The Vermilion Mask debuted its first main trailer and full voice cast at Anime Expo 2026, confirming a two-part October premiere on Crunchyroll from BLUELOCK director Tetsuaki Watanabe.
The Vermilion Mask debuted its first English-subtitled main trailer and complete voice cast at Anime Expo 2026 on July 4. The dark fantasy anime, directed by Tetsuaki Watanabe at 100Studio, will premiere as a two-part series on Crunchyroll in October 2026.
The trailer confirmed eight principal cast members bringing the cursed world of masks to life. Taihi Kimura leads as Peru d'Arrest, the tormented apprentice mask maker at the story's center. Yuuki Yamamoto voices Sonarue Maywood, while Kazuki Ura takes the role of Mok Sharib.
The supporting lineup is equally stacked. Takanori Hoshino plays Gouon, Wataru Komada voices Totoque, and Junya Enoki portrays Zent. Veteran actor Kazuhiko Inoue rounds out the human cast as Gaston, and the legendary Akio Otsuka known for decades of iconic roles voices the enigmatic Mask of the Warrior God.
Tetsuaki Watanabe, best known for directing BLUELOCK, helms the project at 100Studio. He is joined by assistant director Gai Hazako and series composer Daisuke Ohigashi, who shaped the adaptation's screenplay structure. Hisashi Higashijima serves as both character designer and chief animation director, translating the manga's distinctive art style into animation.
The sound side of the production features Fumiyuki Go as sound director and Arisa Okehazama composing the score. Okehazama's involvement is notable given her previous work on high-energy action soundtracks, suggesting The Vermilion Mask will lean heavily into its dark fantasy atmosphere through music.
Original manga creators Dr. Poro (writer) and Nabana Naba (illustrator) are credited with story supervision, maintaining creative continuity between the source material and the anime adaptation.
The Vermilion Mask adapts the manga serialized in Young King OURs magazine since February 2021, with seven collected volumes currently available and an eighth volume released on July 7. The story follows Peru d'Arrest, an apprentice mask maker who accidentally kills his master and comrades while under the influence of a cursed mask. Consumed by guilt and horror, Peru sets out on a redemptive quest to track down and destroy legendary masks scattered across the land, encountering dangerous foes and unlikely allies along the way.
The main trailer showcased fluid action sequences and atmospheric world-building that signal 100Studio's ambitions for the project. The dark fantasy genre and themes of guilt-driven redemption position The Vermilion Mask as a more mature entry in the fall 2026 anime season.
The series is structured as a two-part run, with the first part launching in October 2026. Crunchyroll will handle global streaming distribution, having unveiled the trailer during its dedicated Anime Expo panel. An exact premiere date beyond the October window has not yet been specified.
With a veteran director, an experienced production team, and a voice cast blending rising talent with industry legends like Akio Otsuka, The Vermilion Mask is shaping up as one of the most anticipated dark fantasy debuts of the fall season. Fans of the manga now have a concrete timeline for seeing Peru's cursed journey animated for the first time.
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