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Crunchyroll to Stream Chaika - The Coffin Princess Anime

Media distribution service Crunchyroll announced on Tuesday that it will stream the anime of Ichiro Sakaki's Chaika - The Coffin Princess (Hitsugi no Chaika) fantasy light novels. The series will stream every Wednesday for members beginning Wednesday, April 9 at 2:00 p.m. ET. Free members able to watch one week later.

The streams will be available in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Turkey, Latin America (Central and South America including Caribbean), Europe (excluding German speaking territories), the Arab League, and the Middle East.

The story centers around Toru Acura, a 20-year-old retired soldier meandering through life now that the war has ended. He encounters Chaika Trabant, a 14-year-old sorceress carrying a coffin and follows her in hopes of finding meaning to his life again. The two travel with Toru's adopted sister, Akari, the employed member of the group and thus Toru's source of income.

The main cast includes:

Chika Anzai (Danbōru Senki Wars, Akuma no Riddle) will play Chaika Trabant, a 14-year-old sorceress carrying a coffin.

Junji Majima (A Certain Scientific Railgun, Is This a Zombie?, Toradora!) will play Toru Acura, a 20-year-old retired soldier meandering through life now that the war has ended.

Yuko Hara will play Akari Acura, Toru's adopted sister and the employed member of the group.

Chiwa Saito (Madoka Magica, Dog & Scissors, Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere) will play Fredrica (not pictured).

Other cast members include:

Yoshimasa Hosoya as Alberic Gillette

Kensuke Satou as Nicolai Avtotor

Iori Nomizu as Vivi Holopainen

Yumeha Kōda as Zita Brusasco,

Shūta Morishima as Matheus Caraway

Kazutomi Yamamoto as Leonardo Stora.

Sakaki launched the light novel series with illustrations by Namaniku ATK (Nitroplus) in 2010, and Fujimi Shobo published the eighth volume in January. Shinta Sakayama began drawing a manga adaptation in Kadokawa Shoten's Monthly Shonen Ace magazine in 2011, and Kanikama started a four-panel comic adaptation in Kadokawa Shoten's 4-Koma Nano Ace in 2011.

Soichi Masui (Anyamaru Tantei Kiruminzuu, Crayon Shin-chan: Arashi o Yobu Ōgon no Spy Daisakusen, Crayon Shin-chan: Arashi o Yobu! Ora to Uchū no Princess) is directing the television series at the anime studio BONES (Eureka Seven, Star Driver). Masui and BONES also collaborated on 2003's Scrapped Princess, another anime based on Sakaki's writings. Touko Machida (Karneval, Lucky Star, The Idolm@ster, Tears to Tiara) is in charge of the series scripts, and Nobuhiro Arai (animation director on Blast of Tempest, Shakugan no Shana film) is designing the characters. Seikou Nagaoka (Strike Witches, Tenchi Muyo!) is composing the soundtrack.

Sakaki's other works include Scrapped Princess, Strait Jacket, Magician's Academy, Polyphonica, CODE-E, and Outbreak Company ~Moeru Shinryakusha~ — all of which inspired anime.

Update: Matheus Caraway's image fixed. Thanks, SnowMusket