Nippon Animation, the treasured animation studio behind iconic globally-known classics such as “Anne of Green Gables”, “Chibi Maruko-chan”, “Future Boy Conan”, “Pénélope”, “Sindbad”, “Maya the Bee”, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”, “Tales of Little Women” among thousands of others, will break new ground in style this April with “Araiguma Calcal-dan”, a spin-off of the “Rascal the Raccoon” franchise, which had its roots in 1977’s “Rascal the Raccoon”, part of the studio’s 26-show World Masterpiece Theater series. Based on the autobiographical novel “Rascal” by Sterling North, the story focuses on North’s youth in Wisconsin and his friendship with the orange raccoon that has captivated the world by storm. Rascal himself turned from the show’s main star to the studio’s mascot since the show’s conclusion, and has been featured in thousands of merchandising featuring the beloved and cute orange raccoon including toys, plushes, toilet papers, books, clothing and food among a number of others. The franchise also has received two other spin-off shows: 2006’s “Poka Poka Mori no Rascal” and 2014’s “Metantei Rascal”.
Here’s the post on “X” showing the teaser trailer:
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「あらいぐま カルカル団」
ティザーPV公開
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本家ラスカル役 #野沢雅子 が担当2025年放送開始
豪華声優陣でお届け#榎木淳弥 #八代拓 #小野賢章 #阿座上洋平 #津田健次郎#カルカル団 pic.twitter.com/GyXdkdOpEt
— 『あらいぐま カルカル団』アニメ公式 (@calcaldan) December 12, 2024
Today, Nippon Animation and Yomiuri TV have revealed the story and its second poster after the voice actors’ roles in the show were revealed gradually throughout January, accompanied by a teaser trailer last year with Masako Nozawa, the voice of the legendary Rascal the raccoon narrating it. A secret society known as the “Calcal-dan” are meant on world domination, as these colorful animals must fullfill their company’s goals, under the watch of their boss. The team has a branch in the quieter Tama ward of Tokyo which has low business performances and its employees have not seen a raise in their plans for a while. The show is helmed by first-time director Henry Hirakawa, with Ayano Yoshioka handling character designs and the music being composed by Arisa Okehazama.
Junya Enoki voices Acacal: a cheerful and hopeful rookie to the branch, Logical: a low-level executive who is always keeps a keen-eye on business is voiced by Taku Yashiro, Kensho Ono voices Subcal: a mondern-minded employee who expresses a level of detachments to everything. Yohei Akazami voices the bruisy and kind Comical and Kenjiro Tsuda voices Middle: the head honcho of the branch who has a mysterious blue fox aura.
“Araiguma Calcal-dan” is part of many projects planned for the 50th anniversary of Nippon Animation. For the last 50 years, the studio has grown from its beginnings as an animation studio to one of Japan’s major global licensing companies.
Find out as these colorful rascal animals succeed their plans when “Araiguma Calcal-dan” comes to YTV and BS Nippon TV this April in Japan. No word yet on if the series will be available outside of Japan, but stay tuned, we’ll share if that is announced.