"Hiiro no Kakera" Anime Site Update Causes Fan Anxiety

Key visuals and voice actor changes

Otome game series turned spring anime, Hiiro no Kakera, got an official site update with some key visuals, and the cast appears to have had some late changes. We originally reported that the show would feature all the same voices as the videogame, with the addition of Marie Miyake for the female lead. 

 

Here is some of the new art:

 


 

A little different from:

 

 

Shizuki Ugaya (protagonist Tamaki's grandmother) will be played by Tamie Kubota (Sui Shijima in Hanasaku Iroha, a couple roles in Black Jack) instead of Ryou Ikezaki.  

 

Kiyono Takara (classmate of Tamaki) will be played by Suzuko Mimori (Moe Satou from Poyo Poyo, Sherlock Shellingford from Tantei Opera Milky Holmes) instead of Maya Komata.

 

Almost all of the Logos (the bad guys) have changed:

 

Eins: Hiroyuki Tsunakawa --> Hiroki Yasumoto (Shou in Bodacious Space Pirates, Izumo Kamurogi in Aquarion EVOL

Zwei: Masakazu Sakimoto --> Yoshihisa Kawahara (various roles in Future Diary, a couple roles in Nichijou)

Drei: Kouichi Souma --> Youji Ueda (a couple roles in Tiger & Bunny, the "furukimono" monsters in Blood-C)

Vier: Amika Takahashi --> Sayaka Ōhara (Ayaka Mine from The Knight in the Area, Yuri Takanashi from Listen to Me, Girls, I'm your Father!)

 

And finally, Tamaki's familar fox spirit, O-chan, will be played by Rikako Yamaguchi (Sachi Nogami in Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne, various roles in Mawaru-Penguindrum) instead of Ryou Ikezaki.

 


 

Japanese fans seem a bit let down, but as one 2ch commenter pointed out, "The most important thing is the script." Are any of these changes enough to make you less interested in watching the show?

 

via Otakomu

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Oh my...FANTASTIC ART. Yay 1st to comment!!!!!!!!!!!
Inb4 reverse harem. I might actually give series a shot thou.
Even I'm gaga for those character designs!
I like the new art better. Even though this is my first time hearing of this XD
Though almost without exception I hate animes that are adapted from games.
Fan anxiety XD
Doesn't really seem like much of a shock from the art perspective... the original image that is displayed in this thread doesn't look like something that would be animated, more of a still picture or something... the new art looks pretty good, and I'll agree that the script is extremely important. There are really only a few JP voice actors that I've come across that I didn't like so really I don't mind the changes there either.
If I had played the game there'd likely be a bit of an issue to me, but since I haven't I lack a reason to complain about it. I will definitely be watching this show though. I do prefer the other art for the girl than the current one, but it is much less anime-esque looking. I'm hoping CR covers this, forgive my ignorance if they are, since they don't cover many series like this.
If I'd palyed the game, I might see a significance in changing winter to fall and putting all the boys in uniforms, but doubt that would make me lose interest.
The characters look the same. The only difference is their clothes.
It looks kind of like Hakuouki. o.o
Good mention. The game is actually illustrated by the same illustrator that did Hakuouki! :)
To be completely honest, I'm slightly disappointed. As a major fan of the game I was expecting something similar to the anime adaptation of Hakuouki....

Not going to lie, but when you said voice changes I was having a mini heart attack that they might have changed some of the main character's voices.....haha, my worries were for nothing!

Either way, I'm looking forward to it! I'll hold my final judgement until the series starts.
Is it possible that the change was done because that the production company did some research and realized people might not "relate" to the characters in the original character designs for the anime, not to mention potentially higher animation costs per episode if the original character designs were used?
Since I don't know the game and therefore am not familiar with the original voices, I'm not bothered by this. The artwork looks lovely though, and so I hope the show ends up on CR.
My one big hope, after watching one or two anime based on otome games: please let the heroine not be a complete wimp who inspires everyone's intense love despite her complete wimpiness.
I think it will be a gud anime
Regarding the art, I'm kind of.. well, a bit disappointed (since I'm a major fan of Kazuki Yone's work and that I already played the game).

But since they did justice to Komura Yuuichi (who is my bias), then all is well.
And Ochan is so cute.
I hope he's also cute when he turns into human!Ochan (though I think it only happened in the valentine part of the game).

Anyways, as long as the seiyuu cast of the major characters aren't changed, then all is well, really.
= w =b

But... won't Kushitani Ryou really appear? ; A;
//my 2nd bias

I really hope the script will be as great or even greater than the game. \m/
All the best to HnK~ ♥
For some reason it reminds me of Hakuoki art