The Heike Story Anime Gets New Visuals, Staff Comments Released

23.September.2021 | ANIME&GAME

The Heike Story, now airing on Fuji TV on Demand in Japan and Funimation in the United States, has released some new visuals. The series is set to premiere on Fuji TV’s +Ultra block in January 2022. The new visual shows a profile shot of Biwa (voiced by Aoi Yuuki), a blind priestess with the ability to see the future. A new 15-second PV has also been released, and translator Hideo Furukawa, artist Fumiko Takano, and character designer Takashi Kojima have also posted comments on the project’s official website. 

 

The Heike Story PV (15-second version)

 

The 90-second version of the show’s ending theme unified perspective by Kensuke Ushio is now available to stream. 

The Heike Story is based on Hideo Furukawa’s 2016 modern translation of The Tale of the Heike, an epic tale from the 13th century. It is produced by Science Saru and produced by Kyoto Animation’s Naoko Yamada, known for her directorial work on A Silent Voice, Liz and the Blue Bird, and K-On!

 

Comment from Translator Hideo Furukawa

The Tale of the Heike is a story all Japanese people should know, but in my opinion, many people misunderstand it. This is likely because people are typically only exposed to a very small piece of a much larger story. If you read through the entirety of the book, you’ll find plenty of examples of the horror of war. It’s sad. There’s a need to repose the souls of the dead, a need to mourn the dead. But in addition to the men who play the main roles on the battlefield, there’s even more drama depicted by women. Who knew that the main characters in The Tale of the Heike also include women? I wanted this anime series to show that. It’s vivid. Poignantly so. This series touches on points once hidden in the original work. Biwa, the main character, is sure to pull on your heartstrings. 

 

        

Comment from Artist Fumiko Takano  

When I began sketching the characters, I started with Shigemori, then moved on to the Heike brothers, starting with the youngest. 

All of them are incredibly handsome. They’re unlike the kinds of guys I usually draw in my own manga. 

In the middle of the design stage, I was shown the director’s storyboard. 

I was so happy when I saw Biwa all over the place, with her round face and her curious eyes. 

This series is fresh and new, and I just want to thank everyone who gave me the opportunity to be a part of it. 

 

Comment from Character Designer, Takashi Kojima

(It’s fantastic, so be sure to watch!)

 

©「平家物語」製作委員会

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