NHK announced the main cast for its Nyanbo! television anime based on the cat version of the "Danbo" cardboard robot character within Kiyohiko Azuma's Yotsuba&! manga on Monday. The cast includes:



Romi Park as Tora, Kotora's serious and reliable older brother



Rie Kugimiya as Kotora, Tora's innocent and inquisitive younger sister



Yui Horie as Shiro, a stylish girl who likes Tora



Yuko Sanpei as Kuro, a mysterious Nyanbo of few words



Junko Takeuchi as Mike, a kind boy who tends to act before thinking

NHK also announced that the series will premiere on September 27. The anime will air on NHK-E TV on Tuesdays at 6:40 a.m. and at 5:20 p.m. as part of a "mini anime" corner program. Each episode will be five minutes long.

In the anime, Nyanbo are beings that come from outer space and live in the attic of a certain house. The protagonist Tora searches for pieces of their UFO. Shirogumi Inc. (Stand By Me Doraemon, Moyashimon, Antique Bakery) is producing the series.

The popular Danbo character has inspired various merchandise including battery chargers, various collaborative figures, cameras, and tote bags, among other merchandise.

The "Nyanbo" character inspired a set of 10 figures that shipped last November, and another set in May.

Azuma's original manga follows the everyday lives of a strange little girl named Yotsuba and her father after they move to a new town. As of March 2013, the manga had more than 10 million copies in print in Japan. Yen Press is releasing the series in North America. The 13th volume, which was first new volume in more than two years, shipped in Japan on November 27 and in North America on May 24.

[Via Ota-Suke]