1st part of 3-part anime project screens in 8 theaters in Japan on Saturday

The Mainichi Shimbun newspaper's MAiDiGiTV YouTube channel began streaming the first three minutes of Mahō Tsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito (The Ancient Magus' Bride - The Man Who Waits for Stars), the three-part anime project based on Kore Yamazaki's manga The Ancient Magus' Bride (Mahō Tsukai no Yome). The clip features witch technician Angelica preparing the tools that Elias ordered for Chise to teach her magic. Before she packages the items, she remembers to include a Japanese book as a present to Chise. The rest of the clip features the anime's first promotional video.

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 Toshikazu Miura (name romanization not yet confirmed)



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 three volumes of the anime will be bundled with the sixth, seventh, and eighth volumes of the manga on September 10, 2016; March 10, 2017; and September 9, 2017, respectively. The first part will also have a limited two-week run in eight theaters throughout Japan starting on Saturday, August 13.