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Aniplus Asia Airs The Ancient Magus' Bride: Those Awaiting a Star Prequel OVA on Sunday

Aniplus-Asia announced on Wednesday that it will air the The Ancient Magus' Bride: Those Awaiting a Star OVA on Sunday. Aniplus-Asia posted three English-subtitled videos for the anime, with one for each episode.

The OVA tells a story from Chise's childhood. While running away from monsters, Chise discovers a secret library in the middle of the woods, and meets its librarian, who protects her from the monsters outside. As Chise reads the books, and the librarian lends her a book to read at home, she continues to visit, and discovers more and more about the past of both the library and its mysterious proprietor.

The first episode of The Ancient Magus' Bride: Those Awaiting a Star (Mahō Tsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito) prequel OVA series had a two-week run in eight theaters throughout Japan in August 2016. The episode was later bundled with the sixth compiled volume of Kore Yamazaki's original manga series in December. The second part opened in seven Japanese theaters on February 4, and shipped with the seventh manga volume on March 10. The third episode opened in theaters in Japan for a two-week limited screening starting on August 19. The screening event also showed the first episode of the TV anime series. The third part shipped with the eighth volume of the manga on September 9.

Yamazaki's original manga centers on Chise, a Japanese girl abused and forgotten by her family, who sells herself to slavery. Purchased by Elias, a mysterious sorcerer who takes her to his home in England, Chise is told that she is a Sleigh Beggy, a font of strong magical power that must be tempered if she is to survive. Elias welcomes her fully into his household, teaches her in the ways of magic, and also grooms her to be his bride in the future. Meanwhile, Chise explores her new magical world, and struggles to unlock the puzzle that is Elias.

The television anime adaptation of the manga premiered in Japan on October 8. Aniplus-Asia is airing a simulcast of the anime.

Most of the staff from the prequel anime are returning for the television anime. Norihiro Naganuma is directing the anime at Wit Studio, and he is also in charge of the series scripts. Aya Takaha is penning the scripts. Hirotaka Katō is adapting the character designs for animation. Junichi Matsumoto is composing the music, and Flying Dog is producing the music in collaboration with BASiLiCA. JUNNA is performing the opening theme song "Here."