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Endride Anime Reveals More Character Designs by Rurouni Kenshin's Watsuki, Bastard!!'s Hagiwara

The official website for the Endride television anime posted character designs for the main characters on Wednesday, and added Yūma Uchida and Shizuka Itou to the cast. Each character was designed by either Nobuhiro Watsuki (Rurouni Kenshin, Buso Renkin) or Kazushi Hagiwara (Bastard!!).

Kenshō Ono as Shun Asanaga (designed by Watsuki)

Toshiki Masuda as Emilio Ranguhaimu (designed by Hagiwara)

Karen Miyama as Alicia (Hagiwara), Emilio's childhood friend who is often with Falarion in the castle town. She gets dragged into in Shun and Emilio's adventure, though her cheerfulness gets her through it.

Ayaka Ōhashi as Falarion (Hagiwara), a mysterious life form that appears to be a dragon and (might be) Alicia's pet. It can understand human speech.

Hiroki Takahashi as Demetrio (Watsuki), leader of the rebel group "Ignaz." He draws many people to his cause with his intelligence and strength in battle. As a revolutionary, he has a hostile relationship with Prince Emilio.

Shizuka Itou as Louise (Hagiwara), a member of Ignaz. She's a strong fighter who wields a giant sword.

Kōsuke Toriumi as Eljuia (Watsuki), a member of Ignaz who is no good in a battle but has a mysterious ability to predict the future.

Yūma Uchida as Felix (Hagiwara), a member of Ignaz who has a silent and cool personality, and adores Demetrio.

The story is set on Endra, an unknown world beneath the surface of Earth itself. It is another world, where the giant Adamas shines above and seven-colored bands drift across the skies. One day, Shun Asanaga — an ordinary yet positive and bright 15-year-old middle school boy who lived in the "Land Above" — lands in this place. He had discovered a mysterious crystal at his scientific businessman father's company, and the moment he touched the crystal, he was transported to Endra.

He meets Prince Emilio, who strongly despises the current King Deruzain and had just turned 16 at Endra's castle. He became of age to ascend to the throne, and he wields a weapon to seek his vengeance at last, but the difference in strength proves to be insurmountable. Captured and imprisoned by Deruzain, Emilio is heartbroken. But then, the walls of the prison suddenly become distorted, and Shun appears within them.

The 24-episode series will premiere in April on NTV and other channels. Keiji Gotoh (Kiddy Grade, Sengoku Collection) is directing the anime at the studio Brains Base (Natsume's Book of Friends, RIN-NE). Touko Machida (Show By Rock!!, Lucky Star, The IDOLM@STER) is in charge of the series scripts.

The accompanying Endride ~X fragments~ smartphone game features Hagiwara and Watsuki on original character designs, the illustrator Hidari (Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk), and scenario writer Takumi Miyajima (Tales of the Abyss). The game will begin accepting pre-registration of users in April, and will formally launch this year.

Ono, Miyama, Ohashi, Takahashi, and Toriumi will appear at an "NTV April Season Anime Endride Pre-Broadcast! Special Stage event at the Anime Japan 2016 convention on March 26 at 12:20 p.m. The event will introduce the project, host a talk between the cast, run a promotional video, hold a segment on the game, and other elements.

Source: Animate.tv