Keiko Shibata's beloved picture book phenomenon Pan-dorobō is preparing to jump from the page to the screen, with its television anime adaptation scheduled to premiere on October 2, 2026. Ahead of the broadcast, fans passing through JR Ikebukuro Station are being greeted by a massive, playful promotional display featuring the titular bread-stealing rogue and the infamous Nise Pan-dorobō.
Running from September 28 through October 4 along the Azalea Road outside the ticket gates, the large-scale advertisement invites commuters to pose alongside oversized figures of the characters. This whimsical street-level activation marks the official countdown to the series premiere, which will air weekly on Fridays at 6:40 PM, followed by rolling streaming releases across multiple platforms.
Stellar Voice Cast and Production Pedigree
The adaptation brings Shibata's charmingly chaotic world to life with an exceptional principal voice cast. Ayaka Asai steps into the oversized crust as the mischievous protagonist Pan-dorobō, accompanied by Junichi Suwabe as the Baker, Aki Toyosaki as Nise Pan-dorobō, Atsumi Tanezaki as the mysterious Pan-dorobō, and Kana Hanazawa narrating the adventures.
The original picture book series follows a delightfully quirky bread thief on an endless quest to find the most delicious loaf in the entire world, sneaking into local bakeries with boundless enthusiasm. With a high-profile production committee backed by KADOKAWA and a top-tier voice lineup, the upcoming television series aims to capture the heartwarming humor that made the source material a modern classic.
