Tune In to the Midnight Heart
| Tune In to the Midnight Heart | |
![]() First tankōbon volume cover | |
| 真夜中ハートチューン (Mayonaka Hāto Chūn) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Romantic comedy |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Masakuni Igarashi |
| Published by | Kodansha |
| English publisher | |
| Imprint | Shōnen Magazine Comics |
| Magazine | Weekly Shōnen Magazine |
| Original run | September 20, 2023 – present |
| Volumes | 11 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Masayuki Takahashi |
| Produced by |
|
| Written by | Yukie Sugiwara |
| Music by | Kuniyuki Takahashi |
| Studio | Gekkou |
| Licensed by | Crunchyroll |
| Original network | FNS (Kansai TV, Fuji TV) BS Asahi |
| Original run | January 6, 2026 – present |
| Episodes | 6 |
Tune In to the Midnight Heart (Japanese: 真夜中ハートチューン, Hepburn: Mayonaka Hāto Chūn) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masakuni Igarashi. It began serialization in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine in September 2023, and has been compiled into eleven tankōbon volumes as of December 2025. The series is simultaneously serialized in English on Kodansha's K Manga digital service. An anime television series adaptation produced by Gekkou premiered in January 2026.
Plot
Arisu Yamabuki, a high school sophomore, has been looking for a girl named Apollo, a radio broadcaster whose face and real name he does not know. One day, Arisu finds a clue about Apollo in the broadcasting club of the high school he is attending. There, he finds four beautiful girls who dream of “getting a job related to voice.” Arisu vows to fulfill the dreams of each of the four girls in order to find out the true identity of Apollo.
Characters
- Arisu Yamabuki (山吹 有栖, Yamabuki Arisu)
- Voiced by: Rikuya Yasuda[1] (anime) (Japanese); Ricco Fajardo[2] (English)
- The protagonist, he is currently a 2nd-year high school student. He listened to a radio personality known only under the alias Apollo while in junior high school and is determined to learn her true identity.
- Shinobu Uzuki (雨月 しのぶ, Uzuki Shinobu)
- Voiced by: Ayane Sakura (PV), Miku Itō[3] (anime) (Japanese); Kayla Temshiv[2] (English)
- A high school student and a member of the broadcasting club. She is aiming to become an announcer.
- Nene Himekawa (日芽川 寧々, Himekawa Nene)
- Voiced by: Ayane Sakura (PV), Rumi Okubo[3] (anime) (Japanese); Tia Ballard[2] (English)
- A high school student and a member of the broadcasting club. She is aiming to become a voice actress.
- Iko Kirino (霧乃 イコ, Kirino Iko)
- Voiced by: Ayane Sakura (PV), Sayumi Suzushiro[3] (anime) (Japanese); Sarah Wiedenheft[2] (English)
- A high school student and a member of the broadcasting club. She is aiming to become a VTuber.
- Rikka Inohana (井ノ華 六花, Inohana Rikka)
- Voiced by: Ayane Sakura (PV), Momoko Seto[3] (anime) (Japanese); Abigail Blythe[2] (English)
- A high school student and a member of the broadcasting club. She is aiming to become a singer.
- Lemon Ando (安藤 檸檬, Ando Remon)
- Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa[4] (Japanese); Hannah Alyea[5] (English)
- Aiko (アイコ)
- Voiced by: Yuki Wakai[6]
- Ao Momotose (百歳あお, Momotose Ao)
- Voiced by: Nao Tōyama[6]
Media
Manga
Tune In to the Midnight Heart is written and illustrated by Masakuni Igarashi. It began serialization in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine on September 20, 2023.[7] It is also simultaneously released in English on Kodansha's K Manga digital service.[8] During their panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Kodansha USA announced that they licensed the series for English publication beginning in Q2 2025.[9]
The first volume was released on December 15, 2023. To promote the release, an article featuring an interview and collaboration with VTuber Shigure Ui was published, along with comments by voice actress Kana Hanazawa.[10] The second volume was released on February 16, 2024. To promote its release, a video featuring Ayane Sakura voicing the female characters was published.[11]
Volumes
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | December 15, 2023[12] | 978-4-06-533754-7 | May 6, 2025[13] | 979-8-888774-91-5 | ||
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| 2 | February 16, 2024[14] | 978-4-06-534570-2 | July 15, 2025[15] | 979-8-888774-92-2 | ||
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| 3 | April 17, 2024[16] | 978-4-06-535415-5 | September 2, 2025 | 979-8-888774-93-9 | ||
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| 4 | June 17, 2024[17] | 978-4-06-535777-4 | November 4, 2025 | 979-8-888774-94-6 | ||
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| 5 | September 17, 2024[18] | 978-4-06-536773-5 | January 13, 2026 | 979-8-888775-38-7 | ||
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| 6 | November 15, 2024[19] | 978-4-06-537511-2 | March 10, 2026 | 979-8-888775-65-3 | ||
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| 7 | January 17, 2025[20] | 978-4-06-538132-8 | — | — | ||
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| 8 | March 17, 2025[21] | 978-4-06-538706-1 | — | — | ||
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| 9 | June 17, 2025[22] | 978-4-06-539757-2 | — | — | ||
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| 10 | September 17, 2025[23] | 978-4-06-540709-7 | — | — | ||
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| 11 | December 17, 2025[24] | 978-4-06-541945-8 | — | — | ||
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| 12 | March 17, 2026[25] | 978-4-06-543005-7 | — | — | ||
Chapters not yet in tankōbon format
- "Ask for the Moon"
- This isn't a Superhero Movie, After All (ヒーロー映画じゃあるまいし, Hīrō Eiga Jaarumaishi)
- Out of Pattern (柄にもない, Gara ni mo nai)
- Scooping Up Stars (星を掬う, Hoshi o Sukuu)
- No Longer Need Any Cough Drops (のど飴はいらない, Nodo ame wa Iranai)
- My Teeth Might Just Get Cavities (虫歯になりそう, Mushiba ni Nari-sō)
- The President’s Orders Are Absolute (部長命令は絶対, Buchō Meirei wa Zettai)
- Cosmic Latte (コズミック・ラテ, Kozumikku Rate)
- I Don't Have Them (持ってない, Mottenai)
- You Came Up Short (詰めが甘い, Tsumegaamai)
- Gravitational Lens (重力レンズ, Jūryoku Renzu)
- Lagrange Points (ラグランジュポイント, Raguranju Pointo)
- She’s Definitely Mad at Me! (コレ絶対怒ってるやつ…!, Kore Zettai Okotteru Yatsu…!)
Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on March 14, 2025.[26] It is produced by Gekkou and directed by Masayuki Takahashi, with series composition by Yukie Sugawara, characters designed by Tomoyuki Shitaya, and music composed by Kuniyuki Takahashi.[3] The series premiered on January 6, 2026, on the brand new Ka-Anival!! programming block on all FNS affiliates, including Kansai TV and Fuji TV. The opening theme song is "Tsuki ni Mukatte Ute" (月に向かって撃て; 'Attack Toward the Moon'), performed by Hoshimachi Suisei, while the ending theme song is "Koe no Kiseki" (声の軌跡; 'Trails of Voices'), performed by Soala.[27] Crunchyroll is streaming the series.[28] Plus Media Networks Asia licensed the series in Southeast Asia and broadcasts it on Aniplus Asia.[29]
Episodes
| No. | Title [30][31] | Directed by [a] | Written by [a] | Storyboarded by [a] | Original release date [32] | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "This Has Been Yamabuki Arisu" Transliteration: "Yamabuki Arisu ga Ōkuri Shimashita" (Japanese: 山吹有栖がお送りしました) | Masayuki Takahashi | Yukie Sugiwara | Masayuki Takahashi | January 6, 2026 | |||||||||||
| "RE:START" | ||||||||||||||||
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Arisu Yamabuki aims to find within Furin High School the girl behind the voice of a radio personality known only under the alias of "Apollo", who he used to talk to in her show Midnight Heart Tune and erased her online presence before starting high school. Arisu checks the broadcast club room for clues, but finds out it consists of four girls who aspire to use their voice professionally: announcer Shinobu Uzuki, VTuber Iko Kirino, voice actress Nene Himekawa, and singer Rikka Inohana. Undeterred by the complication, Arisu joins the club to narrow his search for Apollo. He observes the girls for similarities to Apollo's voice but is dismayed at them not taking their aspirations seriously. Arisu proclaims that he will guide the girls in achieving their dreams, only for them to kick him out of the broadcast room. Arisu is then shocked when Apollo returns online to state she cannot reveal herself and declare her love for him, with the voice coming from the broadcast room. | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | "Liar" Transliteration: "Usotsuki" (Japanese: うそつき) | Yūma Kano | Yukie Sugiwara | Masayuki Takahashi | January 13, 2026[b] | |||||||||||
| "Himekawa Nene's Ears Give It Away" Transliteration: "Himekawa Nene wa Mimi ni Deru" (Japanese: 日芽川寧々は耳に出る) | ||||||||||||||||
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Emboldened by Apollo's reappearance, Arisu vows to find her within the club. Arisu creates detailed training plans to improve the girls' voices. Rikka chides him for assuming she has lackluster skills as a singer, so Arisu later observes her performance at school. Arisu is left stunned at Rikka's proficiency in music as Rikka remains skeptical of his plans. After seeing Arisu humble himself and correct his mistakes, Rikka makes amends. Sometime later, Arisu notices that Nene is avoidant of his plans, so he follows her. He learns that Nene secretly practices her voice acting with a romance manga called Knightly Love. Nene admits she has difficulty acting out the manga in preparation for its voice audition, prompting Arisu to assist her by acting as her boyfriend publicly and reenacting the manga's scenes, much to Nene's embarrassment. Despite failing the audition, Nene realizes her acting has improved with Arisu's help. Nene sneaks a kiss on Arisu as thanks, but she becomes flustered when Arisu catches on. | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | "Lock the Door If It's Embarrassing" Transliteration: "Hazukashīnara Kagi o Kakero" (Japanese: 恥ずかしいなら鍵をかけろ) | Yoshihiro Sasaki | Yukie Sugiwara | Masayuki Takahashi | January 20, 2026 | |||||||||||
| "I Can't Smile In Front of the Camera" Transliteration: "Kamera no Maede wa Waraenai!!" (Japanese: カメラの前では笑えない!!) | ||||||||||||||||
| "I Can't Smile In Front of You" Transliteration: "Kimi no Maede wa Waraenai...!" (Japanese: 君の前では笑えない…!) | ||||||||||||||||
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The girls wonder how Arisu spends his time outside of club activities, so they tail him and learn he is earnestly taking part-time jobs to support them. Seeing this, Iko personally meets with Arisu to disclose her concerns of her stagnating VTuber career. Arisu points out how her VTuber model does not fully capture her emotions, so he works with Iko to overhaul it and allow Iko to genuinely express herself. Arisu and Iko unveil her overhauled VTuber model in a livestream, but Iko grows tense and reverts to her withdrawn nature. Arisu senses Iko's nervousness and he helps by establishing rapport with her that incites joy and anger from Iko, and her genuine character is positively received by her fans. Iko thanks Arisu through her VTuber model, though she struggles in expressing a smile to Arisu without becoming flushed with embarrassment. | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | "All Alone with You until Dark" Transliteration: "Yoru Made Kōsu de Futari kiri" (Japanese: 夜までコースで2人きり) | Tomio Yamauchi, Kentaro Iino & Taichi Atarashi | Yukie Sugiwara | Masayuki Takahashi | January 27, 2026 | |||||||||||
| "Partners in Crime" Transliteration: "Kyōhan" (Japanese: 共犯) | ||||||||||||||||
| "The Adviser's Called Lemon-chan" Transliteration: "Komon no Namae wa Remon-chan" (Japanese: 顧問の名前はレモンちゃん) | ||||||||||||||||
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Shinobu becomes burdened with her obligations as student council vice president alongside her club duties, which she explains is part of wanting to be respected by her peers. Arisu tells her to loosen up and rely on others, prompting Shinobu to ask him for assistance. Shinobu also opens up to Arisu on her inferiority complex within the club and reveals her intention to leave to focus on her studies. Arisu refuses to give up on her and continues to lend a helping hand for Shinobu to grow, inspiring the latter to take the initiative in planning the club's event for the school's sports festival, which involves students anonymously relaying their confessions using a string phone to be announced by the club. The club members take turns participating and commentating on the festival's games and grow excited with Shinobu's plan, when the club's advisor Lemon Ando intervenes. | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | "I Can't Tell Whose Voice It Was" Transliteration: "Dare no Koe ka Wakaranai" (Japanese: 誰の声かわからない) | Kentaro Iino | Yukie Sugiwara | Masayuki Takahashi | February 3, 2026 | |||||||||||
| "Yamabuki Arisu-kun" Transliteration: "Yamabuki Arisu-kun Desu" (Japanese: 山吹有栖君です) | ||||||||||||||||
| "Flyby Anomaly" Transliteration: "Furaibai Anomari" (Japanese: フライバイ・アノマリー) | ||||||||||||||||
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Lemon initially shoots down the club's plan, citing it is too much effort. After Shinobu highlights how the plan can raise her status as a teacher, Lemon helps the club by distracting Samejima, the teacher prohibiting romantic advances between students. The club uses the opportunity to promote their event, with the girls dressing up in cosplay to garner more attention. The club sets their plan in motion with Shinobu broadcasting the confessions. The event becomes a success as Iko asks Nene and Rikka if they have something to confess. Nene, Rikka, and Iko all confide they want to make up to Arisu for underestimating him without implying it is about Arisu. Shinobu encounters technical difficulties, so Arisu provides her a megaphone to continue the event. Shinobu hugs Arisu as thanks, and she relays a confession from a girl expressing regret for betraying a boy who had long supported her. Arisu hears this and realizes its similarities with Apollo, which is confirmed when Shinobu relays the benefactor's declaration of love. Apollo later anonymously talks with Arisu through the string phone, who invites him to come inside the broadcast room to see her. | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | "Nene Saw" Transliteration: "Nene wa Mita" (Japanese: 寧々は見た) | Tsurumi Mukoyama | Yukie Sugiwara | Masayuki Takahashi | February 10, 2026[c] | |||||||||||
| "A Piece of Cake" Transliteration: "A Piece of Cake (Asameshimae sa)" (Japanese: A Piece of Cake) | ||||||||||||||||
| "I'll Cherish What You Just Said Forever" Transliteration: "Ima no Kotoba, Zutto Taisetsu ni Suru ne" (Japanese: 今の言葉、ずっと大切にするね) | ||||||||||||||||
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The broadcast club celebrates the event's success at Lemon's apartment. As the girls leave a tired Arisu to sleep and head out, Iko lies down beside him and jealously asks on his closeness to Shinobu. Nene misinterprets Iko's actions as her kissing Arisu, as they awkwardly discuss how they feel about Arisu. The two hide from Shinobu and hear her apologizing for the hug; when Rikka arrives, Shinobu also hides with them and listen to Rikka's uncertainty towards composing a new song. Rikka catches on to the other girls and creates a tense atmosphere, just as Arisu wakes up to find all the girls having bought cake to celebrate. The club then plays party games to pass the time, while Arisu continues figuring out Apollo's identity. Arisu recalls on refusing Apollo's invitation and becoming inspired to pursue voice producer work upon seeing the girls' aspirations. As the club agrees on Shinobu's plan being fun, Arisu recalls that Apollo whispered something to him before hiding again. | ||||||||||||||||
Reception
The series ranked 14th in the print category at the tenth Next Manga Awards in 2024.[33]
See also
- Detectives These Days Are Crazy!, another manga series by the same author
- Senryu Girl, another manga series by the same author
Notes
References
- ^ アニメ「真夜中ハートチューン」主人公役は安田陸矢、ヒットを祈願し人生初の富士登山へ. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). August 29, 2025. Archived from the original on August 29, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Dempsey, Liam (January 19, 2026). "Tune In to the Midnight Heart English Dub Reveals Release Date, Cast & Crew". Crunchyroll. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
- ^ a b c d e Loo, Egan (March 22, 2025). "Tune In to the Midnight Heart Anime Announces Heroines' Cast, Main Staff". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 23, 2025. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
- ^ Cayanan, Joanna (September 17, 2025). "Tune In to the Midnight Heart Anime Casts Kana Hanazawa". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 17, 2025. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
- ^ Alyea, Hannah [@HannahAlyea] (February 11, 2026). ""What is it you don't want the teachers finding out about?"
Excited to be joining the cast of #TuneIntotheMidnightHeart as our "totally over it" teacher Ms. Lemon! Thanks so much to @RetroJono for having me along for this ride, and @GoSay_Audio for the masterful engineering!" (Tweet). Retrieved February 10, 2026 – via Twitter. - ^ a b Loo, Egan (January 4, 2026). "Tune In to the Midnight Heart Anime Casts Yūki Wakai, Nao Tōyama". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 4, 2026. Retrieved January 4, 2026.
- ^ Tai, Anita (September 19, 2023). "Senryū Girl's Masakuni Igarashi Launches New Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Tune In to the Midnight Heart | CHAPTER 1 RE:START / K MANGA". Kodansha. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Kodansha Reveals New Manga Licenses for August 2024 & Spring 2025". Kodansha USA. July 5, 2024. Archived from the original on July 25, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
- ^ 【単行本第1巻12月15日発売!!】『真夜中ハートチューン』花澤香菜さん特別コメント&しぐれういさん特別インタビューを大公開! (in Japanese). Kodansha. December 13, 2023. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ 佐倉綾音:「マガジン」ラブコメ「真夜中ハートチューン」PVで1人4役 「私の声でいいのかしら」とプレッシャーも (in Japanese). Mantan Inc. February 14, 2024. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ 真夜中ハートチューン(1) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Tune In to the Midnight Heart, Volume 1". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on March 19, 2025.
- ^ 真夜中ハートチューン(2) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Tune In to the Midnight Heart, Volume 2". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on November 21, 2025.
- ^ 真夜中ハートチューン(3) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ 真夜中ハートチューン(4) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ 真夜中ハートチューン(5) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on July 28, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
- ^ 真夜中ハートチューン(6) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on November 10, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ 真夜中ハートチューン(7) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on January 17, 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- ^ 真夜中ハートチューン(8) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on January 30, 2025. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
- ^ 真夜中ハートチューン(9) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on June 1, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ^ 真夜中ハートチューン(10) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on September 16, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ 真夜中ハートチューン(11) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on November 17, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ 真夜中ハートチューン(12) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on January 27, 2026. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 14, 2025). "Masakuni Igarashi's Tune In to the Midnight Heart Manga Gets TV Anime in 2026". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 14, 2025. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (October 23, 2025). "Tune In to the Midnight Heart Anime's 2nd Promo Video Reveals January 6 Debut, Theme Songs". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 18, 2026. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (December 16, 2025). "Crunchyroll Announces Release Schedule for Winter 2026 Season". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 18, 2026. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
- ^ Rafael Antonio Pineda (December 24, 2025). "Aniplus Asia Airs Simulcast of Tune In to the Midnight Heart Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 24, 2025.
- ^ "Story | Terebi Anime「Mayonaka Hāto Chūn」Kōshiki Saito" STORY | TVアニメ「真夜中ハートチューン」公式サイト [Story | TV Anime「Tune In to the Midnight Heart」Official Website]. mayochu-anime.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2026. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
- ^ "Watch Tune In to the Midnight Heart - Crunchyroll". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on January 10, 2026. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
- ^ "On Air | Terebi Anime「Mayonaka Hāto Chūn」Kōshiki Saito" ONAIR | TVアニメ「真夜中ハートチューン」公式サイト [On Air | TV Anime「Tune In to the Midnight Heart」Official Website]. mayochu-anime.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 10, 2026. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
- ^ 「次にくるマンガ大賞 2024」1位に「カグラバチ」「ふつうの軽音部」. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 28, 2024. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
External links
- Official manga website at Pocket Shōnen Magazine (in Japanese)
- Official anime website (in Japanese)
- Tune In to the Midnight Heart (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
