The TV anime special Hotori – Simply Wishing for Hope will arrive on Blu-ray disc on June 9, 2026. AnimEigo announced that it licensed the anime for its first-ever North American release in August 2025.
The region free Blu-ray release will include a new HD restoration and English dub, along with the original Japanese language version with English subtitles.
The anime special was first released in August 2005 and its script won an award at the third Animax Taisho in 2004. It was directed by Takashi Anno (Blood Reign: Curse of the Yoma OVA series) and animated by Sunrise.
AnimEigo describes the main synopsis of Hotori – Simply Wishing for Hope as:
Suzu is a young boy… or at least, he will be. Right now, he’s an android in a research facility, being imprinted with the memories of another boy that lost his life so that he can serve as a replacement to the boy’s parents
Hotori is the daughter of the head doctor in charge of Suzu’s program. She has the opposite problem: while Suzu’s head is being filled with memories that aren’t his own, Hotori is slowly losing her own memories
When the two strike up a friendship, Hotori asks Suzu for his help. Together, the two navigate the struggles of their situation.
Pre-orders for the Blu-ray are available on MediaOCD’s official website, which will include an exclusive slipcover.
Source: press release
