Red River manga gets TV anime adaptation slated for Summer 2026

A TV anime adaptation of Red River, created by Chie Shinohara, is officially in production and scheduled for a Summer 2026 broadcast. The announcement was made on February 15 through a newly launched official website and X account, which also unveiled a teaser visual, commemorative artwork, and the first round of staff details.


Originally serialized in Shogakukan’s Shojo Comic magazine from January 1995 to June 2002, Red River ran for more than seven years and was later compiled into 28 tankōbon volumes. In 2019, the manga was reported to have surpassed 20 million copies in circulation, cementing its status as one of the most popular shōjo historical fantasy titles of its era, as per Crunchyroll.


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The anime adaptation will be directed by Kosuke Kobayashi at Tatsunoko Production. Series composition is being handled by Yoriko Tomita, with character designs by Kenji Fujisaki. Adding an unusual layer of authenticity, Kimihito Matsumura and Daisuke Yoshida from the Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology are participating as “historical researchers.”

The original manga is published in English by Viz Media, which describes the story as follows:

‘Yuri, a teen of the 21st century, has been transported to ancient Anatolia as part of a scheme by the evil Nakia, Queen of the Hittites. Only the intervention of Nakia’s stepson, Prince Kail, saved Yuri from the Queen’s bloodthirsty intentions. As an unintended consequence, the people of the kingdoms of Anatolia have embraced Yuri as the incarnation of the great war-goddess Ishtar.’

Further details about the cast and broadcast schedule are expected to be revealed closer to the Summer 2026 premiere.