Illustrator neco's 'Heavily Armed High School Girls' Project Gets TV Anime Adaptation
Illustrator neco's long-time fan-favorite project 'Heavily Armed High School Girls' is officially getting a TV anime adaptation. According to Anime News Network, the series will be directed by Masaki Tachibana, known for Princess Principal. The production is scheduled to air in 2027.
So who is neco? The Japanese illustrator is known for character designs for games like Azur Lane and Kantai Collection. His own 'Heavily Armed High School Girls' series is a concept that has been spreading through doujinshi and art books since the early 2010s, combining school uniform-clad girls with massive weapons. This project brings together neco's unique comic style and detailed mecha drawings.
The involvement of Masaki Tachibana in this project is exciting. Tachibana previously earned praise for the steampunk-era spy story and character-driven narrative in Princess Principal. Having also worked on productions like Girlish Number and Scum's Wish, the director seems poised to create a work blending action and shoujo-ai elements. The anime studio has not been announced yet, but names like Studio 3Hz or Liden Films, where Tachibana has worked before, are being mentioned.
This news came as a big surprise, especially for fans of the 'armed girls' genre. Viewers of series like Girls und Panzer, High School Fleet, and Symphogear are eagerly looking forward to neco's original universe. The project is one of the rare works that combine mecha design with everyday school life. Although 2027 still seems far away, the studio, cast, and first visuals are expected to be shared in the coming months. It is definitely a production worth following.
