Anime "Mushiko no Kagastel" will be distributed on Netflix from February. Comments from the main cast including Yoshimasa Hosoya, Kana Hanazawa, and Natsuki Hanae have also arrived.

The anime "Mushikago no Kagastel" will be distributed exclusively worldwide on Netflix starting Thursday, February 6, 2020.

Based on the manga of the same title by Katori Hashimoto, which began as a web series on the author's personal website in 2005 and was completed in 2013, the manga was commercially published in France in 2014, and all seven volumes of the comic were published in Japan in 2016.

The story takes place in the year 2125 AD. In a world where "Kagastel," a strange disease that turns people into giant insects, is widespread and insects continue to breed and attack people, the story revolves around Kido, a young "exterminator" who hunts Kagastel, and Iri, a girl with a closed-off past.

The animation will be directed by Koichi Chiaki, director of the theatrical anime "Brave Story," and character design by Akihiko Yamashita, character designer for "Zegapain," as well as series composition by Shuichi Kamiyama and music by Hitomi Kuroishi. Animation production is by Studio KAI.

Comments from Hashimoto Katori, the author of this work

Comments from Katori Hashimoto, the author of this work, are as follows.

Hashimoto Katori's comment (original in Japanese)
The original work is a web manga that was published on a personal website, and it was published in France before it was published in Japan. I am very honored and humbled to have had my work animated by a well-known front-line professional with such a high level of skill. The original author had almost no involvement in the content of the animation so as not to intrude on the story. I hope that readers who have read the manga and those who will watch the anime will be able to enjoy the profound world from the same perspective!

Visuals and Casting of Main Characters Announced

The visuals and cast of the main characters were also announced. The main character, Kido, will be played by Yoshimasa Hosoya, the heroine, Iri, by Kana Hanazawa, and the mysterious man who is after the exterminator, by Natsuki Hanae. The other characters are also supported by a cast of splendid voice actors, and are sure to be a hit.

Kido (CV: Yoshimasa Hosoya)
A young man who grew up in the Far East and is a skilled exterminator.

Iri (CV: Kana Hanazawa)
A shepherd girl saved by Kidou.

Achato (CV: Hanae Natsuki)
A mysterious man who only targets exterminators

Franz (CV: Takahiro Sakurai)
Son of Emmet Keirio, a leading researcher on Kagastel

Griffith (CV: Daisuke Namikawa)
Father of Ili, who lived as a shepherd

Mario (CV: Tomoyuki Morikawa)
Owner of Garden Mario, a boarding house and restaurant

Jin (CV: Kazuyuki Okitsu)
Merchant who travels around the eastern world

Qasim (CV: Junichi Suwabe)
Member of the Eastern Allied Forces E-05 Anti-Insect Tank Squadron, hates exterminators

Hadi (CV: Tomohiro Shiozaki)
Member of the Eastern Allied Forces E-05 Anti-Insect Tank, Kassim's partner

Aisha (CV: Ai Chino)
A member of the Eastern Allied Forces E-05 Anti-Insect Tank Team, Kassim's classmate.

Shanggui Mayor (CV: Tetsu Shiratori)
Chief executive of E-05

Adham (CV: Yasuhiro Mamiya)
Superintendent of E-01 of the Eastern Allied Forces, overall manager of District E-Number

Naji (CV: Daiki Yamashita)
A boy who lives with his grandfather in the collapsed West Gate

Lizzie (CV: Akari Kito)
The master of children living in the West Gate slum

Lazarus (CV: Tomokazu Sugita)
Founder of the exterminators and adoptive father of Kidou

Kara (CV: Yuuki Aoi)
Flowering prostitute of the Far East

Petrov (CV: Kosuke Toriumi)
Captain of the Far Eastern Command of the Eastern Alliance, old friend of Lazarus

Comments from the main cast

Comments from the main cast, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Kana Hanazawa, and Natsuki Hanae, have been received, and are introduced below.

Comment from Yoshimasa Hosoya
When I heard that the distribution date for this work had been decided, I thought, "Finally. I am very happy that I can finally present this work to the world, but since I have waited so long, I am not sure if it will really be distributed or not. I have mixed feelings of skepticism, "I'm not going to believe it until it's actually delivered. I spent a lot of time during the postrecording period alone. Every time I went to the set, I talked with the staff and felt their love for this work. I am very happy to be involved in such a work. I still can't shake off my doubts about whether it will really be distributed. I can't shake off my doubts (laugh), but if comments like this are being made public, then I think it will probably be distributed (laugh). I am really happy. It was about three years ago that I heard the result of the audition... Anyway, it has been a long time since I got here. Anyway, it has been a long time since I got here (laughs). It has really been too long (laughs). The production period was much longer, but as the person in charge of dubbing, I felt like, "After three years, it's finally delivered! I am feeling very dramatic by myself (laughs), and above all, I would like to say "Congratulations" to the director, Koichi Chiaki.

Comment from Kana Hanazawa
The love that is born in the midst of fierce battles is warm and sad, and it makes you feel that you have to see the end of the story. I was looking forward to reading the original story and seeing how I would play Iri-chan, as my impression of her kept changing as the story progressed. And personally, I was very happy to be able to work with director Koichi Chiaki again, who helped me with my voice acting debut work!

■Natsuki Hanae comment
In a world where a disease that turns humans into insects has spread, humans resist and hate insects, and even humans fight with each other, I played the role of an exterminator, a mysterious man named Achato who targets only humans. I know there are many people who are wondering why he targets humans and what happened to him in the past. Please look forward to the release of the movie!

The theme song has also been chosen!

In addition, the opening and ending themes of the work will be performed by the solo unit "Hilcrhyme," which made its major debut in July 2009 with the single "Junya and Manami. Details of the music are as follows.

■Opening theme "Be ZERO
Artist：Hilcrhyme
Lyrics: TOC
Composed by TOC, Satoru Kurihara (Jazzin'park), Shingo Kubota (Jazzin'park)
Arranged by Satoru Kurihara (Jazzin'park), Shingo Kubota (Jazzin'park)

■Ending theme "Cowardly Wolf 2019
Artist：Hilcrhyme
Lyrics：TOC
Composed by：TOC, DJ KATSU
Arrangement: REO
Sound Produced by 3rd Productions

Comments from "Hilcrhyme" have also been received.

Comment from "Hilcrhyme
Be ZERO" was created with the message of "stay strong. You can only gain something if you lose it, you can only write about hope if you know despair, and you can only become evil for the sake of the justice you want to carry out. The song depicts a protagonist who overcomes the conflicts that arise and moves forward. The story of "Mushiko no Kagastel" has a lot in common with the path that Hilcrhyme has taken. I think that is why we were able to create a song that is so close to the work. We hope you will enjoy this song along with the anime.

The PV has also been released!

In addition, a PV was also released, in which the character voices and the opening theme song "Be ZERO" can be heard.

PV scene cut

Work information】
■Netflix original anime series "Mushiko no Kagastel" (Mushiko's Cage)

Distribution information: Worldwide exclusive distribution starts on Netflix on February 6, 2020

<Staff>
Original story: Katori Hashimoto (Tokuma Shoten Comic Ryu)
Director: Koichi Chiaki
Character design: Akihiko Yamashita
Series composition: Shuichi Kamiyama
Music: Hitomi Kuroishi
3DCG: Okinawa Gonzo
Animation production: Studio KAI

＜Cast＞
Kidou: Yoshimasa Hosoya
Iri: Kana Hanazawa
Acht: Natsuki Hanae
Franz: Takahiro Sakurai
Griffith: Daisuke Namikawa
Mario: Tomoyuki Morikawa
Jin: Kazuyuki Okitsu
Kasim: Junichi Suwabe
Hadi: Tomohiro Shiozaki
Aisha: Ai Chino
Merchant Manager: Tetsu Shiratori
Adham: Yasuhiro Mamiya
Naji: Hiroki Yamashita
Lizzy: Akari Kito
Lazarus: Sugita Tomokazu
Kara: Aoi Yuuki
Petrov: Kosuke Toriumi

(C) 2019 Katori Hashimoto/Tokuma Shoten, "Mushiko no Kagastel" Production Committee