On Sunday, a website was launched to announce that "Meitō 'Isekai no Yu' Kaitaku-ki~ de Konao Menrui AraFō Onsen Mania Tensei-saki wa, Nonburi Onsen Tengoku Deshita~" (The Pioneering Record of the Historical Hot Springs in the Alternate World: The Reincarnation Destination of an Onsen Enthusiast (Around 40) Was a Relaxing Hot Spring Paradise) is a light novel that will inspire short anime television episodes and an ASMR voice drama.
The story focuses on Yoshizō Yukawa, a passionate hot springs enthusiast who discovers hidden springs to revitalize the local economy. However, after his death from falling off a cliff, he is transported to an alternate world by an inari harvest deity in a small shrine nestled among the rocks. Accompanied by Inari's princess assistant, Mayudama, he continues his quest for historical hot springs, but this time in the alternate world. On his journey, he finds himself immersed in hot springs with girls with furry ears and elves.
VTubers Ria Koito and Kyōko Kuramoto make their debut as voice actors in these projects.
The anime is directed by Tomonori Mine (episode director of Show By Rock!! Mashumairesh!!), while Yōhei Kashii (Battle Athletes Victory ReSTART!, TenPuru) oversees and writes the series' scripts. Minori Homura handles the character design.
Other team members include:
- Art Setting: Satoru Hirayanagi
- Art Director: Masakazu Miyake
- Key Color Artist: Fuyuto Muraguchi
- Composition and Photography Director: Masaya Sakano
- Editing: Nao Kawakami
- Musical Production: YAB Entertainment
The band GuilDrops will perform the main theme titled "Baby Love! Baby, Please!"
The short anime episodes are scheduled to premiere in January on Tokyo MX and BS Fuji. Additionally, the AnimeFesta service will exclusively stream an "uncensored" version of the anime.
Menrui's story was launched on the Novel Up Plus service in September 2019, and Hobby Japan's HJ Novels imprint publishes the light novel along with its successive volumes. Masahito Sasaki is in charge of the manga adaptation, serialized on the Fire Cross service, and the first volume of the manga was published by Hobby Japan in August 2022.
