The game is afoot and things are already looking oddly sinister and high stakes in a new key visual for the Tomodachi Game anime, based on the psychological thriller manga by Mikoto Yamaguchi and Yuki Sato. The five main friends—Katagiri Yuichi, Mikasa Tenji, Sawagiri Shiho, Shibe Makoto and Kokorogi Yutori—are on display in this one, with mysterious mascot character Manabu-kun front and center.

Following up on the recent announcement of Nana Mizuki performing the opening theme, “Double Shuffle,” the ending theme song performer has been decided. The ED theme will be “Tomoshibi,” performed by saji. 

Manabu-kun warns everyone to be careful of their friends’ secrets: 

Tomodachi Game is scheduled to start airing on Nippon TV and other networks in Japan on April 5, with Crunchyroll streaming shortly after. Crunchyroll describes the series as such:

High school student Katagiri Yuichi, who values friendship above all else, enjoys a fulfilling life with his close friends Sawagiri Shiho, Mikasa Tenji, Shibe Makoto, and Kokorogi Yutori.

However, after a particular incident, they’re dragged into a debt repayment game.

The only way to beat the “Tomodachi Game” is to not doubt their friends. Bound together by solid friendships, the game should’ve been easy, but– The hugely popular comic that sold over two million copies is finally becoming an anime! Will they trust or betray their precious friends? The true nature of humanity is exposed in the ultimate psychological game!

The main staff for Tomodachi Game includes:

• Original work: Mikoto Yamaguchi
• Original artwork: Yuki Sato (serialized by Kodansha in Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine)
• Director: Hirofumi Ogura
• Series composition, screenplay: Kenta Ihara
• Character design: Satomi Miyazaki
• Art director: Wei Siman (Studio Tulip)
• Art settings: Daping Si (Studio Tulip)
• Color design: Aiko Mizuno
• Director of photography: Yomogiko Murano (Rare Trick)
• Music: MICHIRU
• Sound production: Studio Mausu
• Sound director: Hiroto Morishita
• Animation production: Okuruto Noboru

The main cast of Tomodachi Game includes:

• Chiaki Kobayashi as Yuichi Katagiri.
• Daiki Hamano as Tenji Mikasa.
• Yume Miyamoto as Shiho Sawaragi.
• Tomohiro Ōno as Makoto Shibe.
• Satomi Amano as Yutori Kokorogi.

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Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. You can read his comics at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter @Moldilox.