Kyoto Animation’s Sparks of Tomorrow premieres July 5. Watch the new trailer and explore cast, story, and staff details from the award-winning novel.
Kyoto Animation has released a brand new trailer and promotional image for Sparks of Tomorrow, the anime adaptation of Hiro Yūki’s award-winning novel 20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku (20th Century Electricity Catalog). The series officially premieres July 5, marking one of KyoAni’s most anticipated returns to historical drama and character-driven storytelling.
What Is Sparks of Tomorrow
Sparks of Tomorrow is a historical coming-of-age anime set in 1907 Kyoto, blending early industrial-era themes with emotional character drama. The series adapts Hiro Yūki’s novel, which earned an honorable mention at the Kyoto Animation Awards in 2017, the only title recognized that year.
The story explores the clash between tradition and modernity through the rise of electricity, personal dreams, and the bonds formed between two young protagonists.
When Does Sparks of Tomorrow Premiere
The anime premieres July 5, aligning with Kyoto Animation’s mid-year release window. Additional broadcast details and streaming platforms are expected to be announced closer to launch.
Who Is Making Sparks of Tomorrow
Kyoto Animation leads production, supported by a creative team with deep ties to the studio’s signature emotional storytelling.
Key staff includes:
- Director: Minoru Ōta
Known for key animation on Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! and Liz and the Blue Bird - Series Composition: Tatsuhiko Urahata
Haganai, Hi Score Girl, Saki Episode of Side A - Character Design: Kohei Okamura
Free! The Final Stroke, Sound! Euphonium
This marks Minoru Ōta’s first major directorial role, signaling a new generation of KyoAni talent stepping forward.
Who Are the Main Voice Actors
The cast features a strong lineup of established and rising voice actors:
- Yūma Uchida as Kihachi Sakamoto, a mechanically gifted boy who once dreamed of ushering in an age of electricity
- Sora Amamiya as Inako Momokawa, the clumsy but determined daughter of a Kyoto sake brewery
- Yō Taichi as Suzu Harashima
- Natsumi Kawaida as Kate Okura
- Kazuki Ura as Yajiro Yagura
- Daisuke Hirakawa as Izo Masubuchi
Uchida and Amamiya anchor the emotional core of the story, portraying two teens caught between duty, ambition, and the rapidly changing world around them.
What Is the Story of Sparks of Tomorrow
Set during the 40th year of the Meiji era, the story follows Inako Momokawa, a 15-year-old girl who struggles to meet her family’s expectations at their traditional sake brewery. Her only comfort comes from her prayers at the Fushimi Inari shrine.
There, she meets Kihachi Sakamoto, a boy who rejects superstition and champions the coming age of electricity. Kihachi once wrote a prophetic book titled “20th Century Electric Catalog,” but the manuscript vanished along with his older brother.
When Inako’s family suddenly arranges her marriage, she confides in Kihachi and reveals her desire to escape her predetermined future. The two embark on a journey across Kyoto and Shiga to locate the missing book, believing it holds the key to changing their lives.
The narrative blends:
- Historical Kyoto settings
- Themes of innovation vs tradition
- Youthful rebellion and self-discovery
- A mystery centered on a lost manuscript