The World Is Dancing
World Is DancingSummary
Born into a life of acting and dance with a traveling theater troupe in 14th-century Japan, 12-year old Oniyasha has one problem—he doesn't know what the point of any of it is. "Why must I step with the left foot here instead of the right? Why is one performance good and another, bad? Why do people dance at all?" It all seems perfectly arbitrary, until a chance encounter in a run-down shack sets him down a path to revolutionizing the art form and influencing much of Japanese culture to come. A fictionalized account of the early life of Zeami Motokiyo (Oniyasha), the founder of modern Noh theater—the world's oldest surviving theater art—this coming-of-age artist's journey vividly brings to life a man far ahead of his time during one of Japan's most culturally and socially vibrant eras.
(Source: Kodansha Comics)
Note: World Is Dancing is streaming 3 days in advance of the TV broadcast on Prime Video and HIDIVE beginning June 29th, 2026. Regular broadcasting begins on July 2nd, 2026.
Where to watch
Platforms
Official and social
Other links
Availability may vary by country.
Episodes
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Details
- Format
- ONA
- Number of Episodes
- 13
- Episode length
- 24 min
- Estimated total length
- ≈ 5 h 12 min (13 × 24 min)
- Season
- Summer 2026
- Start date
- June 29, 2026
- End date
- September 21, 2026
- Status
- Finished
- Source
- Manga
- Country of origin
- Japan
- Studios
- Cypic
- Romaji title
- World Is Dancing
- English title
- The World Is Dancing
- Native title
- ワールド イズ ダンシング
Characters 20
Main characters
- Oniyasha鬼夜叉Main
Profile
- Age
- 12
- Gender
- Male
Show the other characters (19)
- Ishiya石也Supporting
Profile
- Gender
- Male
A member of the Kanze troupe and someone who truly understands Oniyasha. Because of a leg condition he’s had since childhood, he gave up on ever performing on stage, but he’s skilled at chanting and often helps Oniyasha with his practice. He’s a kind-hearted boy who cares deeply for both the Kanze troupe and Oniyasha. (Source: Official Site)
- KoganeコガネSupporting
Profile
- Gender
- Male
A friend of Oniyasha’s. He’s always down by the riverbank, where he and Oniyasha—who sneaks away from practice—spend their time making up ridiculous stories together. Rough around the edges but surprisingly dependable, he actually seems to have an interest in dance. (Source: Official Site)
- Zojiro増次郎Supporting
Profile
- Gender
- Male
A young performer leading the Dengaku Shinza troupe. Strict with both himself and others, he serves as the driving force behind the troupe’s morale. He also directs a sharp, critical gaze toward Oniyasha. (Source: Official Site)
- Kan’ami観阿弥Supporting
Profile
- Gender
- Male
Head of the Kanze troupe and father of Oniyasha. A master performer who elevated the popularity of Sarugaku within a single generation. He doesn’t speak much, which often leads to misunderstandings between him and Oniyasha. (Source: Official Site)
- Yoshimitsu Ashikaga足利義満Supporting
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Inuou犬王Supporting
- Junigoro十二五郎Supporting
Profile
- Gender
- Male
A member of the Kanze troupe and a young apprentice of the small hand drum. His serious and well mannered nature seems to make him feel a certain way about Oniyasha. (Source: Official Site)
- SatsukiサツキSupporting
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Nariko業子Supporting
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Yoshimoto Nijou二条良基Supporting
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Chiharu千晴Supporting
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Shirabyoshi白拍子Supporting
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- ToshigoトシゴSupporting
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Yoriyuki Hosokawa細川頼之Supporting
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Chourou長老Supporting
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Samanosuke左馬助Supporting
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Senri千里Supporting
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- HifumiひふみSupporting
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Mantarou万太郎Supporting
Profile
- Gender
- Male
Staff and studios
Studios
Key staff
- Toshimasa KuroyanagiDirector
- Kazuto MiharaOriginal creator
- Keigo SasakiCharacter design
- Kazuhiro InoueArt director
- Yukio NagasakiSound director
Show the full staff (20)
- Daisuke HirakiEditing
- Naoko SatouColor Design
- Keigo SasakiChief Animation Director (ep 1)
- Hikaru MiyazakiKey Animation (ep 1)
- Kouichi WatanabePlanning
- Kazuto MiharaEndcard (ep 1)
- Shuu SugitaKey Animation (OP)
- Toshimasa KuroyanagiEpisode Director (ED)
- Toshimasa KuroyanagiStoryboard (ED, ep 1)
- Masaharu OkazakiPhotography (ep 1)
- Hiromasa OguraArt Director (ep 1)
- Naoko SatouFinishing Check (ep 1)
- Tetsuya TakeuchiKey Animation (OP)
- Naoko SatouColor Coordination (ep 1)
- Yuusuke Nagara2D Design (ep 1)
- Yasunori MiyazawaKey Animation (OP)
- Toshimasa KuroyanagiKey Animation (OP)
- Kyle JonesADR Director (English)
- Brent MarshallADR Mixer (English)
- Iori HisatakeSub Character Design