The television anime adaptation of Dr. Poro and Nabana Naba’s dark fantasy manga The Vermilion Mask (Aka no Kamen) officially made its global broadcast and streaming debut today, Saturday, October 10, 2026. The premiere marks the launch of a scheduled two-cour split season, bringing the high-stakes masked battle fantasy to local and international audiences across streaming services including Crunchyroll in the Philippines.
The story centers on Peru d’Arrest, an apprentice mask craftsman whose life is irrevocably shattered after he accidentally activates the power of the “Mask of the Warrior God”. Overwhelmed by the artifact’s violent curse, Peru unintentionally slays his fellow apprentices and his revered master, Gaston Roux.
Wracked with profound guilt, Peru embarks on a worldwide journey to track down and destroy all remaining cursed masks created by his late master before they bring further disaster to innocent lives. Along his path of atonement, he must confront powerful foes who now wield these deadly mystical items, navigating heavy themes of redemption, grief, and the destructive temptation of absolute power.
In Japan, The Vermilion Mask airs weekly on Yomiuri TV and NTV. For viewers in Southeast Asia and international territories, Crunchyroll streams new episodes every Saturday featuring original Japanese audio with localized subtitles. The anime’s initial 12-episode fall cour will run through December 2026, with the second cour officially slated to debut in April 2027.
The production is animated by studio 100studio under the direction of Tetsuaki Watanabe (BLUE LOCK). Series composition is handled by Daisuke Ōhigashi (Fate/strange Fake), with character designs by Hisashi Higashijima (MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES). The musical score is composed by Arisa Okehazama (The Apothecary Diaries, JUJUTSU KAISEN). Rock band MAN WITH A MISSION performs the opening theme song “Firestarter,” while pop-rock act yutori provides the ending theme “Koe”.