Bocchi the Rock Prequel Film Hoshi no Ashiato Announced for 2027

Aniplex announced on November 1 that Bocchi the Rock! Hoshi no Ashiato will open in Japan in 2027. The theatrical prequel shifts attention to sisters Seika and Nijika Ijichi, tracing their history before Nijika helped form Kessoku Band.

The Ijichi sisters move to center stage

Hoshi no Ashiato puts Seika at the center of a story shared with her younger sister, Nijika. Its prequel setting gives the film a clear place in the franchise: this is an earlier chapter about the sisters, before the band at the heart of the television series came together.

That setup gives the movie a focused, character-specific scope. The first materials frame Seika and Nijika together as the subject of the story, with the formation of Kessoku Band still in the future. This places the Ijichi family relationship ahead of the group's later performances.

Maaya Uchida returns to voice Seika, while Sayumi Suzushiro reprises Nijika. Their casting keeps the sisters connected to the established anime performances even as the film moves into an earlier period of their lives. The announcement also arrived with a teaser video and a new visual built around the pair, offering the first look at the movie's focus. The image places them together in a car, with a guitar case between them, reinforcing the film's focus on their relationship and connection to music.

The exact Japanese opening date has not yet been announced beyond the 2027 window. International theatrical or streaming plans also remain unconfirmed.

Main staff and the first ticket release

Shin Wakabayashi is directing Hoshi no Ashiato. Erika Yoshida is writing the screenplay, and Yukiko Horiguchi is handling character designs. CloverWorks is producing the animation. The credits establish a dedicated main creative team for the prequel film. Aniplex also published comments from the main staff and cast.

The source manga is credited to Aki Hamaji and continues in Houbunsha's Manga Time Kirara MAX. For the film, the emphasis announced so far is narrow and character-specific: Seika and Nijika's shared past, rather than a broad retelling of the television story.

Japanese advance sales are also beginning well ahead of the film's eventual opening. The first MovieTicket card goes on sale at participating theaters and online retailers on November 6 for 1,600 yen including tax. Its design uses a newly drawn Seika and Nijika illustration by Horiguchi.

A limited illustration sticker matching the selected card design will be offered while supplies last. Two sticker designs are listed, with buyers receiving the one that corresponds to their card. Once the bonus runs out, the ticket card itself will remain available without the extra.

The November 6 advance-ticket launch is the next confirmed milestone for Hoshi no Ashiato. For now, the central facts are set: a 2027 Japanese theatrical release, a pre-Kessoku Band story about the Ijichi sisters, and a returning cast led by Uchida and Suzushiro.