Red River Anime Reveals Main Visual, July 7 Premiere
The July 7 premiere date and full cast reveal bring the 1995 shojo manga, which inspired a Takarazuka Revue stage play but never received an anime adaptation until now, one step closer to airing after a 31-year wait.
Reporting from 3 sources: Anime News Network, Anime Trending, The Fandom Post.
The official website for the television anime adaptation of Chie Shinohara's Red River manga released a new main visual and announced a July 7 premiere date on Thursday. The visual depicts protagonist Yuri holding a raised sword alongside other characters. The anime will air on NTV's "AnichU" programming block at 25:35 JST, effectively July 8 at 1:35 a.m., and on BS NTV on July 8. Seven additional cast members were revealed: Tomohiro Ōno as Kikkuri, Shiki Aoki as Hadi, Natsumi Kawaida as Ryui, Misato Matsuoka as Shala, Haruki Ishiya as Kash, Junya Enoki as Rusafa, and Shinichirō Kamio as Mittannamuwa. Previously announced cast includes Mirai Tachibana as Yuri, Wataru Katō as Kail, and Aya Uchida as Queen Nakia. Kōsuke Kobayashi directs the series at Tatsunoko Production, with Yoriko Tomita handling series scripts and Kenji Fujisaki designing characters. Yoshihisa Hirano composes the music. Hiroki Nanami performs the opening theme song "Akatsuki no Sora." Viz Media released the manga in English from 2004 to 2010 and began re-releasing it in omnibus editions in October 2024.
The anime will air on NTV's "AnichU" programming block at 25:35 JST, effectively July 8 at 1:35 a.m., and on BS NTV on July 8. Hiroto Morishita is the sound director, and Team Kawadon is credited for sound production. Historical researchers include Kimiyoshi Matsumura and Daisuke Yoshida, who are members of the Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology as part of the Middle Eastern Culture Center in Japan.
Previously announced cast members not listed in the summary include Shōya Chiba as Zannanza Hattušili, Tomoaki Maeno as Ilbani, Kōji Yusa as Urhi, and Kōsuke Toriumi as Prince Mattiwaza. Hiroki Nanami also performs as the narrator.
Viz Media describes the manga's first volume: Yuri is ecstatic after passing her college entrance exam and having her first kiss with her childhood friend-turned boyfriend. She starts to notice that water becomes agitated whenever she goes near it. One night, hands appear out of a puddle on the street and drag her into the water. Transported to an ancient village in the Middle East, she is captured by armed troops and taken to the Queen's palace for a human sacrifice.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Anime News Network Red River Anime Unveils 7 Cast Members, July 7 TV Premiere
- Anime Trending Red River Reveals Main Visual, Sets July 7 as Broadcast Start Date
- The Fandom Post ‘Red River’ Anime Expands Cast & Sets Premiere Date With New Visual