Sunrise and NHK have announced that they will produce the Classicaloid television anime series. The series will premiere on NHK's E-TV station in 2016.

Yoichi Fujita (Gintama anime franchise) is directing the anime at Sunrise. Makoto Tsuchibayashi (Sengoku Basara franchise) is serving as original character designer. NHK, NHK Enterprise, and BN Pictures are producing the series.

The story follows high school students Kanae and Sōsuke, who live in a provincial town that is trying to revitalize itself with music. One day, suddenly "Classicaloid" versions of Beethoven and Mozart appear in front of Kanae and Sōsuke. When the suspicious-looking Classicaloids play music they call "mujik," it has a strange power: stars start to fall, and giant robots appear. Now every day is tumultuous. Eventually, more Classicaloids start to appear such as Bach, Chopin, and Schubert. What is the great power that the Classicaloids have? Are they friends or foe to humanity?

The show's music will include pop, rock, techno, and other arrangements of famous classical works, arranged by well-known Japanese musicians. The official website states that the show will also feature "battles, slapstick comedy, heartwarming stories, and light love(?)."

Image © BNP / NHK, NEP

Sources: MoCa News, Oricon