Upcoming episodes of Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie (known as Kawaii dake ja Nai Shikimori-san in Japan) have been delayed due to a COVID-19 outbreak at its production company.
According to the anime's official website, several staffers at Doga Kobo recently tested positive for COVID-19, which caused the studio to briefly close from April 6 to April 17. This resulted in several setbacks in the production of the show. While the anime's sixth episode will premiere on May 14 as originally scheduled, the rest of the season will function under a revised schedule.
The new schedule is as follows:
- May 21 - rebroadcast of Episode 1, which will feature cast audio commentary
- May 28 - premiere of Episode 7
- June 4 - premiere of Episode 8
- June 11 - special recap of the cast's favorite scenes
- June 18 - premiere of Episode 9
- June 25 - premiere of Episode 10
- July 2 - premiere of Episode 11
- July 9 - premiere of Episode 12
Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie wasn't the only anime impacted by Doga Kobo's COVID-19 closure. The new series Technoroid Overmind was also delayed; it was originally scheduled to make its debut in July and a new release date has yet to be finalized.
Adapted from the romantic comedy manga series of the same name by Keigo Maki, Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie premiered at the beginning of April and has quickly become a fan favorite of the Spring 2022 anime season. The story follows the titular high schooler as she endeavors to protect her boyfriend, Izumi, from his own clumsiness and terrible luck. Some commentators have drawn parallels between Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie and last season's breakout hit -- the romantic comedy My Dress-Up Darling.
The series is directed by Ryota Itoh (My Senpai Is Annoying) with Yoshimi Narita (Glitter Force) overseeing the series composition and Hiroaki Tsutsumi (Tokyo Revengers) composing the music. Shunsuke Suzuki (New Game!) and Takeshi Takadera (To Your Eternity) serve as the art director and sound director respecitvely.
Saori Ōnishi (Blue Period) stars as Shikimori alongside Shūichirō Umeda (Blade of the Immortal) as Izumi, Misato Matsuoka (Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway) as Nekozaki and Nobuhiko Okamoto (BEASTARS) as Inuzuka. Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie has already received an English dub, which features the voice talents of Bryson Baugus (Haikyuu!!), Macy Anne Johnson (Smile Down the Runway) and Clifford Chapin (My Hero Academia).
Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
Source: Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie official website, via Anime News Network