Quick answer: In an interview published by Anime News Network on November 6, 2026, The Vermilion Mask writer Dr. Poro said he was told it takes about three years to adapt a manga into an anime, and that talk of an anime began right after the first manga volume was published. The anime premiered October 10, 2026 on Crunchyroll as a two-cour run.
Information as of November 14, 2026.
The Vermilion Mask is one of the new fall 2026 action anime on Crunchyroll, and its writer has just explained how the project came together. Dr. Poro, who writes the manga while Nabana Naba draws it, spoke to Anime News Network’s Lynzee Loveridge in an interview published on November 6, 2026. This page sums up what he said in our own words, adds the facts a new viewer needs and links back to the original interview.
What did The Vermilion Mask writer Dr. Poro say about the anime?
The main takeaway about the Vermilion Mask anime is how slow and uncertain an adaptation can be. Dr. Poro said he thinks there was talk of adapting it right after the first manga volume was published. His editor, identified in the interview as Kimura-san, brought him the idea but told him not to get his hopes up, saying only a small share of such proposals ever become real. The writer said the detail that surprised him most was the timeline: “they told me it takes about three years to adapt a manga into an anime.” (Dr. Poro to Anime News Network, November 6, 2026)
That timeline is a useful reminder for fans who wonder why a hit manga does not get an anime overnight. The manga began in Young King Ours in 2021, and the anime premiered in October 2026.
How does Dr. Poro write the story and its mysteries?
Asked about long-term mysteries, Dr. Poro described a workflow built around his editor. He writes each chapter and hands it in without explaining what will happen next, so the editor reads it the way a reader would. Dr. Poro said he thinks constantly about which piece of information to reveal and in what order, and that he tries to imagine what assumptions a reader will make. According to the interview, Nabana Naba designs most of the masks, although Dr. Poro sometimes designs one himself and shares it with the artist.
This is the creative split to keep in mind when you read or watch: Dr. Poro is the writer, Nabana Naba is the artist, and the masks that define the world are mostly the artist’s designs.
What did he say about Peru and Sona?
On the two leads, Dr. Poro said “Peru is a very selfless person who would always do things to help others.” He described Sona as the one who supports Peru in being who he is, and said the two grow into a relationship in which they support each other. He added that all of his characters are parts of himself, so he avoids writing characters he does not understand, and that in games he always plays the healer or the supporting role. (All from Anime News Network, November 6, 2026.)
He also said his newer series, GOAT’S GAME, which started in Young King Ours and is available in Japanese only, has communication as its main theme, a choice he linked to his experience working with his editor.
What is The Vermilion Mask about?
Per Anime News Network, the story takes place in a world where powerful masks give the wearer supernatural abilities. Peru, an apprentice mask maker, loses control to a cursed mask and kills his master and comrades. He then sets out to destroy the legendary masks his master made. Along the way he is joined by Sona, a runaway princess who decides to help him.
The Japanese cast members interviewed by The Outerhaven on October 27, 2026 (Taihi Kimura, Yuuki Yamamoto and Kazuki Ura) said the story is about more than a simple fight between good and evil, with every character carrying some kind of burden. They also pointed to the detailed worldbuilding, including masks that differ by material and by country.
The Vermilion Mask anime: cast and staff
| Role | Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Peru d’Arrest | Taihi Kimura | ANN cast article (July 3), Anime Corner |
| Sonarue Maywood (Sona) | Yuuki Yamamoto | ANN cast article (July 3) |
| Mok Sharib | Kazuki Ura | ANN cast article (July 3) |
| Gouon | Takanori Hoshino | ANN cast article (July 3) |
| Director | Tetsuaki Watanabe | Anime Corner |
| Series composition | Daisuke Ohigashi | Anime News Network, Anime Corner |
| Opening theme | “Firestarter” by MAN WITH A MISSION | Anime Corner |
| Ending theme | “Koe” by yutori | Anime Corner |
Outlets disagree on the animation studio name, so we leave it out until Crunchyroll or the official site settles it. The manga’s Japanese title is Shuiro no Kamen.
Where can you watch The Vermilion Mask?
The Vermilion Mask anime premiered on October 10, 2026 and streams on Crunchyroll as episodes air. Anime News Network’s Fall 2026 preview guide describes it as a two-cour run. No date for the second part has been confirmed in the sources we checked, so treat any exact second-part date as unconfirmed for now. For this season’s other shows, including weekly Saturday releases, see our Fall 2026 Anime Season Guide and our Black Clover Season 2 episode schedule.
Can you read The Vermilion Mask manga in English?
Yes. The manga has been serialized in Shonengahosha’s Young King Ours since 2021, and nine volumes are in print in Japan, according to Anime News Network. The first eight volumes are available in English on the emaqi manga app. If you want to read ahead of the anime, that is the legal English route we found. Check the emaqi app for current availability in your region.
What should you watch next?
If the mask-powers premise caught your interest, browse the rest of the season in Anime News and the upcoming premieres in Release Dates. We will update this page if Crunchyroll announces the second part’s date or if Dr. Poro or Nabana Naba share more about the adaptation.
What we do not know yet
- The exact premiere date of the second part.
- The official total episode count (one outlet reports 24, but we could not confirm it on an official page).
- A confirmed animation studio name across sources.
Watch the official trailer
FAQ
Who is Dr. Poro?
Dr. Poro is the writer of The Vermilion Mask manga. Nabana Naba draws it. The manga runs in Shonengahosha’s Young King Ours, and Dr. Poro also writes GOAT’S GAME in the same magazine.
When did The Vermilion Mask anime premiere and where can I watch it?
It premiered on October 10, 2026 and streams on Crunchyroll as episodes air. It is a two-cour run.
Is The Vermilion Mask manga available in English?
According to Anime News Network, the first eight volumes are available in English on the emaqi manga app. Nine volumes are in print in Japan.
Sources: Anime News Network: EXCLUSIVE: Dr. Poro, the Manga Writer Behind The Vermilion Mask (Nov 6, 2026), Anime News Network: The Vermilion Mask Anime Reveals 1st Main Trailer, Cast, Anime News Network: The Vermilion Mask Fall 2026 preview guide, Anime Corner: The Vermilion Mask Reveals Second Trailer, Key Visual, Theme Songs and 6 New Cast Members, The Outerhaven: Interview with Taihi Kimura, Yuuki Yamamoto and Kazuki Ura, Crunchyroll: The Vermilion Mask official trailer.