Naomi Osaka, one of the best tennis players in the world, is making and starring in an anime based on a little known manga.
Announced yesterday by Osaka and her production company Hana Kuma, the tennis star shared that she’ll be adapting a manga called Allure: The Evening Primrose into an adult anime TV series. If you haven’t heard of the series before, that would be understandable, as it’s an indie manga from artist Sinitus Tempo. The description of the first book in the series explains that it follows “Akane Koizumi, an orphan on the streets of Tokyo has always dreamed of a life of luxury. After an unexpected encounter lands her in the hands of the Yakuza, she’s trained to become the perfect assassin given the enhancement drug, Allure.”
The show is being produced alongside the queer, Afro-Latinx writing and producing team Rebel Maverick, who consists of Matt Nicholas and Nastassja Kayln, and Osaka is currently set to voice the lead character in the series, as well as serve as executive producer. Kenny Byerly (Big Hero 6: The Series, Big City Greens, Hilda) is also attached to adapt and write the show. Few other details were provided about the show, but the two production companies are apparently planning to take it out to market early this year, according to Deadline.
