Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
Source: Toei Animation Co., Ltd. press release, Netflix
Official Site: https://www.toei-anim.co.jp/akumakun/ (Japan), https://www.netflix.com/title/81400498 (US)
Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
A new anime version of AKUMA KUN (悪魔くん) will be distributed worldwide on Netflix starting Thursday, November 9. The series is the latest adaptation of the popular manga of the same name by Shigeru Mizuki (GeGeGe no Kitarō), which tells the story of a genius boy called “Akuma Kun” who aims to create, with the help of the actual demon Mephisto and his minions, an ideal world where all humanity can live in happiness. Since its debut in 1963, the manga has been revived many times with different protagonists and settings, and been adapted for film and television. A TV anime series that was broadcast in 1989-90 became a huge hit.
This new AKUMA KUN is part of a campaign celebrating the 100th anniversary of Mizuki's birth, and is set in a world 30 years after the 1989 TV anime series. Ichiro Umoregi (Yuki Kaji), a boy genius who was raised by demons, runs a consulting center called the Millennium Research Institute. From there he investigates cases involving demons with the assistance of his partner, Mephisto the 3rd (Toshio Furukawa). The series presents a bizarre detective buddy story, as the pair pursue the mystery of their inknown origins while taking on mysterious cases. They are joined by Strofire (Hiro Shimono), a new character with red wings and a connection to "The Invisible School."
In addition to Yuki Kaji, Toshio Furukawa, and Hiro Shimono, the voice cast includes Yuko Mita as the first Akuma Kun, Ryoko Shiraishi as Sanae Kazama, Yumiri Hanamori as Sanae's daughter Mio, Ai Fayrouz as the demon Gremory, Yukiyo Fujii as college student Hina Asanagi, Michiyo Yanagisawa as Mephisto III's mother Etsuko Umoregi, and Yusaku Yara as the mysterious Satan.
Junichi Sato (Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon franchise, SGT. FROG) , who was the series director of the previous TV anime series, has been tapped as general director. Fumitoshi Oizaki (DEAIMON) will serve as series director, and Hiroshi Onogi (FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, GEGEGE NO KITARO)will be the series editor. Toei Animation is in charge of production, and Encourage Films is handling animation production for the revived AKUMA KUN of the modern Reiwa era.
The AKUMA KUN Official Twitter account was launched on March 8, Shigeru Mizuki's birthday. In addition, "Kitaro & Akuma-kun Cheering Club," a fan app for AKUMA KUN and the movie THE BIRTH OF KITARO: MYSTERY OF GEGEGE (鬼太郎誕生 ゲゲゲの謎 Kitarō Tanjō GeGeGe no Nazo) that also to be released this fall, is now up. The Cheering Club is full of content that can only be seen here, such as previews and behind-the-scenes stories of the staff. To download the app visit https://c-rayon.com/result/kitaro-akumakun. To register as a paid member go to https://subscription.app.c-rayon.com/app/kitaro-akumakun/home
Akuma Kun /Ichiro Umoregi. Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
Mephisto III. Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
AKUMA KUN
Exclusive Worldwide Distribution on Netflix: Thursday, November 9, 2023
■ Cast
Akuma Kun /Ichiro Umoregi: Yuki Kaji
Mephisto III/Mephisto II: Toshio Furukawa
Sanae Kazama: Ryoko Shiraishi
Mio Kazama: Yumiri Hanamori
Gremory：Ai Fayrouz
Hina Asanagi：Yukiyo Fujii
Etsuko Umoregi: Michiyo Yanagisawa
Satan: Yusaku Yara
Strofire: Hiro Shimono
First Akuma Kun/Shingo Umoregi: Yuko Mita
■ Staff
Original Story: Shigeru Mizuki
General Director: Junichi Sato
Character Planning/Series Director：Fumitoshi Oizaki
Story Editor: Hiroshi Onogi
Character Design/Chief Animation Director: Sakae Shibuya
Art Director: Yumiko Kuga
Color Designer: Kunio Tsujita
Director of Photography: Takeo Ogihara
Magic Circle Design: Wataru Osakabe
Music:: Akio Izutsu
Production: Toei Animation
Animation Production: Encourage Films
AKUMA KUN Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/Anime_Akumakun
GEGEGE NO KITARO & AKUMA KUN Anime Portal Site：https://www.toei-anim.co.jp/kitaro-akumakun/
Kitaro Kun & Akuma Kun Cheering Club：https://c-rayon.com/result/kitaro-akumakun
© Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
Photo courtesy of Netflix. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
Photo courtesy of Netflix. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
Mephisto II and Etsuko Umoregi. Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
Gremory. Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
Strofire. Photo courtesy of Toei Animation. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
Photo courtesy of Netflix. © Mizuki Productions, Toei Animation
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