Kaji Yuki stars! The new short anime series “Future Kid Takara” produced by STUDIO 4°C will be screened for the world’s first appearance at the Kansai Expo in Osaka in September

A new short anime series, “Future Kid Takara,” was produced by NHK Enterprises and animation studio STUDIO4°C, and has been decided to be screened for the world’s first screening at the 2025 Japan International Expo, also known as the “Osaka Kansai Expo,” on September 25th, 2025. The story depicts a completely original story that gives you comprehensive learning about global warming and climate change in approximately 11 episodes, with Kaji Yuki playing the role of Takara, the protagonist, the future child. With the announcement, special footage and poster visuals were also released.

“Future Kid Takara” is a collaboration between NHK Enterprises, which has been producing documentaries that communicate the global climate crisis for many years and appeal to solutions in response to the growing climate crisis, and STUDIO4°C, an animation studio that is popular worldwide for its films such as “Children of the Sea,” “The Movie: Poupelle of the Entotsu Town,” and the film “ChaO,” which is scheduled to be released this summer. This is a new short anime that is made up of animation and real footage, and depicts an original story that is useful for learning about global warming.

Takara, a future child who has been in time warping since 2100, explores the Earth, where global warming is being affected by global warming, together with Sarah and her friends. And we awaken to taking various actions that we can now in order to protect this beautiful earth. It consists of approximately 5 minutes and 11 episodes, and is scheduled to develop worksheets that can be used as teaching materials in school classes in the future.

The main character, Takara, will be played by Kaji Yuki, a popular voice actor who has been active in numerous anime, including Eren Jaeger in Attack on Titan, Todoroki Shoto in My Hero Academia, and Kozume Kenma in Haikyu!!. The role of Sarah is played by child actor Yoshida Honoka, who has received good reviews for her role as the film “Phoenix Flowers of Eden” .com and also appears in the historical drama “Berabou.”

The teaser poster released with the announcement depicts the main character Takara, and conveys the message to us with full energy, “To connect this beautiful earth to the future.” And behind it is Takara’s item, the plane Lampho, flying leisurely around the Earth.

Furthermore, the special video, which was unveiled for the first time, features a scene consisting of anime and real footage, and features the moment when Sara rides on a Ranfo with Takara and sets out on an exploration on Earth, where the effects of global warming are occurring. Expectations are high for this groundbreaking project that will help you learn about global warming through anime.

The new short anime series “Future Kid Takara” by NHK Enterprise and animation studio STUDIO4°C will be screened with its world premiere on September 25th, 2025, the anniversary of the 10th birthday of the SDGs, at the EXPO Hall of the Osaka Kansai Expo.

Visitors to the Expo can watch it for free on the day, but advance reservations will be required for the event. For information on how to make a reservation, please check the reservation system on the Expo’s official website. Details of the event will be announced at a later date on the Future Kid Takara website.

Planning Producer: Tanaka Eiko (STUDIO4°C)

“The Future Child Takara” and his friends have been around since 2100. This beloved character was developed through crowdfunding called Kickstarter. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to those who agreed to this.

This time, it was decided that the first thing we would like to deliver it to children as a five-minute anime that lets them learn about global warming, and with advice from scientists and education experts, we created it together with NHK Enterprises. It is a work that is both fantasy and allows you to propose a valuable message. The main reason why Sano Yuta aimed to direct animated film is because he believed that the power of animation can change the world. If this work could change the consciousness of children and people around the world, there would be no such thing as great. I would like to dedicate this work to the future of the Earth.

Planning Producer: Katatsu Kyoko (NHK Enterprise Executive Producer)

For many years I have produced documentaries that convey the climate crisis and appeal to solutions. This project began with the 2021 NHK special “2030 Fork into the Future” from STUDIO4°C, President Tanaka Eiko sympathized with me. “We’re still in time now! We can change the future!” Can’t we use the power of Japan’s proud anime to convey our feelings to children? This is my first attempt at anime, as I’ve been a member of the press. Meanwhile, President Tanaka was a producer for My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki’s Delivery Service, and later founded STUDIO4°C and has continued to create works that reach children’s hearts, such as “Children of the Sea Beasts” and “The Movie: Poupelle of the Entotsu Town.” This encounter brings together special teams that transcend industry boundaries. After trial and error, a unique and impactful work was created, combining exciting anime with footage introducing the extreme weather and efforts to resolve the climate crisis that are happening on Earth today. I hope that as many children as possible will reach this beautiful planet into the future.

Kaji Yuki/Takara (child who has been in time warping since 2100)

This is Kaji Yuki, who will be the voice of Takara.
This is an animation content that Japan is proud of and will carry on the future. I am truly honored to be able to participate as a voice actor in the original anime, which will be shown for the first time at the Kansai Expo in Osaka.
Takara, who I played, is a child from the future. They are truly characters with a glow of children, full of curiosity and energy, as if they were treasured. I faced the drama depicted head-on with a pure attitude. This work will resonate with a wide range of generations. Please look forward to its release!

Yoshida Honoka/The role of Sara (modern child)

Sara was a positive girl and I was relieved that she told me to “do it the way you are,” but I was really nervous about recording.
I’ve never been much concerned about environmental issues before, so I’ve never thought about it properly. I just thought, “It’s hot.” What can we do to protect the earth? I’m currently studying food waste as part of my school class, so I wanted to share my opinions with everyone on environmental issues! We would like you to take a look at this work, learn about environmental issues, and think about them together!

(C)Beyond C./Future Kid Takara Production Committee

《Nakase Kotaro》