The Witch and the Beast anime's official team unveiled a new key visual on November 20, 2023, at 12 pm JST on X (formerly known as Twitter). The exact release date for the anime adaptation is still unknown, but it is scheduled to debut in January 2024 according to official reports.
The Witch and the Beast is a popular manga series written and illustrated by Kousuke Satake. The manga has yet to reach its conclusion and is currently on hiatus due to the declining health conditions of the author. It was first serialized in Young Magazine Third in 2017 before transitioning to Monthly Young Magazine in 2021.
Let’s take a closer look at the new key visual as well as other important details surrounding the upcoming anime adaptation.
The Witch and the Beast’s new key visual, cast, staff, and plot in brief
Key Visual
Earlier, the key visual was uploaded on X, giving netizens a glimpse of the anime adaptation's art style. The illustration prominently features two characters at its core, who will be the focal point of the screen time.
On the left side, we have Ashaf, known for his composed nature. Hailing from the Witch and the Beast manga, he is renowned for his impeccable manners and gentlemanly qualities.
On the right, we have Guideau, who possesses a significantly more aggressive demeanor. Both she and Ashaf fell victim to a witch's curse, who arrogantly claimed to be the town's hero. Observing the architectural elements displayed in the new key visual, it can be inferred that the anime adaptation takes place during the late 18th or early 19th century.
Cast
Yo Taichi will portray Guideau according to the announcement. Toshiyuki Morikawa will provide the voice for Ashaf, while Yoko Hikasa and Noriko Shibasaki will lend their voices to Ione and Mary, respectively. Additionally, Junko Minagawa will voice Kiera Haines, and Hidenobu Kiuchi will portray Reuben Cole. Shulk will be voiced by Atsushi Takasaka, and Loran will be voiced by Takuma Terashima, as revealed.
Staff
Still from the anime adaptation featuring Ashaf and Guideau (Image via Yokohama Animation Laboratory)
Takayui Hamana, a renowned figure in the anime industry, will be directing The Witch and the Beast. With an extensive portfolio that includes Psycho-Pass, Kuroko’s Basketball, and The Seven Deadly Sins: Cursed by Light, Hamana brings his expertise to this project.
Responsible for the character design of the anime adaptation is Hiroya Iijima. Having worked on notable shows like Afro Samurai, Bizarre Cage, Isaku, and Chronos Ruler, Iijima's talent will bring the characters of The Witch and the Beast to life.
Yokohama Animation Laboratory, known for their work on New Gate and Starlight Promise, will be the animation studio in charge of bringing this anime to fruition.
Where to watch The Witch and the Beast
The latest announcement disclosed the key visual and mentioned that Japanese fans can watch the broadcast on TBS/BS11. International fans, on the other hand, can enjoy the anime adaptation on Crunchyroll. It's important to note that the stream won't be accessible for free on this platform. Viewers will need to subscribe to Crunchyroll's paid services to watch the newest episodes. Keep an eye out for more anime and manga news as we move forward into 2023.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z fan, I am incredibly excited about the upcoming anime adaptation of The Witch and the Beast. The new key visual is absolutely stunning, and it gives me a glimpse into the enchanting world of the show. I can't wait to see the characters come to life on screen and learn more about their story.
I'm also really impressed by the talented cast and staff that have been assembled for this project. Takayuki Hamana is a renowned director, and he has a great track record of creating successful anime series. Hiroya Iijima is also a talented character designer, and I'm confident that he will bring the characters of The Witch and the Beast to life in a beautiful way.
Overall, I have high hopes for The Witch and the Beast. I think it has the potential to be a truly special anime series, and I can't wait to see it when it premieres in 2024.