MAO Anime Unveils New Cast Members for Second Part
The official website for Sunrise's television anime based on the MAO manga by Rumiko Takahashi unveiled a new visual and more cast members for the anime's second part on Friday. The new cast members include Takuya Sato as Hakubi, an onmyōji of metal and MAO's former fellow disciple; Rie Kugimiya as Natsuno, an onmyōji of earth and MAO's former fellow disciple; Katsuyuki Konishi as Daigo, an onmyōji of earth and MAO's former fellow disciple; Tasuku Kaito as Soma Kagami, the second son of the Kagami family; Shino Shimoji as Kagari Hosho, the daughter of the Kagami family; and Reina Ueda as Yurako.
The site also streamed the clean version of the second half's opening credits sequence, which features the opening themesong "Bokura ga Uwagaki suru Sekai" (The World We Overwrite) by the boy group 20th Century. The second cours of the MAO anime will start with its 14th episode on July 4.
The anime debuted on April 4 on the NHK-General channel at 11:45 p.m. (10:45 a.m. EST) and will run for two continuous cours without breaks. Hulu is streaming the anime in the U.S., and on Disney+ in Canada, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand. The cast members are: Yūki Kaji as MAO; Natsumi Kawaida as Nanoka Kiba; Hiro Shimono as Hyakka; Toshiyuki Toyonaga as Kamon; Momoka Terasawa as Otoya; Kazuyuki Okitsu as Shiranui; Motoko Kumai as Funa Uozumi; Yōko Hikasa as Tenko; Risa Shimizu as Sana; and Takashi Matsuyama as Byōki.
The staff members are: Director: Teruo Sato (Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon, Aikatsu Stars!); Series Script Supervisor: Yūko Kakihara (2022 Urusei Yatsura, Aikatsu Friends!, Cells at Work!); Character Designer, Chief Animation Director: Yoshihito Hishinuma (InuYasha, Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon); Art Director: Hiroshi Katō, Izumi Hoki; Color Key Artist: Masumi Ōtsuka; CG Director: Tomohiro Fujie; Compositing Director of Photography: Akane Fushihara; Editing: Kazuhiro Nii; Sound Director: Hiromi Kikuta; Music: Shū Kanematsu (The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses, My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!).
Boy band Kis-My-Ft2 performs the first opening theme song "HEARTLOUD," and TRUE performs the ending theme song "Juai" (Cursed Love).
Viz publishes the manga in English, and it describes the "era-spanning supernatural adventure" story: When Nanoka travels back in time to a supernatural early 20th Century, she gets recruited by aloof exorcist MAO. What is the thread of fate that connects them? Together, they seek answers...and kick some demon butt along the way!
Nanoka passes through a portal into the Taisho era, where exorcist MAO reluctantly rescues her from the jaws of a grotesque yokai. When Nanoka gets back to the present, she discovers she has some new, incredible abilities. She returns to the past looking for answers, only to get caught up in MAO's investigation of a series of gruesome murders. As her questions about herself multiply, Nanoka learns that MAO is cursed by a cat demon named Byoki—and so is his sword. If anyone but MAO attempts to wield it, they are doomed. But when MAO's life is in jeopardy, Nanoka picks up his blade and swings!
Takahashi launched the manga in Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine in May 2019. Shogakukan published the 29th compiled book volume on June 18. Viz began publishing the manga in 2021. In her career of over three decades, Takahashi has created manga such as Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku, Mermaid Saga, Rumic Theater, Ranma 1/2, One-Pound Gospel, and InuYasha. Many of her works have become internationally popular and inspired anime and live-action adaptations.
Disclosure: Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc. (Sunrise) is a non-controlling, minority shareholder in Anime News Network Inc.
