Bandai Visual Japan is capitalizing off the debut of the first episode of Maria the Virgin Witch by reminding fans that they can get their preorders in at the specialty shops. The series, which is being simulcast by FUNimation in North America, is set to debut its first volume on March 27th, 2015 – with a February 18th, 2015 deadline to get in on the first press bonuses.
The show, based off of the manga by Masayuki Ishikawa, is being animated by Production I.G. and is directed by Goro Taniguchi based on series composition by Hideyuki Kurata and character designs by Yuriko Chiba. It was previously announced that Hisako Kanemoto as Maria, Yoko Hikasa as Artemis, Mikako Komatsu as Priapos, Kana Hanazawa as Ezekiel, Kenshi Ono as Joseph and Kikuo Inoue as Michael would headline it. It will also star Yuuki Ono as Garfa, Bin Shimada as Guillaume, Kenta Miyake as Yvain, Sachiko Kojima as Lolotte, Takahiro Sakurai as Bernard, Natsuki Hanae as Gilbert, Mamiko Noto as Viv, Ai Kakuma as Anne and Miyuki Ichijou as Martha.
The series is based off of the manga of the same name by Ishikawa which began back in 2008 in good! Afternoon before ending its run last year. The series has gotten a domestic pickup with Kodansha Comics bringing it out in 2015.
Plot concept: In the time of the Hundred Years’ War, a young and powerful witch known as Maria leads a reclusive existence. Shunned by the church – but beloved by certain locals – Maria endeavors to use her magic to bring an end to the warfare she so despises. She assists people of all walks of life with the help of her two familiars: a succubus and an incubus with great powers of seduction. Though she seeks only peace, the archangel Michael despises her use of magic to interfere in human affairs and decrees that should she ever manage to lose her virginity, Maria’s powers will vanish! To ensure that Maria no longer mingles magic with humans, Michael sends the angel Ezekiel to keep a watchful eye on the virgin witch. Don’t miss this intriguing tale of magic, war, and sexual frustration from Production I.G. and the director of Code Geass!
