Funimation revealed earlier this year a new co-production they’re involved in that’s set for April 2021 with Yomiuri-TV Enterprise LTD called Mars Red. The series is based on a dramatic stage reading from the playwright and theatre director Bun-O FUJISAWA and now an update has been revealed. While there’s still a good bit of time before the series starts up, they’re laying some of the foundations for it already. A five-episode mini-episode series has gotten underway with a new episode out each month through March where they’re subtitled in English. It’s basically cute chibi stuff but is designed to hook in some viewers early. Check out the first episode below!
The Japanese cast includes include:
- Junichi Suwabe as Yoshinobu Maeda
- Tasuku Hatanaka as Shutaro Kurusu
- Kenichi Suzumura as Suwa
- Akira Ishida as Takeuchi
- Tokuichi Yamagami
- Ayahi Takagaki as Misaki
- Makoto Furukawa as Rufus Glenn
- Fumiko Orikasa as Aoi Shirase
- Hiroshi Yanaka as Sōnosuke Nakajima
- Sachi Kokuryu as Shinnosuke Tenmaya
- Kōichi Yamadera as Tokuichi Yamagami
- Miyuki Sawashiro as Deffrot
The series will be directed by Kouhei Hatano, along with Junichi Fujisaku (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex) as writer, Karakarakemuri (Laughing Under the Clouds) as original character designer, Yukari Takeuchi (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba) on character design and music from Toshiyuki Muranaka, who has worked with FUJISAWA for many years.
Check out the official site and Twitter.
Plot Concept: The year is Taisho 12. They appear in Tokyo as night falls. Known as “Vampires,” they have lived there through the ages, hidden from the public eye, lurking in the shadows as they feed on the blood of the living. To oversee and regulate the vampires, the 16th Special Forces Unit, referred to as “Unit Zero,” was established within the army. It was founded by Lieutenant-General Nakajima to fight in the war of information against various remarkable major powers of the world. At present, however, Unit Zero serves to handle all vampire-related incidents occurring within the darkness of Tokyo.
