describes the series as:
Hitori Gotoh, “Bocchi-chan,” is a girl who’s so introverted and shy around people that she’d always start her conversations with “Ah…” During her middle school years, she started playing the guitar, wanting to join a band because she thought it could be an opportunity for even someone shy like her to also shine. But because she had no friends, she ended up practicing guitar for six hours every day all by herself. After becoming a skilled guitar player, she uploaded videos of herself playing the guitar to the internet under the name “Guitar Hero” and fantasized about performing at her school’s cultural festival concert. But not only could she not find any bandmates, before she knew it, she was in high school and still wasn’t able to make a single friend! She was really close to becoming a shut-in, but one day, Nijika Ijichi, the drummer in Kessoku Band, reached out to her. And because of that, her everyday life started to change little by little…
The cast list is below:
- Hitori (Yoshino Aoyama)
- Nijika (Sayumi Suzushiro)
- Ryo (Saku Mizuno)
- Ikuyo (Ikumi Hasegawa)
- Kikuri Hiroi (Sayaka Senbongi)
- Seika Ijichi (Maaya Uchida)
- PA-san, JimiHen (Kotori Koiwai)
- Eliza Schmitz (Sally Amaki)
- Shima Iwashita (Maki Kawase)
- Michiyo Gotoh (Rie Suegara)
- Naoki Gotoh (Junji Majima)
- Futari Gotoh (Misaki Watada)
- Unnamed fans (Kana Ichinose, Miyuri Shimabukuro)
Source: Bocchi the Rock X (formerly Twitter), Official Website
© Aki Hajime/Houbunsha・Aniplex
