The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity Blossoms on Netflix U.S.

A Heartwarming Adolescent Anime Is Now Available

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The wait is finally over. The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity, the highly anticipated anime adaptation of Saka Mikami's acclaimed manga, is now streaming exclusively on Netflix in the United States, with episodes 1 and 2 live on the platform today! Animated by CloverWorks and produced by Aniplex, the series arrives with heartfelt storytelling, stunning visuals, and a devoted global fanbase eager to experience this tender high school romance.

As the bottom-ranked all-boys school, Chidori, students are looked down upon by the prestigious all-girls Kikyo Academy next door. The curtains between the classrooms are always drawn, and the two schools remain worlds apart. That is, until Rintaro Tsugumi, a Chidori student with a frightening appearance that hides a kind heart, meets Kaoruko Waguri, a gentle Kikyo Academy student who treats him without prejudice. Their chance encounter sparks a story of two hearts, so near yet so far, weaving a radiant tale of youthful romance.

Insights from the Production Team

Uryu, the series's producer at Aniplex who is responsible for overseeing the adaptation from manga to anime, shared insights on the story, characters, and production process.

On the characters and why the story was adapted now:

"The characters are very straightforward, pure, and hardworking. Karouko especially has a strength you can see from the very first episode, and Rintaro slowly learns to voice his feelings as the story progresses. That change extends to his classmates and friends as well. In today's world, voicing your own feelings requires a lot of courage, and that's one of the reasons we wanted to move forward with this adaptation."

On meeting fans' expectations:

"The original work is very complete and carefully thought through, so we wanted to stay as true to it as possible. I've been an anime producer for over ten years, and this was one of the smoothest scriptwriting processes I've experienced. Everyone understood where the key emotional points were, and the staff worked hard to capture the details in the characters' expressions, movement, and color. I have previously worked with the director on "THE IDOLM@STER SideM" and character designer on "SK8 the Infinity" and feel we were fortunate to bring together this staff, whom I trust and are talented creators. Their attention to detail made this adaptation possible."

On collaborating with creator Saka Mikami:

"Mikami was deeply involved in the process, from reviewing every scenario and setting to visiting the studio many times during recording sessions," Uryu said. "Our team asked countless questions, and Mikami always responded with detailed insights. That collaboration shaped the adaptation and ensured the smallest nuances were carried through. Mikami's personality is felt throughout the production, even in moments where the anime might otherwise have taken a more open-ended approach."

On animating Kaoruko's most distinctive traits:

"Kaoruko has so many memorable scenes, but her hair was one of the biggest challenges in bringing her to life," Uryu noted. "When I first read the manga, I knew it would be difficult but also exciting. When the director shared the promotional video, I was amazed at the amount of movement in her hair, it showed how much CloverWorks invested in the animation. Even in the first episode, the way she brightens up and blushes leaves a strong impression, and the movement of her hair makes those moments even more unforgettable."

On the story's universal appeal:

Beyond anime fans, Uryu sees the story's appeal as universal, noting its resonance with classic tales of love and courage, and emphasizing that Rintaro and Kaoruko's story offers an entry point for both longtime anime fans and new viewers alike.

"It's almost like a modern-day Romeo and Juliet," Uryu said. "Of course, it's not as tragic, but that sense of two people separated by their worlds is central to the story. From the very beginning, we wanted to capture that feeling in the adaptation."

On delivering the anime to fans:

"CloverWorks did an incredible job producing this series, and I believe it's one of our best works to date. I watched both the sub and the dub, and they captured the characters perfectly. We know fans had to wait a little longer, but that time allowed us to make the series everything it needed to be. We're proud to finally deliver it to audiences."

Now streaming on Netflix U.S., The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity invites both longtime manga readers and first-time viewers into its world of heartfelt honesty and unforgettable romance.

STORY
─ Beyond the curtain lies a world that has nothing to do with me — forever. ─

At the bottom-ranked all-boys school Chidori, known as a gathering place for troublemakers, the students are looked down upon by the prestigious all-girls school Kikyo Academy next door. The curtains between the two schools' classrooms are always drawn, and not once have the students ever seen each other.

Rintaro Tsumugi, a Chidori student with a scary appearance that often drives people away, has gradually grown used to keeping his distance from others.
One day, while helping out at his family's cake shop, he encounters Kaoruko Waguri, a kind girl who treats him without prejudice.

"I've never once thought you were scary, Rintaro-kun."

Though puzzled at first, Rintaro soon finds comfort in the time he spends with Kaoruko. But there's one catch—she happens to be a student at Kikyo Academy.

A story of two hearts, so near yet so far, weaving a radiant tale of youthful romance. 

STAFF

• Original Work: "The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity" by Saka Mikami (Serialized in Magazine Pocket from Kodansha)
• Director: Miyuki Kuroki
• Associate Director: Satoshi Yamaguchi
• Series Composition: Rino Yamazaki
• Series Director: Haruka Tsuzuki
• Character Design and Chief Animation Supervisor: Kohei Tokuoka
• Minor Character and Clothing Design: Manami Umeshita
• Cake Design: Yasuho Tamura
• Prop Design: Yuko Yoshida
• Art Director: Asuka Kouki
• Art Setting: Yoshinori Shiozawa
• Color Setting: Asuka Yokota
• Director of Photography: Yukiko Nagase
• CG Director: Keita Watanabe (Sublimation)
• Editing: Kazuhiro Nii
• Music: Moeki Harada
• Sound Director: Takatoshi Hamano
• Sound Production: Magic Capsule
• Production: CloverWorks

CAST:

• Yoshinori Nakayama (JP) / Robbie Daymond (EN) as "Rintaro Tsumugi"
• Honoka Inoue (JP) / Bijou Middlebrooks (EN) as "Kaoruko Waguri"
• Kikunosuke Toya (JP) / Aaron Yamawaki (EN) as "Shohei Usami"
• Koki Uchiyama (JP) / Aaron Fors (EN) as "Saku Natsusawa"
• Hiiro Ishibashi (JP) / Skylar Silverlake (EN) as "Ayato Yorita"
• Aya Yamane (JP) / Kelly Baskin (EN) as "Subaru Hoshina"

Music Credits:

• OP:
  • Title: Your Gaze, Crepuscular
  • Lyricist: Tatsuya Kitani
  • Composer: Tatsuya Kitani
  • Arranger: Tatsuya Kitani
  • Label: Echoes / Sony Music Labels
    
    
• ED:
  • Title: Harenohini
  • Lyricist: Reira Ushio
  • Composer: Reira Ushio
  • Arranger: Kouhei Kamiguchi
  • Label: Sony Music Labels

Rights Notation
©Saka Mikami, KODANSHA / "The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity" Production Committee

Additional Assets
HERE

SOURCE Aniplex, Inc.