Legendary
mangaka Rumiko Takahashi, creator of hits such as Ranma 1/2 and Inuyasha,
will see her latest series MAO adapted into anime. The
premiere is scheduled for spring 2026 through the NHK
General TV channel in Japan. The announcement came alongside the
launch of the project's official website and X (formerly
Twitter) account, where a teaser trailer and a first
promotional image were presented.
A
top-notch voice cast
The main
cast of the anime has been confirmed and is made up of renowned voice actors:
- Yuki Kaji as Mao (Eren
Yeager in Shingeki no Kyojin)
- Natsumi Kawaida as Nanoka Kiba (Himari
Momochi in The Demon Prince of Momochi House)
- Hiro
Shimono as Hyakka (Zenitsu Agatsuma in Kimetsu
no Yaiba)
- Toshiyuki Toyonaga as Kamon (Takuma
Kosugi in My Wife Has No Emotion))
Takahashi
herself shared a handwritten message thanking the adaptation: "Thank
you for the anime adaptation. It's as good as I expected, the voice actors are
great, and I'm sure everyone will enjoy it. Please don't miss it!"
Production
team with experience in supernatural fantasy
The
direction will be in charge of Teruo Sato, who recently worked
on Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon. The Sunrise studio
will lead the production with a technical team with a great experience:
- Series
composition: Yuko Kakihara
- Character Design / Animation
Direction: Yoshihito
Hishinuma
- Art direction: Hiroshi Kato, Izumi Hoki
- Color
Design: Masumi Otsuka
- CG
Address: Tomohiro Fujie
- Cinematography: Akane
Fusehara
- Edition: Kazuhiro
Arai
- Sound
Direction: Hiromi Kikuta
- Music: Shu
Kanematsu
A story
of mystery and curses in the past
MAO began publication in Shogakukan's Weekly
Shonen Sunday magazine in May 2019 and has already accumulated 24
compilation volumes. The publisher VIZ Media publishes the
manga in English.
The story
follows Nanoka, a young woman who crosses a portal into the Taisho
era, where she is saved by the enigmatic exorcist Mao from
the clutches of a yokai. After returning to her time, she discovers that she
has acquired special abilities, which drives her to return to the past. There
he joins Mao to investigate a series of grotesque murders. However, Mao carries
a terrible curse linked to a cat demon named Byoki... and his
cursed sword.
With this
adaptation, Takahashi fans will undoubtedly be able to enjoy a new story that
mixes action, mystery and the supernatural in a dark and engaging environment.
