The panel of the streaming platform Crunchyroll during
the Anime Expo did not hold anything back and let loose one of its bloodiest
cards. The production committee behind the animated adaptation of The
Vermilion Mask decided to release its first main trailer, confirming
that this intense redemption story will debut on Japanese television during the
month of October 2026. For the peace of mind of international fans,
the series already has its simultaneous distribution assured and will arrive
divided into two consecutive arcs to cover as much story as possible.
To transfer all the brutality of the panels to
the screen, the responsibility fell squarely on the offices of 100Studio (also
known in the industry as WOW Studio). The director's chair is occupied by Tetsuaki
Watanabe, supported by Gai Hazako as an assistant, who will work shoulder
to shoulder with Daisuke Ōhigashi in the always delicate task of composing the
scripts. The visuals promise quite fluidity thanks to the character designs
adapted by Hisashi Higashijima, while the tense atmosphere of the
series will be supported by the original soundtrack composed by Arisa Okehazama
and the impeccable sound direction of Fumiyuki Go.
The weight of guilt and a cursed mask
The premise of this franchise plunges us into
absolute tragedy. It all stems from the original manga written by Dr.Poro and
illustrated by Nabana Naba, serialized in the demanding pages of
Shōnengahōsha's Young King Ours magazine since February 2021.
The plot follows in the footsteps of Peru, a young apprentice mask maker who,
under the influence of a cursed relic, totally loses control and massacres his
own master and companions. Shattered by the weight of his actions, the
protagonist embarks on a one-way journey to hunt down and destroy each of the
legendary creations his mentor once forged, crossing paths with unlikely allies
in a world hanging by a thread.
