'Hokuhokusei ni Kumo to Ike' premieres in 2027: trailer and cast

The manga Hokuhokusei ni Kumo to Ike (北北西に曇と往け), by Aki Irie, will get an anime adaptation in 2027. The series will air on TBS and Netflix will distribute it exclusively worldwide, as announced by the production this October 8. The announcement comes with the first trailer and promotional poster.

Tomohito Ōno plays Kei Miyama, the 17-year-old protagonist. The announcement also confirms that the story will adapt Irie's original manga, published in Harta magazine and compiled in volumes by Enterbrain. The work, a youth mystery set in Iceland, follows Kei, a boy with three secrets: he can talk to cars, he has a weak personality, and his job is being a detective.

The trailer shows Kei alone, wandering through Icelandic landscapes. The poster follows the same line: the protagonist from behind, with a glacier in the background. The production bets on a contemplative tone, faithful to the manga's slow pace.

A seinen mystery in Iceland

Hokuhokusei ni Kumo to Ike began publication in 2016. Irie, known for Ran and the Gray World and Gunjou Gakusha, builds here a story that blends the everyday with the fantastic. Kei talks to cars and mechanical devices, an ability he inherits from his family and uses in his investigations.

The story takes place in Iceland, an unusual setting in anime. The Nordic country is not just a backdrop: the weather, the landscape, and the local culture shape Kei's investigations. The manga has been well received among seinen readers, with several volumes published in Japan.

The animation studio has not been revealed in this first announcement. There is no concrete release date beyond 2027 either. The production has opted for a brief presentation: trailer, poster, and the name of the lead actor.

Kei Miyama, 17 years old, has three secrets. One, he can talk to cars. Two, his personality is weak. Three, his job is being a detective.

Choosing Netflix as the worldwide distributor follows the platform's strategy with niche titles. TBS keeps the television broadcast in Japan, while the rest of the world will be able to watch it on streaming. It is a model similar to other recent series from the channel.

The trailer doesn't reveal too much: barely a minute of footage of Kei walking along Icelandic roads, with an ambient soundtrack. The direction seems to prioritize atmosphere over action, consistent with the manga's tone.

What remains to be confirmed

The studio, the rest of the cast, and the technical team are yet to be announced. It is also unknown whether the series will be one or two seasons. The manga is still in publication, so the adaptation will have enough material for several batches of episodes.

The 2027 release date leaves room for a careful production. Irie has not made any statements about the adaptation in this first announcement. We will have to wait for the next updates to learn more details about the series.