Anime
Happy Kanako’s Killer Life: Anime and Live-Action Series United
Non and Hana Tamegai show different versions of the hitwoman Kanako. The anime is being produced by Drive.
A joint visual with the live-action series has been released for the anime adaptation of Happy Kanako’s Killer Life (Shiawase Kanako no Koroshiya Seikatsu). Actress Non and the drawn Kanako stand back to back in the image. The TV anime of the manga comedy premieres in Japan in April 2027.
Two Portrayals of the Same Lead Character
The visual places two versions of Nishino Kanako side by side: Non plays her in the live-action series, while Hana Tamegai voices her in the anime. According to Anime!Anime!, the joint campaign marks the finale of the second live-action season on the Japanese streaming service DMM TV as well as the announced anime adaptation.
The manga by Toshiya Wakabayashi follows an office worker who, after quitting an exploitative company, takes a new job. Her surprisingly well-organized employer turns out to be a contract-killing firm. The unusual mix of everyday office life, dark humor and assassinations forms the core of the four-panel comic strips. According to the production, the total circulation of the manga volumes in Japan has exceeded 1.2 million copies.
In his statement, Wakabayashi describes how the two versions of Kanako emphasize different facets. Non, he says, plays the character in the live-action series more cheerfully and exuberantly than in the manga. With Hana Tamegai in the anime, on the other hand, he feels he already hears Kanako’s voice while reading. Non points to the freedom of movement in the animation, while Tamegai highlights the pace and bold colors of the anime version.
Anime Premiere in April 2027
Shinji Takamatsu is directing and writing the scripts, while Yoshiyuki Okubo is handling character design and serving as chief animation director. The animation is being produced by Studio Drive. Alongside Hana Tamegai as Kanako, Ryota Suzuki voices the colleague Sakurai and Junichi Suwabe voices the company boss.
An official teaser for the adaptation was already released when the anime was announced in October. It is linked from the website of the rights holder TOHO.
This video will only connect to YouTube once you play it.
No specific Japanese broadcast date or streaming provider for Germany has been announced so far. Other manga adaptations are also planned for 2027, including the contract-killer series MURCIÉLAGO and Everyone’s Darling Has a Secret.