Additional cast members have been announced for the TV anime "Red River," based on the popular manga by Chie Shinohara. Aya Uchida will play Nakia, Shoya Chiba will play Zananza Hattusiri, Tomoaki Maeno will play Il-Bani, Koji Yusa will play Ulhi, and Kosuke Toriumi will play Mattiwaza.
Uchida, who plays Empress Nakia, who summons the protagonist Yuri (Yuri Suzuki) as a cursed sacrifice in order to place her own son on the throne, commented, "First of all, I was surprised and delighted that 'Red River' is being made into an anime now! I read the original work when I was a student and admired it, so I was excited to see that grand historical romance come to life on screen. I think there are many fans who have been waiting for this for a long time!"
Regarding Nakia, she said, "I love the protagonist Yuri's inner strength and resilience, which allows him to forge his own path no matter how difficult it may be, but Nakia, his adversary, is a very contrasting figure. As an empress, she possesses power and great influence, and she is cunning enough to use any means necessary to achieve her ambitions. The brighter Yuri shines, the more Nakia's shadow becomes, and I'm sure viewers will want to know what kind of person she is. I hope to convey the femininity of surviving strongly in this world, from Empress Nakia's side as well. I hope both fans of the original work and those who are experiencing Tenkawa for the first time through the anime will enjoy it!"
Chiba, who plays Zananza Hattusili, the fourth prince of the empire and the most trusted younger brother of the talented and handsome Prince Kyle Mursili, said, "My first encounter with 'Red River' was when I saw it as a musical. When the audition came and when I got the part, I was so happy because I never thought I would be able to be involved. Although there are various theories, when you think of the Hittites, you think of ironworking and chariots. I am thrilled by the culture that existed thousands of years ago. I tend to imagine the world of that time as being earthy or monochrome, but a colorful world must have unfolded before the eyes of those who lived there. I hope that viewers will be able to feel that through the anime. I will do my best to portray Zananza's thoughtfulness, richness of heart, and youthfulness."
Maeno, who plays Il-Bani, Kyle's brilliant strategist and royal scribe, commented, "I was breathless every episode at the incredible scale and the grand drama that unfolds around Yuri and Kyle. Il-Bani, as a brilliant strategist, always has a strong presence in the story, and I built the character from the audition stage while being conscious of his unfathomable calmness, his ruthlessness in making heartless decisions, and the sense of danger that lingers somewhere within him. He is a character from which I learned a great deal as a working adult, as he is the kind of person who can do his job well. I hope you will watch the story to the very end."
Yusa, who plays Ulhi, the mysterious confidant who plots to fulfill Nakia's wishes, said, "I was already familiar with this work. I am very grateful not only to be able to appear in a long-loved work, but also to be given such a rewarding role. A lot of things happen in this work, and I think the audience will always be on the edge of their seats. I will do my best to meet those expectations. Please enjoy watching it."
Toriumi, who will play Mattiwaza, the crown prince of the Mitanni Kingdom who later stands in the way of Yuri and his friends, commented: "Mattiwaza is the crown prince of the country of Mitanni, and is a figure feared as the 'Black Prince of Blood.' In this epic drama, I am looking forward to seeing how he will confront the main characters. I hope that both those who have read the original 'Red River' and those who have not yet will look forward to it. Thank you."
New stills have been released that offer a glimpse into the story swirling with love and hate. They depict Nakia with a cold gaze, Ulhi whose expression hidden behind a veil is illuminated by flames, Zananza with his golden hair flowing, Il-Bani pledging his loyalty to Kyle, and Mattiwaza with a sharp look in his eyes.
"Red River" is a historical fantasy by Shinohara, who has created numerous masterpieces such as "Purple Eye of Darkness" and "Darkness of the Sea, Shadow of the Moon," and is celebrating her 45th anniversary as an artist this year. It was serialized in "Shōjo Comic" (Shogakukan, now Sho-Comi) from 1995 to 2002, and the cumulative circulation of the comic books has exceeded 20 million copies. The story follows Suzuki Yūri, a girl living in modern Japan, who one day suddenly time-slips to the Hittite Empire in the 14th century BC and meets Prince Kyle, who is considered the most likely candidate to succeed to the throne of the empire. Yūri then takes control of her own destiny. It won the 46th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shojo category and was also adapted into a stage play by the Takarazuka Revue in 2018, which became a hot topic.
This marks the first time the series has been adapted into a television anime. Kosuke Kobayashi, known for "Watcha PriMagi!", will direct, and Tatsunoko Production will handle the animation. Mirai Tachibana will voice the protagonist Yuri (Yuri Suzuki), and Wataru Kato will voice Kyle Mursili. Hiroki Nanami, a former Takarazuka Revue male role star who is active as an actor and voice actor, will provide the narration and will also appear as Yuri's boyfriend, Himuro. The series will air on Nippon Television and BS Nippon Television starting in July.
◇Cast (titles omitted)
Yuri (Yuri Suzuki): Mirai Tachibana▽ Kyle Mursili (Mursili II): Wataru Kato ▽ Nakia: Aya Uchida▽ Zananza Hattusili: Shoya Chiba ▽ Il-Bani: Tomoaki Maeno▽ Ulhi: Koji Yusa ▽ Mattiwaza (Black Prince): Kosuke Toriumi▽ Narration/Himuro: Hiroki Nanami
