The Anime Film Debut of Whoever Steals This Book Arrives on December 26

Kadokawa revealed that the anime film adaptation of Nowaki Fukamidori’s Whoever Steals This Book (Kono Hon wo Nusumu Mono wa) fantasy novel will debut on December 26.

The film was previously announced to debut in 2026.

Daisei Fukuoka (Radiant series director, Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School: Despair Arc and Future Arc, Phantom of the Idol) is directing the film at Kagome Company (Kagokan). Yasuhiro Nakanishi (Kaguya-sama: Love is War, No Longer Allowed In Another World, Shy) is writing the script, Keiko Kurosawa (Astra Lost in Space, Asobi Asobase -workshop of fun-) is designing the characters and is the film’s animation director, and Michiru Ōshima (Fullmetal Alchemist, Little Witch Academia) is composing the music. Kagokan founder Yūji Higa (Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School: Despair Arc, Asobi Asobase -workshop of fun-, Radiant) is the animation producer, and Kadokawa Animation is distributing the film.

Yen On licensed and released the novel in English. The story is described as:

Mifuyu is a high school student living with a large collection of books left by her great-grandfather—the vast library known as Mikura Hall. Although her father is the current caretaker, Mifuyu herself doesn’t share her family’s passion for literature. But when several books are stolen from the library, triggering an ancient curse, the town is transformed according to the various stories—and the only way to put things right is for Mifuyu to catch the thief. With the help of a mysterious girl named Mashiro, Mifuyu sets out on an adventure through the different story worlds!

Kadokawa first published the novel in 2020. A manga adaptation by Kakeru Sora was serialized in Young Ace magazine from December 2021 to March 2023. The three-volume manga has been released in English by Yen Press.

Kadokawa published Fukamidori’s spinoff novel titled Kūsō no Umi (Fantasy Sea) in May 2023.