News Reporting

Sentai Filmworks Licenses Namuamidabutsu! -Utena-, HIDIVE to Simulcast


Namu Amida Butsu Rendai Utena Anime VisualSentai Filmworks announced that they acquired the rights to Namuamidabutsu! -Utena-. The publisher acquired the global rights to the title outside of Asia, and plans to stream the show on select digital outlets. A physical release is slated to follow.

Shortly after the announcement was revealed, HIDIVE took to Twitter to announce that they will stream the title as part of their Spring 2019 simulcast lineup. The publisher will stream the show for subscribers worldwide, outside of Asia.

Namuamidabutsu! -Utena- hits Japanese TV on April 8.

Akira Oguro will direct the project at Asahi Production, with Erika Yoshida (Trickster) taking charge of series composition. Masato Katou is providing character designs, while Yoshiaki Fujisawa scores the show’s soundtrack.

Masaaki Mizunaka will perform opening theme song Amauta, while Chippoke Ōhashi performs closing theme song Ruby.

The confirmed voice cast includes:

  • Taishakuten (Śakra): Masaaki Mizunaka
  • Shaka Nyorai (Gautama Buddha): Showtaro Morikubo
  • Ashura Ō (Asura): Tatsuhisa Suzuki
  • Dainichi Nyorai (Vairocana): Tetsuya Kakihara
  • Bonten (Brahmā): Tomoaki Maeno
  • Ashuku Nyorai (Akṣobhya): Yūsuke Kobayashi
  • Amida Nyorai (Amitābha): Daisuke Hirakawa
  • Yakushi Nyorai (Bhaiṣajyaguru): Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
  • Monju Bosatsu (Manjusri): Ryūichi Kijima
  • Fugen Bosatsu (Samantabhadra): Shun Horie
  • Jizō Bosatsu (Kṣitigarbha): Taku Yashiro
  • Miroku Bosatsu (Maitreya): Ayumu Murase
  • Kannō Bosatsu (Avalokiteśvara): Yūma Uchida
  • Seishi Bosatsu (Mahāsthāmaprāpta): Kōhei Amasaki
  • Kokūzō Bosatsu (Ākāśagarbha): Kishō Taniyama
  • Fudōmyō Ō (Acalanātha): Kengo Kawanishi
  • Karuraten: Daiki Yamashita
  • Māra: Takeo Ōtsuka

Sentai describes the show as:

Long before superheroes, there were legends. One of them begins with Shaka Nyorai, whose bravery and enlightenment once saved humanity forever. But forever is fleeting because Mara, the personification of Earthly desires, forges a corrupt coalition with the devil to again visit wrath and vengeance upon humankind. To counter Mara’s cruel attack, Taishakuten and Bonten, divine beings, must join forces with the Thirteen Buddhas. Can the allied powers of light defeat the vicious onslaught and save humankind in their darkest hour?

Sources: Sentai Filmworks (Press Release), Twitter (HIDIVEOfficial)

About the author

Samantha Ferreira

Samantha Ferreira is Anime Herald’s founder and editor-in-chief. A Rhode Island native, Samantha has been an anime fan since 1992, and an active member of the anime press since 2002, when she began working as a reviewer for Anime Dream. She launched Anime Herald in 2010, and continues to oversee its operations to this day. Outside of journalism, Samantha actively studies the history of the North American anime fandom and industry, with a particular focus on the 2000s anime boom and bust. She’s a huge fan of all things Sakura Wars, and maintains series fansite Combat Revue Review when she has free time available. When not in the Anime Herald Discord, Samantha can typically be found on Bluesky.

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