Wandance

The story is set in modern-day Japan, primarily within the vibrant and competitive high school street dance scene of Toyama Prefecture.

It follows the daily lives and intense training of students at several high schools, with Ichirin High School's dance club at the heart of the narrative.

Kaboku Kotani is a high school freshman who struggles with a severe stutter, making him shy and afraid to stand out.

His life changes when he sees his classmate, the energetic Hikari Wanda, practicing dance with total, uninhibited joy.

Drawn to her passion and the idea that dance is a way to express himself without speaking, Kaboku decides to join the dance club with her.

Despite being a complete beginner and having a bad experience with dance in middle school, Kaboku's natural talent begins to blossom.

Guided by the club president On Miyao and through intense practice with the experienced Hikari, he quickly improves.

The story follows Kaboku's journey of growth, as he faces dance battles, competitions, and a rivalry with the gifted Iori Itsukushima, all while deepening his bond with Hikari and his teammates.

Ichirin High School

Kaboku Kotani

Voiced by: Kōki Uchiyama | Motion Actor: KAITA

Kaboku, nicknamed "Kabo," is the tall, quiet protagonist who struggles with a stutter that makes him avoid the spotlight.

He was a basketball player in middle school, and his height and good looks make him stand out against his will.

He's captivated by Hikari and starts dancing, discovering he has an amazing ear for music and a unique ability to express it through movement.

Hikari Wanda

Voiced by: Hina Yomiya | Motion Actor: KANATA

The passionate and determined heroine of the story who dreams of becoming the world's best dancer.

While she may not have the most muscle, she's an experienced dancer with an incredible natural sense for rhythm and flow that often leaves others in awe.

On Miyao

Voiced by: Ayaka Suwa | Motion Actor: ReiNa

The super-cool and reliable third-year president of the dance club, often called "On-chan."

She absolutely hates being called "President Miyao" and acts as the team's de facto coach.

She was inspired to dance after watching a Ne-Yo music video and plans to become a stage director after graduation.

Iori Itsukushima

Voiced by: Toshiki Masuda | Motion Actor: YOUTEE

A highly skilled second-year dancer who is considered the best battler of his age in the prefecture.

He was initially a phantom member of the club because he believes true dance is improvised and dislikes practicing set choreography.

Originally a breakdancer, he now mains house dance and has a fierce rivalry with Gaku Kabeya. He also has an unexpected sweet tooth and is surprisingly inflexible.

Kanemitsu High School

Gaku Kabeya

Voiced by: Yuma Uchida | Motion Actor: YU-KI

An intense B-BOY whose skills are even acknowledged by the prideful Iori.

He is a breakdance purist who tends to look down on dancers who choose other styles.

He's known for wearing a black mask while dancing and has false front teeth from a past dance injury.

Shoya High School

Usen Takumi

Voiced by: Yū Hayashi

The president of the Shoya High dance club and a formidable opponent in dance battles.

In a tournament, he manages to defeat both On and Hikari before ultimately being bested by Iori in the semifinals.

Street Dance

The main focus of the series, encompassing various dance styles like breakdancing and house dance that originated outside of traditional dance studios.

It's portrayed as a powerful tool for self-expression and communication.

Motion Capture

A key technology used in the anime's production, where the movements of real professional dancers are recorded and translated into 3D animation.

This allows the dance scenes to be incredibly fluid, dynamic, and authentic.

IMAnimation W

A new late-night anime programming block by TV Asahi, on which *WanDance* is scheduled to air in Japan.

The original manga was nominated for the "Next Manga Award" in the comics category in both 2019 and 2020.

It was also nominated for the "ebookjapan Manga Award 2021."

One recommender raved, "The expression and direction of the dance is so hot! The art has a power that makes it feel like the characters will leap off the page. I'm sure I'm not the only one who starts dancing in front of a mirror after reading it!"

With over 900,000 copies in circulation as of August 2024, the series has been praised for its authentic and thrilling depiction of street dance.

The story is deeply personal, drawing from the author's own experiences with stuttering and as a dancer, which adds a layer of profound emotional depth.

The author has also cited the American TV show *Glee* and the art of Asumiko Nakamura as major influences on the work.

The opening theme is "Stare In Wonder," performed by BE:FIRST.

The ending theme is "Wondrous," performed by ELSEE.

Manga

The original manga is written and illustrated by Coffee.

It has been serialized in Kodansha's *Monthly Afternoon* magazine since January 2019 and is also available on the *Magazine Pocket* app.

Anime

The TV anime series is set to premiere in October 2025.

It will air on the TV Asahi network in Japan and be streamed exclusively worldwide on Disney+.

The anime is being co-produced by the legendary studio Madhouse and Cyclone Graphics, known for its high-quality 3D animation.

The series is directed and written by Michiya Katō, who also handles the VFX.

A standout feature is the involvement of world-famous dancer RIEHATA as the official Dance Producer, ensuring top-tier choreography.

The production also uses extensive motion capture, with professional dancers like KAITA and KANATA performing as the main characters to create realistic dance sequences.

In an unusual move for an anime, the series will feature over 30 original insert songs from a massive lineup of acclaimed artists, including Shinichi Osawa, Jazztronik, and Yaffle.

The creator, who goes by the pen name Coffee, is a dancer and also has a stutter, just like the protagonist, Kaboku.

The story was originally planned to focus on the heroine, Hikari.

However, after discussions with their editor, Coffee decided to channel their own life experiences into the story, making Kaboku the central character and exploring themes of overcoming communication barriers through art.

While the official manga title is written as "Wondance," the TV anime's logo spells it as "WANDANCE."

To celebrate the release of the second manga volume, the author, Coffee, posted a video on YouTube of themself performing a dance routine.