It is time to celebrate, danmei and manhua fans! In one of the most exciting announcements to drop out of the Crunchyroll Showcase panel at Anime Expo 2026, D JUN’s legendary modern slice-of-life BL webtoon, Here U Are, is officially getting a television anime adaptation.
For years, Here U Are has stood as a foundational modern classic in the boys’ love community, garnering over 390 million views globally. While fans have previously been treated to audio dramas and gorgeous promotional art, a full-scale TV anime production is the milestone we have all been waiting for.
Crunchyroll has already released an official English-subtitled teaser trailer and confirmed they will be streaming the series globally when it premieres. Let’s dive into everything we know so far about the adaptation, the staff behind it, and why this is a massive deal for the community.
Here U Are: A Masterclass in Slice-of-Life Realism
If you haven’t read the original comic (which ran from 2017 to 2020 on Dongman Manhua), Here U Are follows Yu Yang, an energetic, openly gay university upperclassman who handles student orientation. During the welcoming rush, he crosses paths with Li Huan, a towering, quiet, and aggressively anti-social freshman.
The two make a disastrous first impression. However, as they are repeatedly forced to interact, the layers begin to peel back. What makes Here U Are a masterpiece isn’t fast-paced gimmicks; it’s the incredibly grounded, slow-burn realism of two ordinary people learning to navigate vulnerability, past trauma, and the social hurdles of loving someone of the same sex.
Behind the Scenes: The Animation Studio & Japanese Production Crew
What makes this project unique for danmei/manhua enthusiasts is the cross-border production pipeline. While the source material is a Chinese manhua, the animated series is being actively produced by a Japanese creative team.
The Studio & Director
The animation is being handled by Studio Rouseact with Tomoe Makino at the director’s helm. Makino is highly regarded for her work on Aharen-san wa Hakarenai, showcasing a deft hand at character-driven comedy and subtle, cozy interpersonal dynamics.
The Composition and Design Team
- Series Composition: Aiki Kawamura is managing the scripts. Kawamura recently remarked that their core goal is to preserve the “connection of hearts” and emotional security that makes the comic so heartwarming.
- Character Design: Asami Hayakawa (Aniplex projects) is tasked with bringing D JUN’s iconic, soft, and realistic character art into motion.
- Music: Renowned pianist and composer Shinya Kiyozuka will handle the soundtrack, promising a diverse palette of timbres to capture the show’s complex emotional beats.
The Voice Cast: Bringing Yu Yang and Li Huan to Life
The main voice actors have been officially unveiled, and the casting choices are exceptionally strong:
- Yu Yang will be voiced by Yūki Inoue (known for playing Sasuke in Kakuriyo -Bed & Breakfast for Spirits-). Inoue expressed deep reverence for the role, noting how hard he worked to capture Yu Yang’s internal struggles beneath his sunny exterior.
- Li Huan will be voiced by Ryōta Suzuki (the powerhouse behind Ryusui Nanami in Dr. STONE). Suzuki highlighted that his focus is on carefully portraying the pure intentions driving Li Huan’s quiet, taciturn exterior.
Why We Are Optimistic (Despite a Few Hurdles)
Let’s address the elephant in the room: cross-border adaptations can occasionally run into minor friction. Transitioning the distinctly Chinese university atmosphere, local honorifics, and cultural nuances of a manhua into a Japanese anime script requires a delicate touch. Furthermore, Studio Rouseact is a younger production house, meaning the visual execution will rely heavily on the strength of Director Makino’s storyboard leadership.
However, the core strengths of this project far outweigh the risks.
Because the production is bypassing direct mainland broadcast constraints, it has the freedom to fully explore the mature themes, identity struggles, and open romantic devotion that defined the original work. With Crunchyroll backing the distribution and the creative team openly emphasizing their love for the comic’s delicate, raw emotional realism, Here U Are is poised to get the high-fidelity treatment it deserves.
To celebrate the announcement, D JUN even treated fans to a stunning commemorative illustration on social media—and if the author is smiling, we should be too!
Are you ready to see Yu Yang and Li Huan animated? What is your favorite scene from the manhua that you’re desperate to see on screen? Let’s talk about it in the comments below!