Masks, curses, and intense battles lie at the heart ofThe Vermilion Mask. Written by Dr. Poro and illustrated by Nabana Naba, this shonen manga story follows Peru, a young mask maker who loses control after putting on a cursed mask — tragically killing his master and fellow disciples. Now seeking redemption, Peru sets out to collect all of his late master’s masks before they can cause further trouble.
With the anime adaptation slated for release this fall, Anime Trending caught up with manga editor Taichi Kimura and Peru’s voice actor,Taihi Kimura, at Anime Expo 2026 to learn more about the series’ dynamic action and character growth.
This interview was conducted via an interpreter and has been edited for clarity.
For readers and viewers just discoveringThe Vermilion Mask, how would you describe its premise?
Taichi Kimura:It’s very characteristic ofshonenmanga with its fierce, dramatic action. There is also so much development throughout the story, and it’s very dynamic. I would like the audience to listen to the acting of all the brilliant voice actors, including Taihi-san.
Taihi Kimura:Of course, it’s an action, but just the story itself is brilliant, and the script is wonderful. We’d like the audience to feel Peru’s growth just as he experiences his own growth.
Peru is initially introduced as a mask maker who lost control after putting on a cursed mask and now vows to collect all his master’s masks. What was your initial reaction to Peru’s backstory when you first got involved in this series with your respective roles?
Taihi Kimura:I thought it was really sad and very tragic. It’s really hard to imagine what he went through, the fact that he had killed his master and fellow apprentices all at once. I thought this story was about redemption.
Taichi Kimura:It’s extremely dark, but I really want the audience to pay attention to when Peru smiles or laughs. Throughout the scriptwriting and voice recording processes, we noticed — and got comments from the [readers] too — that Peru never smiles; he never laughs. But gradually, he starts to smile, and that point where he smiles or laughs is the critical point of the story.
There’s a lot of action in the series with masked characters battling one another. How would you describe the energy in these battles?
Taihi Kimura:It’s really characteristic, depending on the mask that’s being worn at the time.
Taichi Kimura:I think the charm depends on the characteristics of the mask.For example, if the mask is based on an animal — like a cat — it moves rapidly, crawls, and uses its nails. A chameleon can alter its shape, and if it’s a bird, it can fly. So it’s really characteristic of the animal. Developing from there are material-like things that are really attached to our daily lives — like smoke, which can brainwash someone. It really [builds on] the original inspiration for [the mask].
Every mask in this series feels different from the next. What do you think the masks reveal about the characters and those who make or own them?
Taichi Kimura:There are two patterns: the one who makes the mask and the one who utilizes it. I believe the makers put their own dreams, hopes, or wishes into the mask. For example, with Peru, the mask is smiling because he’s been wanting to smile. On the other side, if a mask holds a lot of force, there are those who use it in a more evil way.
As the editor of the manga, what has it been like working with Dr. Poro and illustrator Nabana Naba? What are your thoughts on seeing the transition of the story from page to screen?
Taichi Kimura:Ever since my first year after I started working at my company, I’d been approaching Dr. Poro, saying I wanted to work together with them. By my third year, I was finally able to collaborate with them, including Nabana-sensei, who took on the illustration. We started developing this project, and at that time, it felt like the three of us were the only people in the entire world talking aboutThe Vermilion Mask. After developing it and everything, it became an anime. From the table read to the recording, everyone is so passionate and involved in this project. I’m just really grateful.
How do you approach voicing Peru’s normal self versus his masked self?
Taihi Kimura:There’s a superficial change when he puts on the mask. There isn’t a distinguishable difference in how I play him, but for the most part, Peru is cool. When he’s ready to fight and going into battle, hisemotion is different and that certain level of emotion is kind of par for the course.
Has a mask in this series caught your attention? What mask might you take with you into battle?
Taichi Kimura:As a bit of tri a crimson dragon, so both of them want to fly, and Nabana-sensei wants to create fire. As for me, I think I’d want a chameleon to let me shift my own shape and color
Taihi Kimura:A chameleon mask is very attractive to me, too. But for Peru, I don’t really want to destroy anything, so we’ll stay away from the mask.
What would you like people to know about the upcoming anime ahead of its fall release?
Taichi Kimura:Going in without knowing anything would be great. The story develops really fast, and even within the first episode, there are so many developments, and there will be a lot of surprises. I think it’s really enjoyable to not know anything and feel the speed of the story. What we want the audience to know is that we really pay attention in creating the animation so that you can go into it either way. Don’t worry about it if you think, “Oh, I read it already, so I’m not going to enjoy the animation.” Whether you read the manga first or watch the anime first, both can be very enjoyable.
Taihi Kimura:All the characters are relatively younger. Even though they’re tall and big, they’re still children. So we’d like the audience to look at them warmly. It’s not only about perseverance or painful experiences for them — it’s more than that. I just really want everyone to watch it once.
The Vermilion Mask anime is set to premiere this October and will be streaming on Crunchyroll.
