Aito Aoyagi’s Red Riding Hood: A Detective Story is officially coming to anime, with the adaptation scheduled to premiere in 2027. Also known as Once Upon a Crime, the series puts a mystery-focused spin on the familiar fairy-tale character, following Red Riding Hood as she travels through a storybook world while becoming involved in one crime after another.
The newly announced anime has revealed its first cast members, staff, teaser visual, and teaser trailer, giving fans their first look at the unusual fantasy mystery. Yume Miyamoto will voice Red Riding Hood, while Akira Sekine will play Pinocchio, who accompanies her during her journey.
The anime is being produced by BENTEN Film, with Itsuro Kawasaki serving as director and series composition writer. The project is based on Aoyagi’s original series, which has sold more than 600,000 copies and has already expanded into other forms of media.
Red Riding Hood Anime Brings Fairy-Tale Mysteries to Life
The central appeal of Red Riding Hood: A Detective Story comes from its combination of classic fairy tales and authentic mystery storytelling. Rather than simply retelling the familiar story of Little Red Riding Hood, the series follows her as a clever detective who investigates crimes occurring throughout a fairy-tale world.
The story begins when Red Riding Hood sets out on a journey for a specific purpose but repeatedly finds herself caught up in mysterious incidents. Using her curiosity and intelligence, she investigates each case and attempts to uncover the truth behind the crimes.
The teaser trailer highlights that approach with Red Riding Hood delivering one of the story’s defining lines: “Why is your crime plan so sloppy?” The teaser visual also places Red Riding Hood at the center, with Pinocchio appearing in a basket alongside various mysterious motifs from the series.
Aoyagi expressed excitement about finally seeing the story adapted into anime, describing Red Riding Hood and her “goofy assistant Pinocchio” as a detective duo embarking on a fantasy-filled journey. The author also teased the unusual challenges they will face, including tricks created specifically for the fairy-tale setting.
Miyamoto similarly said she is excited to portray a character she has known since childhood, while praising the cases Red Riding Hood encounters throughout her journey. Sekine highlighted Pinocchio’s growth and his developing relationship with Red Riding Hood, while also emphasizing the mysteries at the heart of the story.
Kawasaki revealed that adapting the series has presented challenges, particularly when translating its magic tricks and fairy-tale settings into animation. Nevertheless, the director said he hopes viewers can simply enjoy the finished series.
Alongside the anime announcement, the production has launched its official website and social media accounts, with more information expected ahead of the 2027 premiere.
