Fall Anime "Tiger Mask W" Announces Additional Cast Members!　Hidekatsu Shibata takes on the role of Mr. X for the first time in nearly 50 years

Additional cast members have been announced for the TV anime "Tiger Mask W," which will start in October.

Tiger Mask W" is one of Toei Animation's 60th anniversary productions, and is a new TV animation series based on the "Tiger Mask" manga (original story: Kajiwara Ikki/illustration: Tsuji Naoki) that supported the professional wrestling boom of the past. It depicts "New Tiger Mask" Naoto Higashi and "Tiger the Dark" Takuma Fujii fighting to defeat the revived "Tiger Ana". The highlight of the series is the appearance of real-life professional wrestlers with the full cooperation of New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Three characters from the archrival "Tora no Ana" have been announced. Hidekatsu Shibata will play "Mr. X," the manager of Tiger Ana who has a strong grudge against Tiger Mask, Yuu Kobayashi will play "Miss X," another manager, and Satoshi Shimada will play "Yellow Devil," a wrestler from Tiger Ana and Naoto's arch-enemy. Particular attention should be paid to Mr. X, who will be played by Ms. Shibata for the first time in about 50 years, since the first "Tiger Mask" TV anime.
Below are the cast comments.

<Comments
Mr. Hidekatsu Shibata
I am very honored to be cast as Mr. X in "Tiger Mask W." At the same time, it is a work that holds a special place in my heart. It is also a work that holds a special place in my heart because it is the work in which I made my debut as a voice actor 47 years ago as the first anime regular. My only concern is whether I will be able to maintain the voice I had back then (......). After all, my voice surely ages. I wonder how well I will be able to meet your expectations. I wonder if there has ever been a precedent for me to play a character I played 47 years ago.

Yu Kobayashi
My name is Yuu Kobayashi, and I will be playing the role of Miss X. It is truly a dream come true for me to be cast in the world of "Tiger Mask W," a sequel to the historical "Tiger Mask," which is well known to everyone. I am very happy and humbled to play the wonderful role of Miss X. I will do my best to play the role. I will do my best to play the role. I would be very happy if you could support me. Please watch the movie. Thank you very much.

Toshi Shimada
When I was in the early grades of elementary school, I used to watch the matches between "Rikidozan," "Toyotobuki," and "Thunder Sugiyama" on black-and-white TV with great excitement. I have loved professional wrestling ever since then. I hope "Tiger Mask W" will be a great success. Pro-wrestling banzai!