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Rascal Does Not Dream
Japanese light novel series and its adaptations From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Rascal Does Not Dream,[6][a] known in Japan as Seishun Buta Yarō (Japanese: 青春ブタ野郎; Rascal, lit. "Teenage Pig") or AoButa (青ブタ), is a Japanese light novel series written by Hajime Kamoshida and illustrated by Kēji Mizoguchi. ASCII Media Works published fifteen volumes from April 2014 to October 2024 under their Dengeki Bunko imprint.
A manga adaptation with art by Tsugumi Nanamiya has been serialized in ASCII Media Works' seinen manga magazine Dengeki G's Comic since December 2015. An anime television series adaptation of the first five volumes produced by CloverWorks, titled Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai, aired from October to December 2018. An anime film adapting volumes six and seven, titled Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl, premiered in June 2019. Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out, a second film adapting volume eight, premiered in June 2023. Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid, a third film adapting volume nine, premiered in December 2023. An anime television series adaptation of the University Student Arc, titled Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus, premiered in July 2025.
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Premise
High school student Sakuta Azusagawa's life takes a turn for the unexpected when he meets teenage actress Mai Sakurajima, dressed as a bunny girl, wandering through a library and not being noticed by anyone else there. Mai is intrigued that Sakuta is the only one who can see her, as other people are unable to see her, even when she is dressing normally or attempting to stay away from celebrity life. Calling this phenomenon "Adolescence Syndrome" (思春期症候群, Shishunki Shōkōgun),[b] Sakuta decides to solve this mystery, while continuing to get closer to Mai and meeting other girls who suffer from Adolescence Syndrome as well.
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Characters
Main
- Sakuta Azusagawa (梓川 咲太, Azusagawa Sakuta)
- Voiced by: Kaito Ishikawa[7] (Japanese); Stephen Fu[8] (English)
- Sakuta carries a reputation for allegedly hospitalizing three people in middle school, leading him to avoid attention until encountering Mai prompts him to explore Adolescence Syndrome. His sister Kaede's condition also affects him, leaving three unexplained scars on his chest. After helping Mai overcome her struggles with the phenomenon, he becomes involved with others experiencing similar afflictions. Despite his kind and selfless nature, often to the point of prioritizing others' well-being over his own, Sakuta is also blunt, sarcastic, and prone to making lewd remarks. However, that is just his way of joking around, and he is genuinely respectful and gentlemanly. His compassion stems partly from Kaede's ordeal and his desire to grow kinder after meeting Shoko Makinohara. Later, he enrolls in the same college in Yokohama as Mai and Nodoka.
- Mai Sakurajima (桜島 麻衣, Sakurajima Mai)
- Voiced by: Asami Seto[7] (Japanese); Erica Mendez[8] (English)
- Exhausted by her acting career, Mai withdraws from the public eye and enrolls in a regular high school. However, she soon realizes people are ignoring her—eventually becoming completely unable to perceive her in certain locations. When this phenomenon spreads, Sakuta, the only one who still notices her, helps investigate. They first meet in a library, where Mai tests her invisibility by wearing a bunny girl outfit. As more people forget her, Sakuta becomes her sole anchor to reality. He ultimately restores her existence by publicly confessing his love at school, solidifying their relationship. Mai has a reserved demeanor, yet, she is sweet and polite, and harbors an especially playful, affectionate side with Sakuta, though she easily flusters. She initially carries lingering resentment from her strained relationship with her mother, but is a compassionate and selfless person. Her kindness and warmth are evident when she helps Sakuta's sister, Kaede, readjust to school and later when she sacrifices her life to save both Sakuta and Shoko, becoming the latter's heart donor. She later attends the same university as Sakuta and Nodoka, while continuing her acting career at the same time.
- Tomoe Koga (古賀 朋絵, Koga Tomoe)
- Voiced by: Nao Tōyama[7] (Japanese); Lizzie Freeman[8] (English)
- Tomoe, a first-year at Sakuta's high school, first meets him when he helps a lost child—prompting her to jokingly accuse him of being a lolicon. Cheerful yet insecure, she asks Sakuta to pretend to be her boyfriend to avoid gossip. When rumors escalate, she develops genuine feelings after witnessing his unwavering support. These emotions trigger a time loop, forcing her to relive their final day together. After confessing, Sakuta gently rejects her, but they remain friends.
- Rio Futaba (双葉 理央, Futaba Rio)
- Voiced by: Atsumi Tanezaki[7] (Japanese); Jenny Yokobori[8] (English)
- Rio, the sole member of her high school's science club, is a rational and intelligent student who initially dismisses Adolescence Syndrome as fiction—until experiencing it herself. Though stoic and analytical, she proves a loyal friend to Sakuta and Yuuma, harboring unspoken feelings for the latter. When her insecurity about her appearance manifests as a rebellious clone posting suggestive photos online, Sakuta helps both versions reconcile. Through this, Rio learns to embrace her true self and the friendships she once doubted. She later attends a national university and works part time at the same cram school as Sakuta.
- Nodoka Toyohama (豊浜 のどか, Toyohama Nodoka)
- Voiced by: Maaya Uchida[7] (Japanese); Cristina Vee[8] (English)
- Nodoka, Mai's half-sister and a member of the idol group Sweet Bullet, temporarily swaps bodies with her due to an inferiority complex. She reverts after realizing she does not need to emulate Mai, with the two reconciling. Though temperamental, Nodoka shows kindness by helping Kaede reintegrate into school life, eventually becoming her closest friend. She later attends the same university as Sakuta and Mai.
- Kaede Azusagawa (梓川 かえで, Azusagawa Kaede) / Kaede Azusagawa (梓川 花楓, Azusagawa Kaede)
- Voiced by: Yurika Kubo[7] (Japanese); Kayli Mills[8] (English)
- Kaede, Sakuta's younger sister, falls victim to Adolescence Syndrome after enduring severe online harassment, which leaves her traumatized and afraid of strangers. Isolating herself at home with only her cat for company, she develops an intense attachment to her brother. Her condition stems from a dissociative disorder that causes her personality to fracture—creating a new identity that eventually disappears when her original memories resurface. Though heartbroken by the loss of the sister he knew, Sakuta supports her as she relearns how to face the world. She later reconciles her identities and splits her time living with her parents in their apartment in Yokohama and with Sakuta in Fujisawa, deciding to attend an online learning program for high school after being inspired by Uzuki Hirokawa and working at the same family restaurant as Sakuta.
- Shoko Makinohara (牧之原 翔子, Makinohara Shōko)
- Voiced by: Inori Minase[7] (Japanese); Risa Mei[8] (English)
- Shoko, a middle school student sharing the name of Sakuta's childhood crush, first encounters him during a rainstorm. She later reappears after Kaede's recovery, helping Sakuta cope with his grief over his sister's changed personality. Initially staying temporarily at his home—much to Mai's irritation—her presence unravels a complex temporal paradox. Two versions of Shoko exist: one saved by Sakuta's donated heart after his future death, and another whose survival depends on that event. When Mai dies preventing the accident, Shoko aids Sakuta in altering the past, creating a timeline where they never meet. Their connection endures, however, as Sakuta later recognizes her by the sea and recalls their erased bond. She later moves to Okinawa.
Supporting
- Yūma Kunimi (国見 佑真, Kunimi Yūma)
- Voiced by: Yuma Uchida[7] (Japanese); Clifford Chapin[9] (English)
- Sakuta's best friend. He is dating Saki Kamisato but they often argue over Yūma's interactions with Sakuta. He also worked in the same family restaurant as Sakuta before leaving the role to become a firefighter. He is kind and friendly, and the only one not affected by Adolescence Syndrome.
- Saki Kamisato (上里 沙希, Kamisato Saki)
- Voiced by: Himika Akaneya[7] (Japanese); Dawn M. Bennett[9] (English)
- Saki is Yūma's girlfriend. She hates Sakuta and wishes he would stop being Yuma's friend, as his status as the class loner is making Yuma, and more importantly, herself, less popular. However, things change as she helps him with Rio Futaba's Adolescence Syndrome case. Two years later, Saki studies nursing at the same university as Sakuta.
- Fumika Nanjō (南条 文香, Nanjō Fumika)
- Voiced by: Satomi Satō[7] (Japanese); Jennifer Sun Bell[9] (English)
- Fumika is a reporter who is interested in Adolescence Syndrome and believes the scars on Sakuta's chest were somehow caused by it.
- Uzuki Hirokawa (広川 卯月, Hirokawa Uzuki)
- Voiced by: Sora Amamiya[7] (Japanese); Lisa Reimold[9] (English)
- Uzuki is the lead singer of the idol group Sweet Bullet, of which Nodoka is also a member. In the movie Sister Venturing Out, she is revealed to be distance learning at an online school. In the Santa Claus anime series, Uzuki initially attends university, enrolled in the same program as Sakuta's, before dropping out to pursue her solo and idol music career.
- Minagi Ōtsu (大津 美凪, Ōtsu Minagi)
- Voiced by: Akane Fujita[10]
- Kaho Hamatsu (浜松 夏帆, Hamatsu Kaho)
- Voiced by: Azumi Waki[10]
- Ikumi Akagi (赤城 郁実, Akagi Ikumi)
- Voiced by: Aya Yamane[11]
- Miniskirt Santa (ミニスカサンタ, Minisuka Santa)
- Voiced by: Reina Ueda[12]
- Sara Himeji (姫路 紗良, Himeji Sara)
- Voiced by: Konomi Kohara[13]
- A first-year student at the same high school as Sakuta, though she only joined after Sakuta graduated; she is also a student at the cram school Sakuta teaches at. She is two years younger than Tomoe.
- Miori Mitō (美東 美織, Mitō Miori)
- Voiced by: Manaka Iwami[13]
- A first-year student at the same university as Sakuta, who first talked to him during an orientation event. She appears to know about Adolescence Syndrome.
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Media
Summarize
Perspective
Light novel
Rascal Does Not Dream is written by Hajime Kamoshida and features illustrations by Keji Mizoguchi. ASCII Media Works published fifteen volumes from April 2014 to October 2024 under their Dengeki Bunko imprint. The original title of each volume is set according to the syntax Rascal Does Not Dream of... (青春ブタ野郎は...の夢を見ない, Seishun Buta Yarō wa... no Yume o Minai). In April 2024, it was announced that the series entered its final arc, with the final volume, volume 15, published on October 10 of the same year.[14]
Yen Press has been publishing light novels in English since April 28, 2020.[15][16]
Manga
A manga adaptation drawn by Tsugumi Nanamiya began serialization in the January 2016 issue of ASCII Media Works' Dengeki G's Comic magazine, which was released on December 1, 2015.[46][47] Yen Press has been publishing the English version of the manga in a 2-in-1 omnibus edition since August 18, 2020.[48]
A manga adaptation drawn by Tsukumo Asakusa began serialization in the May 2018 issue of Dengeki G's Comic magazine.[2]
A manga adaptation drawn by Tsukako Akina began serialization on the ComicWalker website on August 1, 2020.[3]
A manga adaptation drawn by Akuro Yoshibe began serialization on the G's Channel and ComicWalker websites on April 30, 2023.[4]
A manga adaptation drawn by Eranto began serialization on the G's Channel and ComicWalker on April 30, 2023.[5]
A manga adaptation of Rascal Does Not Dream of Siscon Idol, illustrated by Jun Miyazaki, began serialization on the G's Channel on December 25, 2023.[65]
Anime
A 13-episode anime television series adaptation, titled Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai, aired from October 4 to December 27, 2018, on ABC and other networks.[67][68][69][c] The series is animated by CloverWorks and directed by Sōichi Masui, with Kazuya Iwata as assistant director, Masahiro Yokotani handling series composition, and Satomi Tamura designing the characters. The band Fox Capture Plan composed the series' music. Satomi Tamura also served as the chief animation director along with Akira Takata.[70] It adapts the first five light novel volumes. The opening theme song is "Kimi no Sei" (君のせい; lit. 'Your Fault'), performed by the Peggies. while the ending theme song is "Fukashigi no Karte" (不可思議のカルテ; lit. 'Mysterious Chart'), with each arc performed by Asami Seto, Yurika Kubo, Nao Tōyama, Atsumi Tanezaki, Maaya Uchida, and Inori Minase as their respective character names.[7][71]
An anime film adaptation, titled Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl, premiered on June 15, 2019.[72] The staff and cast reprised their roles from the anime.[73] It adapts the sixth and seventh light novel volumes.[74]
During the Aniplex Online Fest event in September 2022, an anime sequel adapting the eighth and ninth light novel volumes was announced.[75] It was later revealed that the sequel would consist of two films; Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out, adapting the eighth volume, was released theatrically on June 23, 2023,[76] and Rascal Does Not Dream of a Knapsack Kid, adapting the ninth volume, premiered on December 1 of that same year.[77] Both films reprise the main staff and cast of the previous anime adaptation.
An anime adaptation of the University Student Arc (tenth volume onwards) was announced in December 2023,[78] which was later revealed to be a television series, titled Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus, premiered on July 5, 2025, on Tokyo MX and other networks,[13] with the staff and cast from the anime series and films reprising their roles.[12] The opening theme song is "Snowdrop", performed by Conton Candy,[13] while the ending theme song is "Suiheisen wa Boku no Furukizu" (水平線は僕の古傷; lit. 'The Horizon Is My Old Wound'), performed by Sora Amamiya, Aya Yamane, Konomi Kohara and Reina Ueda as their respective characters.[79]
English release
Aniplex of America licensed the series and streams it on Crunchyroll, Hulu, FunimationNow, and Netflix,[80][81][82] having released a complete Blu-ray set (with English subtitles) on November 19, 2019.[83] In Australia and New Zealand, the series was simulcast on AnimeLab,[84] and in Southeast Asia on Aniplus Asia.[85] MVM Entertainment acquired the series for distribution in the UK and Ireland.[86]
In addition to the two films that were released subtitled in U.S. theaters by Aniplex of America, in association with Fathom Events on March 24, 2024, an English dub screening of Rascal Does Not Dream of a Sister Venturing Out & Knapsack Kid, commissioned by Burbank-based Bang Zoom! starring Erica Mendez, Stephen Fu and Kayli Mills with ADR direction handled by Michelle Ruff, premiered on March 25, 2024.[87] Nearly six years after its premiere, an English dub of the series was announced on August 23, 2024,[88] and premiered on December 3 that same year with the cast of the films reprising their roles.[8]
Episodes
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai (2018)
Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus (2025)
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Notes
- ABC listed the series premiere on October 3, 2018, at 26:20, which is effectively October 4 at 2:20 a.m. JST.
- All English episode titles are taken from Crunchyroll.
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See also
- The Pet Girl of Sakurasou, a light novel series by the same creators
References
External links
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