(C)Moyoco Anno / khara
Studio Khara, known for the “Evangelion” series, has released a new short animation “SUGAR SUGAR RUNE Les deux sorcieres” based on Moyoco Anno’s magical girl manga “Sugar Sugar Rune.” It has also been announced that a full-length anime will be produced. These announcements were made during the “Japan Expo Paris 2025” held in Paris, France.
The original “Sugar Sugar Rune” was serialized in “Nakayoshi” (published by Kodansha) from 2003 to 2007. It depicts the story of Chocolat Meilleur and Vanilla Mew, best friends who are candidates for the next queen of the demon world and who come to the human world together to take on the challenge of collecting hearts (crystals of feelings) from humans. There are eight volumes in total. In 2005, it was made into a TV anime produced by studio Pierrot.
“SUGAR SUGAR RUNE Les deux sorcières”, produced as a video to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the original manga, is a prequel to the original manga, supervised by the original author Yasuno. In the trial to decide the next queen, Chocolat and Vanilla join forces and embark on a great adventure across the Demon World, reaffirming their friendship, as depicted in 3DCG animation. Chocolat is played by Kobashi Miyu, Vanilla by Chikasada Tsukino, and Cauldron by Miyadera Tomoko.
(C)Moyoco Anno / khara
Studio Khara director Yusuke Matsui and animation producer Kohei Fujiwara appeared on stage at Japan Expo Paris 2025. After the first screening of “SUGAR SUGAR RUNE Les deux sorcieres,” they talked about the thoughts behind the film and the production episodes. Director Matsui said, “I expanded my imagination and depicted the journey to the human world, which is not depicted in the original work, as a prequel,” and revealed the production process, which involved many exchanges of opinions with Anno, down to the character backgrounds. Producer Fujiwara shared his impressions of the film, saying, “I hope you will see Studio Khara’s new talent through this work.”
(C)Moyoco Anno / khara
Details of the main animation, for which production has been announced, have not been released. Director Matsui said, “The beauty of the sculpture is something that only CG animation can provide, so I hope everyone will look forward to it. Thank you very much.”
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“SUGAR SUGAR RUNE Les deux sorcières” short film commemorating the 20th anniversary of the serialization of “Sugar Sugar Rune”
khara inc.official
Channel subscriber count: 568,000
Studio Khara announces new short animated film at JAPAN EXPO
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Moyoco Anno’s Magical World Returns to the Screen
The announcement of a short film based on the prequel to Sugar Sugar Rune, created by acclaimed manga artist Moyoco Anno, is exciting news for fans of magical girl stories with a dark twist. With Studio Khara—best known for their work on the Evangelion films—leading the animation, expectations are naturally high for both quality and emotional depth.
What makes this even more compelling is that the original Sugar Sugar Rune story is also set to receive a full anime adaptation. This marks a major revival of the beloved 2000s series and introduces a new generation to the bittersweet friendship and rivalry between Chocolat and Vanilla. Considering the more mature tones and stylish aesthetic that Anno’s work is known for, the anime has the potential to offer a rich and visually distinct experience in a genre often dominated by formulaic storytelling.
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