The World Is Dancing Anime Unveils Opening Theme Video Set to Macaroni Empitsu’s “shusho”

Shochiku Co., Ltd. and CyberAgent, Inc. have released the opening theme for the new anime The World Is Dancing, which premiered in Japan on July 2. The opening features the song “shusho” by Macaroni Empitsu. The anime is now streaming on HIDIVE.

The sequence shows a striking visual style, moving from black-and-white imagery into full color. It highlights the emotional and energetic tone of the series. The staff credits in the opening were handwritten by calligrapher Satoshi Nemoto, who also designed the show’s title lettering.

Opening Theme – “shusho” by Macaroni Empitsu:

To celebrate the premiere of Episode 1, Macaroni Empitsu also released a special video message:

A new congratulatory illustration was shared by legendary manga artist Takehiko Inoue (Slam Dunk, Vagabond), who previously mentored the series creator Kazuto Mihara:

The series is produced by studio Cypic (Umamusume: Cinderella Gray, The Summer Hikaru Died) and directed by Toshimasa Kuroyanagi (The Great Passage, Backflip!!). Episode 2 will have its world premiere on July 2 at Anime Expo 2026 in the United States.

Key Visual:

CAST:
Yumiri Hanamori as Oniyasha
Simba Tsuchiya as Ishiya
Maaya Uchida as Kogane
Romi Park as Zojiro
Katsuyuki Konishi as Kan’ami
Haruki Ishiya as Junigoro
Takahiro Sakurai as Ashikaga Yoshimitsu
Nobuo Tobita as Nijo Yoshimoto
Mamiko Noto as Nariko
Inori Minase as Chiharu
Hazuki Seto as Satsuki
Youji Matsuda as Inuo
Miyuki Sawashiro as Shirabyoshi
Kenichiro Matsuda as Yoriyuki Hosokawa
Katsuhisa Houki as Elder
Haruo Yamagishi as Samanosuke
Soshiro Hori as Mantaro
Kosuke Echigoya as Senri
Kaito Udagawa as Toshigo
Reiou Tsuchida as Hifumi

STAFF:
Based on the manga “The World Is Dancing” by Kazuto Mihara originally serialized in
the weekly MORNING magazine published by KODANSHA Ltd.
Director: Toshimasa Kuroyanagi
Character Design: Keigo Sasaki
Series Composition/Script: Sawako Kawamitsu
Sub Director: Shuhei Fuchimoto
Sub Character Design: Iori Hisatake
Prop Design: Odashi
Art Setting: Mamio Ogawa
Art Director: Hiromasa Ogura, Kazuhiro Inoue
Color Design: Naoko Sato, Kumiko Naruge
3D Supervisor: Yoshinori Nakano
Director of Photography: Yutaro Kikuchi
Editing: Daisuke Hiraki
Sound Director: Yukio Nagasaki
Music: Daisuke Shinoda
Opening theme song: Macaroni Empitsu “shusho” (TOY’S FACTORY)
Calligraphy/Title Lettering: Satoshi Nemoto
Noh Choreography: Tsumura Reijiro
Choreography: Kaiji Moriyama, Mikiko Kawamura
Noh Supervision: Kohei Kawaguchi
History Supervision: Katsuyuki Shimizu
Animation Producer: Mizoguchi KAN
Animation Production: CygamesPictures

The World Is Dancing is originally a manga by Kazuto Mihara that was serialized in Kodansha’s Morning magazine. Although the manga is only six volumes long, it gained attention for its strong storytelling and timeless themes. The English version of the manga is currently available online through Kodansha, including a free preview of Chapter 1.

STORY:
In 1374, amid the turmoil of the Northern and Southern Courts’ long running conflict, a boy named Oniyasha is born into a family of sarugaku theater performers. He spends his days in a kind of quiet gloom, haunted by a simple but persistent question: Why do people dance? Then, one day, he witnesses a dance that he feels to be “good”—and everything begins to change. This is the story of the beautiful young boy who would one day shape the art of Noh and be remembered as Zeami.

Source: Press Release

©Kazuto Mihara, KODANSHA/”The World Is Dancing” Production Committee.

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