Dropout Idol Fruit Tart Anime Delayed to October Due to COVID-19
posted on by Egan Loo
The official website for the television anime of Sou Hamayumiba's Dropout Idol Fruit Tart (Ochikobore Fruit Tart) manga announced on Wednesday that the anime has been delayed from July to October, due to the effects of the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The production committee will announce more details such as the precise premiere date on the anime's website and Twitter account, as soon as they are decided.
The manga's story begins when first-year high school student Ino Sakura heads to Tokyo to pursue becoming an idol. She teams up with fellow Nezumi Dorm residents — unpopular former child actor Roko, musician Hayu, and model Nina — to form the new idol unit Fruit Tart. These dropout idols get back on their feet and enter the world of show business to prevent their dorm from being demolished.
The cast includes:
Risa Kubota as Roko Sekino
Haruka Shiraishi as Hayu Nukui
Reina Kondo as Nina Maehara
Kyōka Moriya as Hemo Midori
Kaoru Sakura as Chiko Sekino, a Cream Anmitsu idol unit member
Yū Sasahara as Nua Nakamachi, a Cream Anmitsu idol unit member
Takako Tanaka as Rua Nakamachi, a Cream Anmitsu idol unit member
Yōko Hikasa also stars in the anime Hoho Kajino, Fruit Tart's manager. Rena Maeda and Yuiko Tatsumi are joining the cast as the Cream Anmitsu idol unit's manager Riri Higashi and Ino Sakura's classmate Tone Honmachi, respectively.
Keiichiro Kawaguchi (ISLAND, Million Doll, Please tell me! Galko-chan) is directing the series at feel. Kawaguchi is in charge of the series scripts with Tatsuya Takahashi (Katana Maidens: Toji no Miko, Ms. Koizumi loves ramen noodles). Sumie Kinoshita (Forest of Piano, Girlish Number) is designing the characters.
Additional staff members include:
- Main Animators: Motoaki Satou, Atsushi Yamamoto
- Art Director: Yoshimi Umino
- Art Design: Junko Nagasawa
- Background Art: Production ai
- Color Key Artist: Sari Tagawa
- Compositing Director of Photography: Fumi Nanba
- Editing: Rumi Maruyama
- Sound Director: Ryousuke Naya
- Sound Production: Studio Mausu
- Music: MONACA
- Music Production: Kadokawa
Hamayumiba launched the earlier Hanayamata manga in Houbunsha's Manga Time Kirara Forward magazine in 2011 and ended it in 2018. The 10th and final compiled book volume shipped in April 2018. That manga inspired a television anime by Madhouse in 2014, and Crunchyroll streamed the series as it aired in Japan. Sentai Filmworks licensed the anime, and released it with an English dub on home video in 2016. The manga also inspired several smartphone apps, as well as a PlayStation Vita game in 2014.