MAO Anime Set for Two Consecutive Seasons: Cast and Theme Songs Revealed
It has been officially decided that the television anime MAO, which is based on the popular manga by the legendary Rumiko Takahashi, will be hitting the screens very soon. Fans of the series have a lot to look forward to because the show is scheduled to broadcast on NHK General every Saturday at 11:45 pm. What is even more exciting is that it will run for two consecutive seasons starting from April 4th. Along with this big announcement, the production team has also dropped a stunning key visual and the very first promotional video to give us a glimpse of the Taisho-era supernatural world.
The story follows Nanoka Kiba, who gets pulled into the past and meets the mysterious Mao. If you are a fan of Takahashi's previous works like Inuyasha, you will definitely find that unveiling the world of MAO reveals a very unique blend of mystery and dark fantasy. The new promotional video is quite well-made and it actually lets us hear the character voices for the first time. It is really a treat for the ears to hear how the cast is bringing these complex characters to life.
New Cast Members and Their Roles
A whole bunch of talented voice actors have been added to the roster for this adaptation. Each character plays a vital role in the overarching mystery of the cat demon Byoki and the curse that Mao is desperately trying to break. Here is a look at the newly announced cast members:
- Momoka Terasawa will be playing the role of Otoya, who is Mao's faithful shikigami.
- Kazuyuki Okitsu takes on the role of Shiranui, a mysterious magician who seems to have his sights set on Mao for some reason.
- Motoko Kumai is voicing Funa Uozumi, the housekeeper for Nanoka.
- Teiko, the female clerk at the local coffee shop who often helps Mao with information, is also featured.
- Yoko Hikasa is cast as Tenko, adding more depth to the supernatural side of the story.
- Risa Shimizu will play Sana, the daughter of Mao's former master.
- Rena Ueda voices Yurako, an enigmatic woman working closely with the antagonist Shiranui.
- Takashi Matsuyama plays the terrifying Byoki, the cat demon with a deep connection to Mao’s past and lifespan.
Musical Themes and Production Details
Music is always a big part of any Takahashi adaptation, and MAO is no different. The opening theme, titled HEARTLOUD, is performed by the popular group Kis-My-Ft2. On the other hand, the ending theme is Juai by TRUE. The jacket for the distribution of the ending theme was personally drawn by Yoshihito Hishinuma, who is the character designer and chief animation director for the project. It is quite clear that the staff is putting a lot of heart into making this a visual and auditory masterpiece for the fans.
In the key visual, we can see Otoya and Nekoki appearing alongside the main leads, Mao and Nanoka, as well as Hyakubi and Kamon. The level of detail in the art really shows that unveiling the world of MAO is going to be a high-quality experience for everyone. The first PV also gives us a nice taste of both the opening and ending songs, which really set the mood for the Taisho period setting.
TV anime "MAO" PV 1st
The original creator, Rumiko Takahashi, even shared a specially drawn colored paper to celebrate the news. Comments from the new cast members and the singer TRUE have also arrived, expressing their excitement for the upcoming broadcast. With two full seasons confirmed, the pacing should be just right to cover the intense developments of the manga without rushing things. It is definitely going to be a stacked year for anime lovers!
