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ASCA
ASCA is an active vocalist in 2026, contributing music to the animated film GROTESQQQUE and performing the role of LAYRA in the immersive live 'Belle'.
Synthesized from 6
Yomimono stories · updated
Aug 28
ASCA appears in two major 2026 projects. In June, the original animated film GROTESQQQUE, directed by Atsushi Nishigori and produced by CloverWorks, announced that 35 artists would contribute music. ASCA is among the named contributors, alongside Reol, Junna, and others. The film is scheduled for release in 2026 and is structured as three distinct stories. Details on how the artists will participate were set to be announced from July onward.
In August, the immersive music live 'Belle' revealed its protagonist LAYRA, a new virtual artist debuting under Sony Music's Echoes label. ASCA is one of five vocalists cast to play the role, along with miwa, Konomi Suzuki, Natsumi Kon, and Maria Miki. The announcement also confirmed the immersive live is a full narrative sequel set five years after the film. Rira Ikuta and Tomoyo Kurosawa join the cast, and the opening song was previewed.
ASCA's involvement in both projects places her in high-profile anime-related productions in 2026, though the stories do not specify her exact role in GROTESQQQUE beyond being one of the 35 contributing artists.
Key facts
- Role in Belle immersive live
- One of five vocalists cast as LAYRA, a new virtual artist under Sony Music's Echoes label ↗
- Music contribution to GROTESQQQUE
- Named among 35 artists contributing music to the film ↗
- GROTESQQQUE release window
- Scheduled for release in 2026 ↗
- GROTESQQQUE director and studio
- Directed by Atsushi Nishigori, produced by CloverWorks ↗
Timeline
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
All coverage
Aug 30
The official website for the Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dear Friend anime film presented the second full trailer, a key visual, a character visual for Miori Mitō, the theme song, and advance screening details on Sunday. The film is the latest anime adaptation of Hajime Kamoshida's Rascal Does Not Dream light novel series, and it is positioned as taking the story toward its finale. It shares its name with the 15th and final novel volume. The theme song is "Suihei-sen wa Boku no Furukizu finale" (The Horizon Is My Old Wound: Finale), performed by the character Tōko Kirishima. Tōko Kirishima also performs the song "Turn the World Upside Down" in the film. The staff will hold an advance screening with the cast on October 4 at the Shinjuku Wald 9 theater in Tokyo, and the film opens in Japanese theaters on October 16. Sōichi Masui returns to direct at CloverWorks, with Masahiro Yokotani writing the script and Satomi Tamura designing characters. The band fox capture plan returns to compose the music, and Aniplex distributes. The returning cast includes Kaito Ishikawa as Sakuta Azusagawa, Asami Seto as Mai Sakurajima, Sora Amamiya as Uzuki Hirokawa, and Manaka Iwami as Miori Mitō.
Aug 28
The Magical Explorer TV anime will premiere on October 3 at 24:00 on Tokyo MX, Tochigi TV, Gunma TV, and BS11, with additional airings on Tohoku Broadcasting, TV Aichi, and YTV. ASCA performs the opening theme "Remedy" and the ending theme "Double Wings." New cast members include Mai Fuchigami, Minami Tsuda, Risa Tsumugi, Asaki Yuikawa, Hikaru Tōno, and Rina Katō.
Aug 11
The immersive music live 'Belle' has revealed its protagonist LAYRA, a new virtual artist debuting under Sony Music's Echoes label. Five vocalists, miwa, Konomi Suzuki, Natsumi Kon, ASCA, and Maria Miki, will play the role. Rira Ikuta and Tomoyo Kurosawa join the cast, and the opening song is previewed.
Jun 17
The original animated film GROTESQQQUE, directed by Atsushi Nishigori and produced by CloverWorks, has announced that 35 artists will contribute music to the project. The lineup includes ASCA, Reol, Otoha-otoha-, Iori Noguchi (=LOVE), TAKU INOUE, Junna, and 29 others, spanning singer-songwriters, Vocaloid producers, idols, bands, and composers. The film is scheduled for release in 2026 and consists of three distinct stories: Ellians, about an alien girl and a civil servant searching for friends; Yoroshiku Shojo, a battle royale among girls called Gyaru P; and Nocturne ~Kono Grotesque na Yoru ni~, following a pure-blood vampire and three infected survivors traveling through a devastated world. The cast includes Tomoka Anzai, Kana Ichinose, Miku Ichinose (Nogizaka46), Nao Inoue (Nogizaka46), Maaya Uchida, Rumi Okubo, Rie Kugimiya, Nao Tomita, Aruno Nakanishi (Nogizaka46), Ikumi Hasegawa, Saori Hayami, Gen Hoshino, and Sara Minami. Details on how the 35 artists will participate will be announced from July onward.
Jun 15
The official website for the anime film Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dear Friend began streaming the main trailer on Monday, June 15. The trailer previews the theme song "Turn the World Upside Down" performed by Tōko Kirishima. The film is set to open in Japanese theaters on October 16. It is the latest installment in the Rascal Does Not Dream franchise, adapting the 15th and final volume of Hajime Kamoshida's light novel series. The film is teased as moving the story toward its conclusion. Soichi Masui returns to direct at CloverWorks, with Masahiro Yokotani handling the script and Satomi Tamura designing the characters. The band fox capture plan also returns to compose the music. Aniplex is distributing the film. The returning voice cast includes Kaito Ishikawa as Sakuta Azusagawa, Asami Seto as Mai Sakurajima, and many others. The film follows the television series Rascal Does Not Dream of Santa Claus, which aired from July to September 2025.
May 31
CloverWorks announced a regional tour of its POP UP SHOP 2026 event, starting January 16 in Ebetsu, Hokkaido, followed by Nagoya in February and Kochi in March. The pop-up shops will sell merchandise for series including My Dress-Up Darling, Wind Breaker, Bocchi the Rock!, Spy × Family, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, and others. Limited quantities of past release goods and books will also be available. Each venue will display reproduction artwork and production materials, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the studio's animation process. The tour begins at Ebetsu Tsutaya Books (January 16 to February 4), moves to TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Noritake in Nagoya (February 13 to March 2), and ends at Kochi Tsutaya Books (March 27 to April 13). Stock and exhibits may vary by location. The announcement was made on January 9, 2026.
May 25
The upcoming anime film Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dear Friend has received a new memorial visual and promotional video focusing on the character Ikumi Akagi, voiced by Aya Yamane. The film is scheduled to premiere in Japanese theaters on October 16, 2026. Soichi Masui returns as director, with Masahiro Yokotani handling series composition, Satomi Tamura as character designer, and fox capture plan composing the music. CloverWorks is producing the animation. The film adapts the 15th and final main volume of Hajime Kamoshida and Keji Mizoguchi's light novel series, which Yen Press describes as Sakuta's final confrontation with Adolescence Syndrome. The cast includes Kaito Ishikawa as Sakuta Azusagawa, Asami Seto as Mai Sakurajima, and Sora Amamiya as Uzuki Hirokawa, among others. The announcement coincided with a TV rebroadcast of the series. A second short story collection for the light novel is set for release in Japan on October 9, 2026, a week before the film opens.
May 18
The upcoming theatrical anime film Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dear Friend has released a new memorial visual and promotional video focusing on Sara Himeji, voiced by Konomi Kohara. The film is scheduled to premiere in Japan on October 16, 2026. Soichi Masui returns as director, with Masahiro Yokotani as story composer, Satomi Tamura as character designer, and fox capture plan composing the music. CloverWorks is handling animation production. The voice cast includes Kaito Ishikawa as Sakuta Azusagawa, Asami Seto as Mai Sakurajima, and others. The film is the latest entry in the Rascal Does Not Dream anime series, adapting the 15th and final main volume of Hajime Kamoshida's light novel series. Yen Press has licensed the light novels and manga adaptation for English release. Crunchyroll streams the previous anime series and films. A second short story collection for the light novel series will be released in Japan on October 9, 2026.