Bocchi the Rock! Announces 2027 Prequel Movie Hoshi no Ashiato, Teaser Visual Features Nijika and Seika

Bocchi the Rock! (ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！) has officially announced a new anime film titled Bocchi the Rock! Movie: Hoshi no Ashiato (映画ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！ 星のあしあと), scheduled for theatrical release in Japan in 2027. Unlike the previous compilation films, the new project will tell a prequel story set before the events of the main television anime.

The November 1, 2026 announcement also revealed a teaser visual featuring Seika Ijichi and her younger sister Nijika Ijichi traveling in a car. The film is produced by CloverWorks, with Shin Wakabayashi directing, Yukiko Horiguchi handling character design, and Erika Yoshida writing the screenplay.

Quick Summary

• Title: Bocchi the Rock! Movie: Hoshi no Ashiato
• Japanese title: 映画ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！ 星のあしあと
• Short title: Hoshi no Ashiato
• Title meaning: Footprints of the Stars
• Format: anime film
• Story type: prequel
• Genres: music, drama, slice of life
• Original work: Bocchi the Rock!
• Manga creator: Aki Hamazi / はまじあき
• Manga publisher: Houbunsha
• Magazine: Manga Time Kirara MAX
• Announcement date: November 1, 2026
• Release year: 2027
• Exact release date: unannounced
• Announced theatrical market: Japan
• Animation studio: CloverWorks
• Director: Shin Wakabayashi / 若林信
• Character designer: Yukiko Horiguchi / 堀口悠紀子
• Screenwriter: Erika Yoshida / 吉田恵里香
• Teaser visual: revealed
• Film PV or trailer: not yet confirmed
• Characters in the visual: Nijika Ijichi and Seika Ijichi
• Character relationship: sisters
• Visual setting: inside a car
• Implied focus: events before the main story
• TV sequel status: Season 2 remains a separate project
• Previous compilation films: Re: and Re:Re:
• Compilation film release year: 2024
• Related manga story: 星に手向けるあいの花
• Related manga volume: Volume 5
• Direct adaptation of the special story: unconfirmed
• Runtime: unannounced
• Movie-specific voice cast: unannounced
• International distribution: unannounced

Bocchi the Rock! Hoshi no Ashiato Teaser Visual

Bocchi the Rock! Prequel Movie Set for 2027

The new announcement introduces Hoshi no Ashiato as a film depicting events that took place before the main story of Bocchi the Rock!.

This distinguishes it from Bocchi the Rock! Re: and Re:Re:, the two compilation films that brought the original television anime story back to theaters in 2024.

Although the film is confirmed as a prequel, the production team has not yet revealed a full synopsis, its precise timeline, or whether it directly adapts a particular manga chapter.

An exact theatrical release date, runtime, and ticket sales schedule have also not been announced.

Teaser Visual Highlights Nijika and Seika Ijichi

The first teaser visual features Seika Ijichi and Nijika Ijichi sitting inside a vehicle, with a road visible through the rear window.

Seika is Nijika's older sister and the manager of STARRY, the live music venue where Kessoku Band rehearses and performs. Nijika is the band's drummer and one of the people responsible for bringing its members together.

Featuring the Ijichi sisters in the prequel artwork draws attention to their family relationship before the events depicted in the television anime.

However, the production team has not explained the specific events taking place in the vehicle or the context of their journey.

Shin Wakabayashi, Yukiko Horiguchi, and Erika Yoshida Lead the Film

The upcoming film introduces a main staff lineup different from the previous television projects.

Shin Wakabayashi serves as director, while Yukiko Horiguchi handles character design. Erika Yoshida, who previously worked on the television anime's screenplay and series composition, returns as the film's writer.

Animation production remains with CloverWorks, the studio behind the first television season and the compilation films.

This new staff announcement also distinguishes Hoshi no Ashiato from the previously announced second television season, which has Yusuke Yamamoto attached as director.

Manga Volume 5 Contains an Ijichi Sisters Backstory

A particularly relevant part of the original manga is the special chapter “Hoshi ni Tamukeru Ai no Hana” (星に手向けるあいの花).

The chapter explores the past of Nijika and Seika Ijichi, including how their relationship developed before the main events of Bocchi the Rock!.

It was originally published in Manga Time Kirara MAX before being collected in manga Volume 5, released on November 26, 2022.

The prequel premise and the appearance of the sisters in the new teaser make this existing chapter relevant background material. However, there has been no official confirmation that Hoshi no Ashiato directly adapts Hoshi ni Tamukeru Ai no Hana.

The New Film and Season 2 Are Separate Projects

Bocchi the Rock! previously announced Season 2 in February 2025. That television project is planned for production by CloverWorks, with Yusuke Yamamoto directing and Erika Yoshida writing.

Meanwhile, Hoshi no Ashiato is a separate prequel film with a confirmed 2027 theatrical release window.

No official information explains whether the film's production schedule will affect the second season's broadcast plans. The movie announcement should therefore not be treated as confirmation of a Season 2 release date.

Why This Matters

1) The story explores the Ijichi family's past

A prequel format creates an opportunity to examine Nijika and Seika's relationship, which forms an important emotional foundation for Kessoku Band.

2) This is different from the previous compilation movies

Rather than repackaging television episodes, Hoshi no Ashiato is announced as a prequel, giving the film its own narrative direction.

3) The new staff could bring a different visual approach

With Shin Wakabayashi and Yukiko Horiguchi joining Erika Yoshida and CloverWorks, the film is particularly interesting from a directing and animation-design perspective.

Bocchi the Rock! Hoshi no Ashiato Movie Information

Additional important information currently known:

• the official title is 映画ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！ 星のあしあと
• Hoshi no Ashiato can be translated as Footprints of the Stars
• the film was announced November 1, 2026
• its theatrical release is planned for 2027
• an exact premiere date remains unannounced
• the film will tell a prequel story
• its events take place before the main narrative
• the teaser visual features Seika and Nijika Ijichi
• both characters are shown inside a car
• Seika is Nijika's older sister
• Seika manages the STARRY live music venue
• Nijika is the drummer of Kessoku Band
• Shin Wakabayashi directs the movie
• Yukiko Horiguchi handles character design
• Erika Yoshida writes the screenplay
• CloverWorks produces the animation
• the movie's runtime has not been announced
• its full story details remain undisclosed
• a movie-specific voice cast list has not been announced
• an official film PV has not been confirmed
• this is different from the 2024 compilation films Re: and Re:Re:
• the television anime's second season is a separate project
• Season 2 does not yet have a confirmed premiere date
• the original manga was created by Aki Hamazi
• Houbunsha publishes the manga in Manga Time Kirara MAX
• manga Volume 5 includes the Ijichi sisters' backstory
• the special chapter is titled 星に手向けるあいの花
• Volume 5 was released November 26, 2022
• a direct adaptation of that chapter has not been confirmed
• the movie announcement is available through Official Movie Announcement on X
• the main anime website is Official Bocchi the Rock! Website
• Nijika's background is available through her Official Character Profile
• manga Volume 5 details are available through the Official Houbunsha Manga Catalog
• the original Ijichi backstory announcement is available through Official Manga Time Kirara X

Closing

Bocchi the Rock! Movie: Hoshi no Ashiato will take audiences back to events before the main anime, with its first teaser featuring sisters Nijika and Seika Ijichi. The film is scheduled for a 2027 theatrical release, with CloverWorks handling animation.

For now, the complete synopsis and exact release date remain unannounced. Its potential connection to the Ijichi sisters' special manga chapter also awaits confirmation.

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