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Crunchyroll Streams '1st Person Narrative' Anime OneRoom

Media distribution service Crunchyroll announced on Wednesday that it will stream the original anime OneRoom as it airs in Japan. The first episode will premiere worldwide outside of Asia on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. EST, and subsequent episodes will stream on Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m.

Crunchyroll describes the story of the series with "first-person narrative" as follows:

You are the protagonist. A new project in virtual anime from SMIRAL Animation that also brought you the "Anitore" series and "Makuranodanshi." This time, the project is about 3 stories that develop in your (one) room.

One Room will air in Japan beginning on Janaury 11 on Tokyo MX and Sun TV, and will stream on Niconico.

Kantoku (The "Hentai" Prince and the Stony Cat., Garakowa -Restore the World- original character designer) is designing the original characters for One Room, and Yasuhiro Okuda (Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha) is adapting those character designs for animation. Typhoon Graphics (animation production assistance for Digimon Adventure tri. films) is animating the series. Eiji Mano is in charge of the original story, and Aose Shimoi is writing the scripts. Takashi Sakuma is the executive producer, Hiroki Matsumoto of Atelier PLATZ is the art director, Chieko Hibi is in charge of color design, Fumi Namba is the composite director, and Shun Tokuda is editing the series. Entertainment label SMIRAL (Anime De Training! Ex, Makura no Danshi) is in charge of the original concept.

The show's cast includes:

M.A.O as Yui Hanasaka, a 17-year-old girl from Hokkaido who goes to Tokyo in order to take her college entrance exams. She lives with her older sister while in Tokyo, and she is a neat and earnest person who does everything with the utmost effort. She stars in episodes one to four of the anime, and M.A.O will perform the arc's theme song "Harumachi Clover" (Clover that Awaits Spring).

Rie Murakawa as Natsuki Momohara, a 14-year-old middle school student. She is the younger sister of the protagonist, who works in Tokyo. She barges into her brother's apartment on the pretense of giving him "life guidance." While she exudes a naive and youthful air, she is actually really responsible, and good with housework. She tends to spoil her brother, but is not good at being straightforward with her feelings. She stars in episodes five to eight of the anime, and Murakawa will perform the arc's theme song "Natsuzora Yell" (Summer Sky Yell).

Suzuko Mimori as Moka Aoshima, a 21-year-old singer-songwriter. She made her debut as a singer once, but couldn't follow it up, and works part-time jobs in Tokyo while chasing her dream. She is childhood friends with the protagonist, and reunites with him by chance in Tokyo. She is cheerful, and easily opens up to anyone. She gives off the impression of someone who stubbornly refuses to give up, but she has the heart of a young girl. While a hard worker, and world-weary, she also gets tired easily. She stars in episodes nine to 12 of the anime, and Mimori will perform the arc's theme song "Kibō Refrain" (Hopeful Refrain).

A spinoff anime series titled Room Mate: One Room side M will premiere in April. The series will tell "another story" featuring male characters. Hidari (Sasami-san@Ganbaranai, Fractale, Santa Company) is designing the characters for the series.