Naomi Osaka, one of the best tennis players in the world, is producing and starring in an anime based on a little-known manga.
Yesterday, Osaka and her production company Hana Kuma announced that the tennis star said she would adapt a manga called “Allure: Primrose” into an adult anime TV series. It’s understandable if you haven’t heard of the series before, as it’s a standalone comic from artist Sinitus Tempo. The description for the first book in the series explains that it follows “Kane Koizumi, an orphan on the streets of Tokyo, who has always dreamed of a life of luxury. After an unexpected encounter lands her in the hands of a gang, she is trained to become a heroine who administers the enhanced drug Allure The perfect assassin.”
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The series is co-produced by queer, Afro-Latino writing and producing team Rebel Maverick, consisting of Matt Nicholas and Nastassja Kayln, and Osaka will currently serve as showrunner for the series Voices the protagonist and serves as executive producer. Kenny Byerly (“Big Hero 6: The Series,” “Big City,” “Hilda”) also participated in the adaptation and writing of the series. Few other details about the series have been provided, but the two production companies apparently plan to bring it to market early this year, Deadline reports.
Founded in 2022, Osaka-based production company Hana Kuma has so far mainly produced documentary and podcast-style projects, but last year secured funding from LeBron James-founded company SpringHill and Fornite developer Epic Games. “We have the opportunity to tell you stories that I’ve never seen before, and I think that’s what attracted me to it,” Osaka said of the funding. “Being from Japan and Haiti and certainly from the United States, I’ve spoken to a lot of different people. I have a very different heritage and upbringing than that. I know there are a lot of people like me out there and just try to tap into that. I just tell stories that I think are interesting and that I think people will want to hear.”
Allure: Evening Primrose doesn’t have a release date or even a platform yet, so you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled.
