The upcoming television anime adaptation of Chie Shinohara's legendary shōjo manga Red River (Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori) has expanded its already star-studded roster. The official production team revealed two prominent voice actors joining the historical fantasy project, adding crucial layers of political intrigue to the adaptation.
Sōma Saitō steps into the role of User Ramses, a charismatic, free-spirited Egyptian general and the primary rival to Prince Kail. Meanwhile, Shun Horie takes on the character of Juda Haspasrupi, the sixth-in-line heir to the Hittite throne who deeply admires Kail while harboring sharp suspicions regarding Queen Nakia. These additions flesh out the complex geopolitical chessboard of the ancient Middle East that protagonist Yuri finds herself thrust into.
Production Pedigree and Broadcast
Helming the animation at Tatsunoko Production, director Kōsuke Kobayashi is joined by script supervisor Yoriko Tomita and character designer Kenji Fujisaki. Historical accuracy remains a central focus for the production, featuring specialized researchers Kimiyoshi Matsumura and Daisuke Yoshida from the Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology. The series premiered on July 7 within NTV's "AnichU" block, with international streaming handled by Crunchyroll.
A Timeless Shōjo Masterpiece
Originally serialized in Shogakukan's Shōjo Comic magazine from 1995 to 2002, Shinohara's epic follows modern Japanese student Yuri as she is pulled through a pool of water into Hittite-era Anatolia. Viz Media originally published the 28-volume series in English and continues to reissue the title in omnibus editions, ensuring a new generation discovers the historical romance.
