The first trailer for the new Bastard!! anime dropped.
In addition to introducing the series' power-hungry anti-hero, Dark Schneider, the trailer also reveals that the new series will be 24-episodes long, which will be released in two parts. The trailer also reveals more of the self-described "heavy metal, dark fantasy" show's cast and crew, which now includes voice actors Kanae Ito (The Devil is a Part-Timer), Tomokazu Sugita (Assassination Classroom), Kensho Ono (Bungo Stray Dogs), and Nao Toyama (Nisekoi). Art direction for the new show will be handled by Kazuhiro Inoue, who previously worked on Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded-Orphans and Zombie Land Saga. The anime will feature 3D CGI work by studio Felix Film, which assisted in the production of Gleipnir and Phantasy Star Online 2: Episode Oracle.
The new Bastard!! reboot was originally announced by Netflix in early February. The series is being produced by Warner Bros. Animation Japan, which Netflix also partnered with to bring Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean to its streaming service as an exclusive. The new show is being helmed by director Takaharu Ozaki, who previously headed up the production of the controversial Goblin Slayer anime. The series is being produced at Liden Films, the studio behind the anime adaptations of The Heroic Legend of Arslan and one of 2021's biggest hits, Tokyo Revengers. Previously announced cast members include Attack on Titan's Kisho Taniyama as Dark Schneider and Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online's Tomori Kusunoki as Tia Noto Yoko.
The original Bastard!! manga was created by Kazushi Hagiwara and was originally published through Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 1988. Hagiwara's work was one of the biggest hits of the late '80s and early '90s, selling over 30 million copies before going on hiatus in 2009.The series is set in a dark fantasy dystopia inspired by classic heavy metal album art and Dungeons and Dragons. The story focuses on Dark Schneider, a powerful wizard who once tried to take over the world, until his soul was sealed within the body of a young boy. After a worldwide war breaks out that threatens to destroy all of humanity, Schneider is reluctantly released from his prison by the priestess Tia Noto Yoko, who hopes that his power will be enough to stop an even more dangerous, ancient threat from destroying the world entirely.
A final premiere date for the series has yet to be announced, but it is currently scheduled to premiere sometime before the end of 2022. The series will be streamed exclusively through Netflix.
Source: YouTube
