The television anime adaptation of Kousuke Satake’s The Witch and the Beast action-fantasy manga was announced to premiere in January 2024. The anime has revealed a teaser trailer and visual highlighting the principal characters, Ashaf and Guideau.
Set in a world dominated by witches and spells, The Witch and the Beast revolves around Ashaf, a soft-spoken man carrying a coffin strapped to his back, and Guideau, a fiery girl who, due to a witch’s curse, bares beastly eyes and long fangs. In their quest to settle scores, both challenge the authority of a witch who has taken over a village, defying her magic and the misguided heroic image she has built up among the townspeople.
The teaser trailer showcases the pair’s intense journey as they seek to undo the curse that transformed Guideau. This intense dark fantasy is set into motion when the beast captures the witch. Toshiyuki Morikawa plays Ashaf, while Yō Taichi plays Guideau.
The series is directed by Takayuki Hamana, and character design is led by Hiroya Iijima. Animation production is handled by Yokohama Animation Lab. The team behind the adaptation expressed their excitement and determination to bring the series to life, vowing to stay true to the original’s story and art style.
▍The Witch and the Beast Anime Main Characters
■ Ashaf – CV: Toshiyuki Morikawa
A mage of the Order of Magic Resonance who always carries a coffin. He is responsible for monitoring Guideau and stopping her from going on rampages as she is wont to do.
■ Guideau – CV: Yō Taichi
A fiery girl with the eyes of a beast. She hates witches and searches for one to achieve a specific purpose.
▍About The Witch and the Beast
Kousuke Satake began the serialization of The Witch and the Beast in Young Magazine in November 2016, eventually transitioning to Monthly Young Magazine. The English version has been published through Kodansha USA as The Witch and the Beast since October 27, 2020.
The series unfolds as a riveting dark fantasy, centered around Ashaf, a soft-spoken man of delicate features who carries a coffin on his back and is followed by an entourage of black crows. Then there’s Guideau, a feral, violent girl with long fangs and the eyes of a beast. The pair emerge one day in a town under the influence of a witch, a magic-infused figure who has convinced the townsfolk she’s their hero. However, Ashaf and Guideau hold different perspectives.
They live by one creed: “Wherever a witch goes, only curses and disasters follow.” With scores to settle, they don’t hesitate to remove anyone in their way, be it an angry mob or an army garrison. Their quest for revenge against the evil witch begins, setting in motion a tale of action, magic, and revenge.
▍The Witch and the Beast Anime Staff & Production
Original Work: Majo to Yajū by Kousuke Satake (Serialized in Kodansha’s Monthly Young Magazine)
Director: Takayuki Hamana
Character Design: Hiroya Iijima
Animation Production: Yokohama Animation Lab