Aniplex, A-1 Pictures, and Psyde Kick Studio presented the second set of television commercials and a new main visual for their original anime project Grow Up Show: Himawari no Circus-dan (Grow Up Show: The Sunflower Circus Troupe) on Saturday. The commercials announced and previewed the NOMELON NOLEMON duo’s opening theme song “Yurari Yureru” and the Aooo unit’s ending theme song “DAYS!”, and they also announced the anime’s July 4 premiere.
Opening theme version of commercial
Ending theme version of commercial
Image via Grow Up Show’s official website
© キルクスコレクション協会／「グロウアップショウ」製作委員会
The series will premiere on July 4 at 24:00 (effectively, July 5 at midnight) on Tokyo MX, BS11 and other channels. The anime will stream first on ABEMA and d Anime Store in Japan before streaming on other platforms.
Image via Grow Up Show anime’s X/Twitter account
©グロウアップショウ製作委員会
The anime’s story is set in the late 1950s and early 1960s, during the height of Japan’s economic boom, when the circus is a major form of entertainment. Different circus troupes travel throughout Japan to perform and compete for a chance to participate in the world-renowned festival called “Circus Collection.” One troupe called the “Sunflower Circus,” led by its ringmaster Maria, travels around Japan to perform, despite struggling with financial difficulties. However, they meet a circus prodigy named Mizuka Tsurumaki. This is the story of a one-of-a-kind circus show of young girls with big dreams.
Tomoka Noda stars as Mizuka Tsurumaki and Shiori Kurosaki plays Ōka Kawasumi.
Kanta Kamei (Oreshura, Dimension W, Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend) is directing the work, and Kurehito Misaki (Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend light novel illustrator) is the the original character designer. Takeshi Kikuchi (Skeleton Knight in Another World) is both writing and overseeing the series scripts. A-1 Pictures and Psyde Kick Studio are producing the anime.
A-1 Pictures established Psyde Kick Studio as a new label in July 2025. The label was founded for the purpose of pursuing greater freedom of creative expression using the knowhow A-1 Pictures has cultivated until now. The label also hopes to explore new possibilities in animation unbound by existing frameworks, and to challenge young creators with innovative planning and production workflows.
The label is working on multiple new projects. Jun Katou (production supervisor for 86, Sword Art Online franchises) is the representative for the label.
Sources: Grow Up Show: Himawari no Circus-dan anime’s website, Comic Natalie
