The anime adaptation of The Heroic Legend of Arslan has now found a home in North America as FUNimation has announced that they’ve picked up the simulcast rights for the series. With the talent involved and the original creator, it’s not too much of a surprise that they’d pursue this pretty well known story. FUNimation does not have a start date or time yet for their simulcast.
The series saw its UK pickup through Anime Limited with streaming and home video plans in the works recently as well. The series is set to debut on April 5th, 2015 in Japan on MBS and TBS. It’s being directed by Noriyuki Abe,based off of scripts by Makoto Uezu. Shingo Ogiso is on board to handle the character designs along with Ushio Tazawa and Kazuo Watanabe that are being adapted from the original work. The series is being produced at LIDEN FIlms X SANZIGEN Animation Studio.
The main cast now includes Yūsuke Kobayashi as Arslan, Yoshimasa Hosoya as Daryun, Daisuke Namikawa as Narsus, Natsuki Hanae as Elam, KENN as Gieve, Maaya Sakamoto as Falangies, Yuuki Kaji as Lord Silvermask, Takayuki Sugo as Andragoras III, Atsuko Tanaka as Tahamine, Eizou Tsuda as Vafleez, Toru Ohkawa as Karlan, Hiroki Yasumoto as Kishuard, Kenta Miyake as Kubad, Katsuyuki Konishi as Shapur, Toshiharu Sakurai as Innocentius VII, Takehito Koyasu as Giskarl and Shiro Saito as Bodan.
NBCUniversal Japan landed the news that the recent manga series by Hiromu Arakawa adapting The Heroic Legend of Arslan will receive an anime adaptation back in the fall of 2014. A previous anime adaptation was done in the early 90′s of the original novels and released by Central Park Media. The current manga series is being released in North America by Kodansha Comics, and they have the first two volumes released so far.
Plot concept: In the prosperous kingdom of Pars lies the Royal Capital of Ecbatana, a city of splendor and wonder, ruled by the undefeated and fearsome King Andragoras. Arslan is the young and curious prince of Pars who, despite his best efforts, doesn’t seem to have what it takes to be a proper king like his father.
At the age of 14, Arslan goes to his first battle and loses everything as the blood-soaked mist of war gives way to scorching flames, bringing him to face the demise of his once glorious kingdom. However, it is Arslan’s destiny to be a ruler, and despite the trials that face him, he must now embark on a journey to reclaim his fallen kingdom.
