A website opened on Tuesday to reveal the anime film adaptation of Nowaki Fukamidori’s Whoever Steals This Book (Kono Hon wo Nusumu Mono wa) fantasy novel, which will premiere in 2026. The website also reveals the main staff, teaser visual, and teaser trailer of the film.
©2026 深緑野分／KADOKAWA／「この本を盗む者は」製作委員会
Daisei Fukuoka (Radiant series director, Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School: Despair Arc and Future Arc, Phantom of the Idol) is directing the film at Kagokan. Yasuhiro Nakanishi (Kaguya-sama: Love is War, No Longer Allowed In Another World, Shy) is writing the script, Keiko Kurosawa (Astra Lost in Space, Asobi Asobase -workshop of fun-) is designing the characters and is the film’s animation director, and Michiru Ōshima (Fullmetal Alchemist, Little Witch Academia) is composing the music. Kagokan founder Yūji Higa (Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School: Despair Arc, Asobi Asobase -workshop of fun-, Radiant) is the animation producer, and Kadokawa Animation is distributing the film.
Yen On licensed and released the novel on February 18. Yen On describes the story:
Mifuyu is a high school student living with a large collection of books left by her great-grandfather―the vast library known as Mikura Hall. Although her father is the current caretaker, Mifuyu herself doesn’t share her family’s passion for literature. But when several books are stolen from the library, triggering an ancient curse, the town is transformed according to the various stories―and the only way to put things right is for Mifuyu to catch the thief. With the help of a mysterious girl named Mashiro, Mifuyu sets out on an adventure through the different story worlds!
Kadokawa first published the novel in 2020. A manga adaptation of the novel by Kakeru Sora serialized in Kadokawa’s Young Ace magazine from December 2021 to March 2023. Yen Press released the manga’s three compiled book volumes in English.
Kadokawa published Fukamidori’s spinoff novel titled Kūsō no Umi (Fantasy Sea) in May 2023.
Sources: Whoever Steals This Book anime film’s website, Comic Natalie
Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, is the majority owner of Anime News Network, LLC. One or more of the companies mentioned in this article are part of the Kadokawa Group of Companies.
