Studio DEEN will return to produce a new Higurashi: When They Cry TV anime, with the original voice cast reprising their roles to celebrate the franchise's 20th anime anniversary.
Kadokawa revealed during a special 20th anniversary livestream on June 20 that the Higurashi: When They Cry franchise will receive a brand-new TV anime produced by Studio DEEN, with the original voice cast returning.
The announcement arrived with the tagline "Welcome back, everyone," signaling a return to the horror-mystery roots that made the franchise a landmark of mid-2000s anime. Studio DEEN, which produced the original 2006 adaptation and its 2007 follow-up, is back at the helm for this new project a significant detail given that the more recent GOU and SOTSU installments were handled by Passione.
The confirmed returning cast members include Soichiro Hoshi as Keiichi Maebara, Mai Nakahara as Rena Ryugu, Satsuki Yukino pulling double duty as twins Mion and Shion Sonozaki, Mika Kanai as Satoko Hojo, and Yukari Tamura as Rika Furude. The reunion of these five core performers is a clear gesture toward fans of the original adaptation, many of whom consider the Studio DEEN era the definitive anime version of Ryukishi07's visual novel.
The Higurashi franchise traces its origins to the 2002 Comiket release of Ryukishi07's original visual novel, which gained a devoted following through its blend of pastoral village life and escalating psychological horror. Studio DEEN's first anime adaptation aired 26 episodes in 2006, covering the franchise's question arcs, followed by the 24-episode When They Cry II: Solutions in 2007, which tackled the answer arcs.
The series saw a modern revival when Higurashi: When They Cry - GOU premiered in October 2020, initially marketed as a remake before revealing itself as a sequel narrative. Its continuation, SOTSU, followed in July 2021. Both were produced by Passione rather than Studio DEEN, and while they attracted a new generation of viewers, reception was divided among longtime fans who felt the tonal shift departed from the original's strengths.
The announcement confirmed that production has been green-lit, but no release window, episode count, or story details have been disclosed. It remains unclear whether the new series will adapt previously unadapted material from the visual novel saga, tell an original story, or revisit existing arcs with a fresh approach under Studio DEEN's direction.
Additional staff details including director, series composer, and character designer have yet to be announced. Given that the project was framed around the 20th anniversary of the 2006 anime, further reveals are likely timed for upcoming industry events later in 2026.
Higurashi's enduring popularity across visual novels, anime, manga, and live-action adaptations makes it one of the most recognizable properties in the horror-mystery genre. The return of Studio DEEN and the original voice cast positions this new anime as a direct appeal to the franchise's core audience, while the anniversary framing suggests Kadokawa sees long-term value in the IP. Fans awaiting more concrete details will need to keep an eye on official channels as the project moves forward.
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