As Hideaki Anno's Khara celebrates their 10th anniversary, the anime studio best known for their work on the Rebuild of Evangelion movies have announced their first TV anime production. Headed to NHK BS Premium in February 2017, they will be expanding short "The Dragon Dentist" from the Animator Expo showcase into two 45-minute specials.

Long version of animated TV show "The Dragon Dentist" releases in February 2017 on NHK BS Premium!https://t.co/W1bW16XHRI#animatorexpo — 日本アニメ（ーター）見本市 (@animatorexpo) August 26, 2016

Animator Expo introduces the project

A long version of an animated TV show which is based on the first episode from Japan Anima (tor)'s Exhibition, "The Dragon Dentist," will be released in February 2017 on NHK BS Premium.

As with the short version, Mr. Kazuya Tsurumaki serves as the animation director. He has formed a new production team and is assiduously working on the long version (45 minutes x 2 animations). Mr. Otaro Maijo, the original author, writes scripts in collaboration with Mr. Yoji Enokido, an expert scriptwriter. Characters are designed by Mr. Shuichi Iseki, who is the character designer and animation director of the third episode from Japan Anima (tor)'s Exhibition "ME! ME! ME!." Mr. Hideaki Anno takes a role as the executive producer and the director of audiography.

This will be the first animated TV show that is executed by Studio khara.

To commemorate this new project, the short film "The Dragon Dentist" is redistributed on our website! https://t.co/X0G9vwzPo2#animatorexpo — 日本アニメ（ーター）見本市 (@animatorexpo) August 26, 2016

Details

Title

"The Dragon Dentist"



Broadcasting Schedule

In February 2017 on NHK BS Premium (45 minutes x 2 animations)



Staff

Animation Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki (Rebuild of Evangelion)

Original Work / Script Writing: Otaro Maijo (Akutagawa Prize winning author)

Script Writing: Yoji Enokido (Utena, Sailor Moon SuperS)

Character Design: Shuichi Iseki

Executive Producer / Director of Audiography: Hideaki Anno

Animation Execution: khara

Production / Copyright: NHK, NHK Enterprises, Dwango, and khara



Official Website

http://www.nhk.or.jp/anime/ryu/

To commemorate this new project, the short film "The Dragon Dentist" is redistributed on our website! https://t.co/X0G9vwzPo2#animatorexpo — 日本アニメ（ーター）見本市 (@animatorexpo) August 26, 2016

About the episode 1 "The Dragon Dentist"

Staff

Original Work, Script Writing, Director: Otaro Maiyo

Animation Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki

Character Design: Yasuyuki Kosaka

Animation Character Design, Animation Director: Yoshinori Kameda

Cast: Koichi Yamadera, Megumi Hayashibara

Animation Execution: Studio Khara



Digested Story

A girl comes there to become a dentist of a dragon. She is with other new freshman applicants, but there is no announcement from a senior as guidance. They are confused and taken along with the senior. The only way is just to walk through freshman's path, which is dark and strange. They do not know where they are. Not knowing what to do, she is approaching to the secret of dragon, but she does not realize yet. The adventure has already begun.

http://animatorexpo.com/thedragondentist/

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.