The latest anime series "MAO," based on the manga by Rumiko Takahashi , known for works such as " Urusei Yatsura ," "Ranma 1/2," and "Inuyasha," will begin airing on NHK General every Saturday at 11:45 PM starting April 4th. The original manga has been serialized in "Weekly Shonen Sunday" (Shogakukan) since May 2019. Set in the Taisho era, the dark fantasy x time-slip mystery follows Mao, an onmyoji (exorcist) who has lived for 900 years, as he encounters Nanako Koyo, a girl who has wandered in from the Reiwa era, and together they confront a chain of curses. The anime is directed by Teruo Sato and produced by Sunrise. It will air for two consecutive seasons.
In the first episode, "Nanaka and Mao," Nanaka Koyo, a third-year middle school student living in the modern Reiwa era, wanders into an unfamiliar world through the gates of the Gogyo Shopping Street and meets a young man named Mao. After defeating a demon that attacked Nanaka, Mao tells her, "You're a demon, aren't you?"
◇Staff (titles omitted)
Director: Teruo Sato; Series Composition: Yuko Kakihara; Character Design/Chief Animation Director: Yoshihito Hishinuma; Art Directors: Hiroshi Kato, Izumi Hoki; Color Design: Masumi Otsuka; CG Director: Tomohiro Fujie; Director of Photography: Akane Fushihara; Editing: Kazuhiro Niwa; Sound Director: Hiromi Kikuta; Music: Shu Kanematsu; Animation Production: Sunrise
◇Cast (titles omitted)
Mao: Yuki Kaji ▽Nanako Koyo: Natsumi Kawaida▽Otsuya: Momoka Terasawa ▽Hyakka: Hiro Shimono ▽Kamon: Toshiyuki Toyonaga ▽Shiranui: Kazuyuki Okitsu▽Funa Uozumi: Motoko Kumai▽Tenko: Yoko Hikasa▽Sana: Risa Shimizu▽Yurako: Reina Ueda ▽Nekoki: Takashi Matsuyama
