As we get closer to the upcoming event series The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance, the promotion and marketing side of it continues to be pretty interesting. The new series is getting a July 3rd debut where it’ll air on Sundays at 5pm. As noted before, it’s interesting that it’s essentially going to be a limited engagement summer series as it’s set for an eight episode run.
Ahead of that, NBC Universal Anime has released the third installment of the web program with a thirteen-minute video that works as a reading of some of the drama from it by the main voice actors. The piece runs about six or so minutes before it runs into some voice actor talk time. Sadly, none of it is subtitled but it’s the kind of bonus that we hope gets picked up when the series gets licensed and released. And gets a dubbed version too. There’s some great artwork to check out within it that makes it worth taking a spin through if you’re a fan.
The series first season was directed by Noriyuki Abe, based off scripts by Makoto Uezu. Shingo Ogiso handled the character designs along with Ushio Tazawa and Kazuo Watanabe that are being adapted from the original work. The series is produced at LIDEN FIlms X SANZIGEN Animation Studio. Eir Aoi will be performing the opening theme song while Kalafina will handle the ending theme song.
The main cast 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.
The series is based on the recent manga series by Hiromu Arakawa adapting The Heroic Legend of Arslan. 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.
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.
