The fantasy anime The Vermilion Mask builds its story around masks that grant extraordinary abilities but can also bring devastating consequences. The series follows Peru d’Arrest, an apprentice mask maker who loses control after wearing the Mask of the Warrior God, unintentionally killing his friends and his master, Gaston Roux. Haunted by his actions, Peru begins a journey to destroy the dangerous masks scattered across the world and confront the sins of his past.
Based on the manga by Nabana Naba and original creator Dr. Poro, the anime combines intense battles with questions about responsibility, forgiveness, and the consequences of personal choices. Its central characters carry emotional burdens that shape their relationships as much as the conflicts they face.
In a round-table interview, voice actors Taihi Kimura, Yuuki Yamamoto, and Kazuki Ura discussed the series’ international appeal, the complicated bond between Peru and Sonarue Maywood, and the challenges of bringing their characters to life. They also revealed which masks they would choose and reflected on how their characters change throughout the story.
The anime premiered in October 2026 and streams on Crunchyroll.
The Vermilion Mask Cast on Its International Appeal
OtakuKart: You have met overseas fans at events like Anime Expo. What differences have surprised you, and what would you like international audiences to know about The Vermilion Mask?
Taihi Kimura: Fans in Japan tend to watch the series and voice actors from a bit of a distance, but overseas fans put their feelings right out front. It just comes rushing at you. I can feel that energy, and I love it. It totally suits me. They’re the best crowds. Whatever you do, they burst out laughing and shout “Whoo!” I’m really happy to feel that passion.
Yuuki Yamamoto: More than anything, I just want people to watch it.
Kazuki Ura: There are tons of cool scenes, and I really feel that masks are a universal language. I think everyone has imagined “the person I want to be” at least once. The Vermilion Mask brings that to life in all kinds of ways, so I want people to share that excitement with us. The battle scenes are an absolute must-see, so I hope you cheer them on as if you were fighting right there yourself.
OtakuKart: The series features intense battles and different abilities for each mask. What makes these scenes appealing to you?
Yamamoto: Everyone on the production side puts such a high level of passion into every single task. We only get to see it from the recording booth, but even from there we can really feel it. The language is different, but we’re putting our hearts and souls into our performances, too, and whether people watch it subbed or dubbed, I’m sure something will reach them in a way that speaks to them.
Kimura: This series isn’t set in Japan. It’s not even Asia. It’s Europe, or rather, a fictional country. So, Japan included, I think people from all kinds of countries may find parts they relate to or feel close to. That’s why I think it can resonate easily with people all over the world.
Peru and Sona’s Relationship Goes Beyond Companionship
OtakuKart: Peru and Sona share a history of loss and wrongdoing. How do you understand their relationship?
Kimura: Peru sees his own past in Sona. What they have in common is that they’ve both committed sins and both lost something precious. On top of that, Sona cuts off Peru’s right arm, and Peru can never again make masks, which is his life’s work. Even so, he forgave Sona and respects her wish to come with him. Seeing his past in her, he can grow, too.
Yamamoto: In my mind there’s a keyword: “two people with the same kind of soul.” Their personalities differ in lots of ways, but their standards for judging right and wrong are very similar. What’s at their core is very similar. So it’s easy to empathize with them, and the way they take responsibility for their sins and face them is very similar, too.
Ura: It’s a relationship you don’t want to sum up in simple words.
OtakuKart: Peru begins his journey weighed down by guilt. How did your understanding of the characters change as you performed them?
Kimura: At first, Peru is a big bundle of responsibility. He’s crushing himself under the feeling that he “screwed up.” So at the start, it really is about atonement. Peru acts out of a feeling of “forgive me, help me.” But then he meets Sona and Mok. Peru is still a young man, so his heart grows and his goals shift. What began as atonement gradually turns into a firm conviction that “I can’t let anyone else go through this ever again.” That’s what makes you want to root for him so much.
Yamamoto: Sona’s story starts with her stealing Peru’s mask, so at first I watched thinking, “This girl does some pretty bold things.” But from partway through episode 1 into episode 2, you learn her backstory: she’s actually a princess, her father and mother were killed, and her place in the world was taken from her. That’s when I thought, “I see, this isn’t something she does lightly.” She has to survive the here and now no matter what. I could really feel her resolve that she has to keep living, even if it means stealing.
Which Masks Would the Voice Actors Choose?
OtakuKart: If you could wear one mask from the series, which would you pick?
Kimura: I’d use the Mole mask to fix roads. There are so many places that need repairs, right? I’ll fix the ground with the Mole. What a good deed!
Yamamoto: I’d like the Mask of Courage, but if it should be a different one, then the Black Kite bird. Ever since I was little, and still now, I’ve had this goal of one day soaring into the sky. Not on a plane or anything like that. I’ve always dreamed of taking off with nothing but my own body.
Ura: Mine’s the Chameleon. I just absolutely love surprising people. Say a friend is waiting for me at a meeting spot. I’m the type who won’t walk straight over, but will go out of my way to circle around and call out to them from behind. With the Chameleon mask, I could do that right in front of them every time I meet up with a friend.
What Makes The Vermilion Mask Worth Watching?
OtakuKart: What do you hope international audiences take away from the series?
Ura: I think everyone has imagined “the person I want to be” at least once. The Vermilion Mask brings that to life in all kinds of ways, so I want people to share that excitement with us.
Kimura: The battle scenes are full of characters yelling at the top of their lungs, and every mask has different effects. The movement in the dynamic battle scenes is incredible, so I really hope people enjoy that direction, too. It’s nothing but cool scenes.
Yamamoto: The language is different, but we’re putting our hearts and souls into our performances. Whether people watch it subbed or dubbed, I’m sure something will reach them in a way that speaks to them.
The Vermilion Mask is based on the manga by Nabana Naba and original creator Dr. Poro, serialized in Young King OURs by Shonengahosha. The anime is directed by Tetsuaki Watanabe, with animation production by 100studio, and streams on Crunchyroll.
