New Prequel Film Confirmed for 2027
Bocchi the Rock! The Movie: Starry Footprints is officially in production at CloverWorks for a 2027 release in Japan. The announcement, shared via a teaser trailer and visual on November 1, 2026, confirms the franchise will move beyond its recent recap projects into new animated territory. This film follows the commercial performance of the 2024 two-part compilation films, Bocchi the Rock! Re: and Bocchi the Rock! Re:Re:, which topped Japanese box office charts.
While those projects revisited the first season, Starry Footprints will adapt new material from the original manga by Aki Hamazi. The project arrives as the series continues to maintain its standing as one of the most popular titles in the medium, currently holding high rankings on community platforms like AniList.
What We Know About Starry Footprints
The upcoming film is a prequel based on the chapter "Hoshi ni Tamukeru Ai no Hana" found at the end of the manga's fifth volume. The story shifts focus away from the main Kessoku Band members to explore the past of Seika Ijichi, the manager of the Starry live house and Nijika’s older sister. The narrative is set ten years before the formation of the band, detailing Seika’s own history as a musician.
Maaya Uchida will return to voice Seika Ijichi, with Sayumi Suzushiro reprising her role as Nijika Ijichi. Studio CloverWorks has assembled a core staff including director Shin Wakabayashi, scriptwriter Erika Yoshida, and character designer Yukiko Horiguchi. The production team also features art director Yuki Funagakure and director of photography Yuya Sakuma. Graphics are handled by Yuto Hama, with editing by Daisuke Hiraki.
Why It Matters
The announcement expands the Bocchi the Rock! universe while fans wait for the previously announced second season of the TV series. The franchise remains a critical powerhouse; as of September 2026, the original series held a global score of 8.70/10 on AniGems—which aggregates data from platforms like AniList and MyAnimeList—ranking third among all tracked titles for its debut season.
By focusing on Seika’s backstory, the film provides context for the Starry live house and the sibling dynamic that anchors much of the series' emotional weight. The project also maintains continuity with the television staff, as Erika Yoshida continues her work on scripts for the theatrical release.
Where to Watch Bocchi the Rock!
The original 2022 television series and the 2024 compilation films are currently available for streaming on Crunchyroll. While a Latin American Spanish dub was released in late 2024, an English dub for the series or the films has not been produced as of November 2, 2026.
Fans looking to catch up on the story before the 2027 film can find all current animated content on the platform.
What Happens Next
No specific release month has been set for the 2027 Japanese theatrical debut of Starry Footprints. International release dates and theatrical distribution details remain unannounced. Outside of the film, the Kessoku Band ASIA TOUR 2027, titled ToAsia, is scheduled to begin in March 2027. Production also continues on the second season of the TV anime, with Yusuke Yamamoto confirmed as director.