2nd of 3 parts to open in theaters in February, ship with manga volume in March

Shochiku began streaming a trailer for the second part of The Ancient Magus' Bride: Those Awaiting a Star ( Mahō Tsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito ), the three-part anime based on Kore Yamazaki's manga The Ancient Magus' Bride (Mahō Tsukai no Yome), on Wednesday.

Riichi: Welcome to the Library of the Forest.

Elias: It all began with a book that Chise received.

Chise: The Lonely Little Star

Elias: Chise's past in Japan, and the young man that she met.

Riichi: My name's Riichi. Riichi Miura.

Riichi: It's been a long time since anyone's been come by here. I'm glad.

Riichi: I'll do something special, just for today.

Elias: A previously unknown story in The Ancient Magus' Bride begins here.

Chise: When I'm reading, I can forget about all the bad things.

Chise: What book is that?

Riichi: Oh, that? That's uh... what book was it again?

Chise: It's reading the very last page that I like the most.

Riichi: Chise Hatori, I have something to ask of you.

Chise: Miura!

Elias: The Ancient Magus' Bride: Those Awaiting a Star Part II

Riichi: Something tells me that this book is something you'll need.



Shochiku also revealed a visual for the second part. The text on the visual reads, "I've been waiting for a star like you."

The anime's cast includes:

Atsumi Tanezaki as Chise Hattori



Ryota Takeuchi as Elias Ainsworth



Kouki Uchiyama as Ruth



Aya Endo as Silky (Silver)



Takahiro Sakurai as Riichi Miura



Atsumi Tanezaki as 8-year-old Chise



Seven Seas publishes the manga in North America, and it describes the story:

Chise Hatori has lived a life full of neglect and abuse, devoid of anything resembling love. Far from the warmth of family, she has had her share of troubles and pitfalls. Just when all hope seems lost, a fateful encounter awaits her. When a man with the head of a beast, wielding strange powers, obtains her through a slave auction, Chise's life will never be the same again. The man is a "magus," a sorcerer of great power, who decides to free Chise from the bonds of captivity. The magus then makes a bold statement: Chise will become his apprentice - and his bride!

The anime project will tell an original story from before Chise meets the Magus. The first part is bundling with the sixth volume on Saturday, and also had a limited two-week run in eight theaters throughout Japan starting on Saturday, August 13. The other two volumes of the anime will be bundled with the seventh and eighth volumes of the manga on March 10, 2017 and September 9, 2017, respectively. The second part will also get a limited two-week run in Japanese theaters beginning on February 4, 2017.

Yamazaki wrote the original story for the anime. Norihiro Naganuma ( Hozuki's Coolheadedness assistant director, Yowamushi Pedal movie director) is directing the anime at Wit Studio (Attack on Titan, Seraph of the End), and Aya Takaha ( Psycho-Pass episode 12 script) is penning the scripts. Hirotaka Katō ( Empire of Corpses animation director, Hozuki's Coolheadedness ) is designing the characters for animation, while Bamboo ( Hozuki's Coolheadedness , Empire of Corpses ) is handling the background art. Film composer Junichi Matsumoto (Hidekazu Kore'eda's Like Father, Like Son film) is composing the music.

Source: Comic Natalie