6 New English Dub Cast Members Join Akane-banashi Anime
The English dub cast of the Akane-banashi anime continues to grow. According to Anime News Network, on July 4, 2026, it was announced that six new voice actors have joined the project. The new cast members include Kari Wahlgren, Greg Chun, Ben Diskin, SungWon Cho, Crispin Freeman, and Keith Silverstein.
Akane-banashi is based on the popular manga series written by Yuki Suenaga and illustrated by Takamasa Moue. The story revolves around Akane Osaki, a young girl who dreams of becoming a rakugo performer. After her father's failure in the rakugo world, Akane tries to carve her own path and become the greatest rakugo master. The manga has been serialized in Shonen Jump magazine since 2022 and quickly gained a large fanbase. The series has been praised for its successful portrayal of the intricacies of rakugo art and the determination of a young girl.
The anime adaptation was announced in 2025, and it has been revealed that Shin-Ei Animation is handling the production. Shinichi Matsumi is directing the series, with the screenplay written by Yukie Sugawara. It was previously announced that the English dub is being produced by Studiopolis, with Kimberly Woods voicing Akane, Chris Hackney as Shiguma, and Allegra Clark as Hikaru in leading roles. It has not yet been revealed which characters the newly added cast members will play, but given the experience and popularity of the names on the list, these roles are expected to be important supporting characters in the story.
This development is a source of great excitement, especially for Western fans. The support of such strong names in the English dub cast of Akane-banashi will help the anime reach a wider international audience. Additionally, the series dealing with an art form unique to Japanese culture like rakugo increases the importance of the dub being accurate and impressive. Fans are awaiting an official announcement regarding the release date of new episodes and when the dub will be available. The first season of the series is planned to air in the fall of 2026.
