Back in April, esteemed anime production company P.A. Works (best known for shows like Shirobako, Hanasaku Iroha, and Angel Beats) launched an exciting new wild-west racing anime called Appare-Ranman!. It came out of the gate running, broadcasting across Japanese television channels and globally streaming via Funimation. By the time the fourth episode was set to air, though, things got rocky. Due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus, production on the show was halted and the broadcast was indefinitely postponed. For the last few months, nobody was sure when the series would be coming back and finishing its run. Thankfully, fans are in the dark no longer, as it’s been confirmed that the show will be restarting its broadcast on July 3.
The official website for the original P.A. Works series confirmed the news, specifying that Appare-Ranman! would be restarting its broadcast from the first episode on July 3, airing on AT-X, Tokyo MX, KBS Kyoto, Sun TV, and BS11. The restarted broadcast will then trickle on over to TV Aichi on July 7, followed by Kitanihon Broadcasting on July 10. For fans who want to wait until the as-of-yet-unbroadcast episode 4 airs, you’ll be able to catch that on July 24.
Appare-Ranman! takes place at the end of the 19th century. An awkward accident forces the socially inept engineer Sorano Appare and the cowardly samurai Isshiki Kosame onto a tiny boat drifting toward America. When the two arrive on new soil, they decide to participate in the Trans-America Wild Race in order to win the prize money so they can afford to return to Japan. The two of them clash with wild rivals, crazy outlaws, and the cruelty of nature itself as they speed through the Wild West and race from Los Angels all the way to New York in a self-built steam-powered car.
P.A. Works is producing Appare-Ranman!, with Takeshi Kikuchi and Daijo Kudo credited as project planners. The original story concept, meanwhile, is credited to APPERRACING. Masakazu Hashimoto, director of Tari Tari and various Crayon Shin-chan films, is set to direct the series. He’ll also be supervising the series scripts and have a credit for working on the original story drafts. Yurie Oohigashi is set to be the character designer, adapting original designs by Ahndongshik, who previously worked on Gagoze. Oohigashi will also be the chief animation director, while Shiho Takeuchi handles mechanical designs.
Source: Anime News Network