Lycoris Recoil

"Their time together and the future they choose."

Lycoris Recoil (リコリス・リコイル) is an original Japanese anime series produced by A-1 Pictures. The anime series premiered from July 2 to September 24, 2022.

Plot
For these peaceful days――there’s a secret behind it all. A secret organization that prevents crimes: “DA - Direct Attack”. And their group of all-girl agents: “Lycoris”.

This peaceful everyday life is all thanks to these young girls.

The elite Chisato Nishikigi is the strongest Lycoris agent of all time. Alongside is Takina Inoue, the talented but mysterious Lycoris.

They work together at one of its branches–Café LycoReco.

Here, the orders this café takes range from coffee and sweets to childcare, shopping, teaching Japanese to foreign students, etc.

The free-spirited and optimistic pacifist, Chisato. And the cool-headed and efficient Takina.

The chaotic everyday lives of this mismatched duo begin!

Planning and staff
Regarding the impetus for the project, Asaura, who is the original story writer, said that she was the topic of discussion during a meeting for the anime Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend. At first, it was a severe and dark work with a strong military flavor, but due to the idea of "anime that makes you feel dark is not in high demand these days, and you can't beat GUNSLINGER GIRL in that field" by Shingo Adachi, who later participated in the work, it became a bright work centered on the relationship between Chisato and Takina.

Shingo Adachi explained that the reason for the appointment of character designer Imigimuru was a chance encounter at a winter comic when he was looking for a passionate designer. In order to reproduce Imigimuru's design as much as possible, although unusual, it was decided that Imigimuru was in charge of all the character setting drawings. Kimika Onai, who worked on the costumes of real idols such as Nogizaka46, was in charge of the original design of a Lycoris uniform.

In this work, the assistant director is credited in addition to the director and the director is in charge of the production side such as the scenario and storyboard and the assistant director is in charge of the image side such as checking the intermediate deliverables.

Promotion and release
At 10:37 PM (JST) on December 31, 2021, a commercial unveils to broadcast on TOKYO MX and other networks and the anime series was announced, reveals main staff and cast, teaser visual and 2022 premiere.

On March 26, 2022, a talk show was held at AnimeJapan 2022 by Shingo Adachi, Asaura and Shinichiro Kashiwada (Aniplex and A-1 Pictures), reveals new characters and cast, new Twitter account called "Sweets&Cafe LycoReco" is now open and will be premiere in July 2022.

On April 29, 2022, the first PV has been released. On July 1, 2022, the second PV has been released, one day before it premieres. On June 12, 2022, the broadcast reveals July 2 premiere.

On June 12, 2022, an advance screening of episodes 1 to 3 was held at TOHO Cinemas Kinshichō Rakutenchi. On June 26, 2022, an advance screening of the first episode was held jointly with the original anime series Engage Kiss.

Overseas distribution
On February 27, 2022, Aniplex of America has licensed the series and opened an official website in English. On June 22, 2022, Aniplex of America will be streaming to Crunchyroll after premieres in Japan.

On June 9, 2022, Plus Media Networks Asia licensed the series across the Southeast Asia and will be broadcast it to Aniplus Asia in July. On June 14, 2022, the first PV with English subtitles has been released with simulcast on July 3 at midnight.

On August 20, 2022, Bilibili anounced that it was licensed and permitted to import Lycoris Recoil into China mainland with a formal PV release. The first episode has been available since September 3, two months after its first broadcast.

Staff

 * Original Work: Spider Lily
 * Director: Shingo Adachi
 * Original Story: Asaura
 * Character Design: Imigimuru
 * Assistant Director: Yusuke Maruyama
 * Sub Character Design: Yumiko Yamamoto
 * Chief Animation Directors: Yumiko Yamamoto, Go Suzuki, Yukari Takeuchi, Kouji Shoki
 * Weapon and Action Supervisor: Kenji Sawada
 * Prop Design: Dena Akehara
 * Art Directors: Hodaka Okamoto, Maiko Ikeda
 * Art Setting: Munashichi
 * Color Setting: Azusa Sasaki
 * CG Director: Toshitaka Morioka
 * Director of Photography: Toshiaki Aoshima
 * Editor: Hitomi Sudo
 * Sound Director: Kohei Yoshida
 * Music: Shuhei Mutsuki
 * Animation Production: A-1 Pictures

Cast (Japanese / English)

 * Chisato Nishikigi: Chika Anzai / Lizzie Freeman
 * Takina Inoue: Shion Wakayama / Xanthe Huynh
 * Mizuki Nakahara: Ami Koshimizu / Jennifer Losi
 * Kurumi: Misaki Kuno / Lisa Reimold
 * Mika: Kosuke Sakaki / Bob Carter
 * Fuki Harukawa: Maki Kawase / Morgan Berry
 * Sakura Otome: Makoto Koichi
 * Kusunoki: Youko Somi / Kayleigh McKee
 * Majima: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
 * Robota: Yuki Sakakihara
 * Shinji Yoshimatsu: Yoji Ueda

Music

 * "ALIVE"
 * ClariS performed the opening theme. Lyrics, Composer & Arranger by Ryosuke Shigenaga.


 * "Hana no Tou"
 * Sayuri performed the ending theme. Lyrics & Composer by Sayuri, Arranger by Ryo "Lefty" Miyata.

Stage play
A stage play adaptation announced on November 18, 2022, will be performed at Tennozu Galaxy Theater in January 2023, produced by Office Endless, directed by Akira Yamazaki, and written by You Hosaka.

Cast

 * Chisato Nishikigi: Misato Kawachi
 * Takina Inoue: Sakiho Motonishi
 * Mizuki Nakahara: Mieko Ishii
 * Mika: Keigo Kitamura
 * Kurumi: Nonoka Obuchi
 * Fuki Harukawa: Marina Tagami
 * Sakura Otome: Sakura Ayaki
 * Kusunoki: Natsuki Saegusa
 * Majima: Hiroki Nakata
 * Robota: Rintaro Takeuchi
 * Shinji Yoshimatsu: Kento Ono