Bocchi the Rock! gets a 2027 prequel film about Nijika's older sister Seika

Bocchi the Rock! is going back to before the band existed. A teaser released on November 1 announced a new anime film, Bocchi the Rock! Hoshi no Ashiato. It is a prequel about Nijika Ijichi and her older sister Seika, and it is scheduled to open in Japan in 2027. Here is what has been confirmed so far, and what fans in Canada are still waiting to hear.

What was announced

According to Anime News Network, the film's full title is Eiga Bocchi the Rock! Hoshi no Ashiato, which ANN renders in English as Bocchi the Rock! the Movie: Footprints of the Stars. Other outlets translate the subtitle as "Starry Footprints."

The film adapts "Hoshi ni Tamukeru Ai no Hana." That is a special story printed at the end of the fifth volume of Aki Hamaji's four-panel manga, and it works as a prologue centred on Seika.

Anime.com reports that the official anime X account made the announcement and released both a teaser video and a teaser visual. Inven Global adds that Aniplex revealed the teaser at an event marking the 35th anniversary of SHELTER, the live house that inspired STARRY, the venue at the heart of the series.

Who is making it

The production team looks familiar in some places and new in others:

Yoshida handled series composition on the Bocchi the Rock! TV anime, according to AniTrendz. That outlet also lists Wakabayashi's earlier work on Wonder Egg Priority and notes that Horiguchi designed characters for K-On!.

Anime.com says Uchida and Suzushiro are the only two cast members named so far. The rest of the cast has not been announced.

What the story covers

The announcement describes a story set before Kessoku Band formed. It is about the sisters' dream, which begins with "a parting," in Anime.com's translation of the official copy. Anime Anibu reports that the film opens with a separation between Seika and Nijika ten years before the main story.

Anime.com also summarizes a comment from creator Aki Hamaji. According to Hamaji, the story fills in the sisters' past that appears at the end of episode 8 of the TV anime. It then follows the road to the opening of STARRY, the live music venue Seika manages.

The teaser visual shows the two sisters in the back seat of a car. Pixeltwelve notes that a guitar case sits between them.

Where this fits in the franchise

Anime.com recaps the timeline so far. CloverWorks animated the TV anime, which premiered in 2022, and a two-part compilation film followed in 2024. The manga runs in Houbunsha's Manga Time Kirara Max.

This film is not the long-awaited second season. Anime Anibu and Final Weapon both report that a second TV season is still in production. They describe Hoshi no Ashiato as a separate project.

In Japan, the first advance tickets come first. Inven Global reports that MoviTicke cards with art of Nijika and Seika are scheduled to go on sale on November 6.

What it means for fans in Canada

The main point for Canadian viewers is that nothing about an overseas release has been announced. Pixeltwelve reports that there is no exact Japanese release date and no overseas release window yet. Anime.com also says the exact release date has not been announced.

If you haven't watched the TV series yet, or want to rewatch it before the film, Anime.com says Crunchyroll streams it in Canada and many other territories. Episode 8 is the one to revisit, since Hamaji links the film directly to the flashback at its end.

Our view: Building a whole film around Seika, a supporting character, is a bold choice for a series best known for its socially anxious guitarist. But the Ijichi sisters' history and STARRY's beginnings have always been an emotional thread in the background. A film-length look at that backstory could add real depth for long-time fans. We'll update this story when a release date or international plans are confirmed.

Talk anime with the community

Are you planning to catch Hoshi no Ashiato in Japan, or hoping for a screening in Canada? Share your thoughts, screening tips and manga recommendations with other Japanese speakers across the country on the DOJI community board. You can also keep an eye on DOJI events for anime meetups near you.