The official website for Tokyo Ghoul √A (Root A), the second anime season based on Sui Ishida's Tokyo Ghoul manga, unveiled new cast members and character designs on Friday. The new cast includes:

Hiro Shimono as Naki

Aoi Yuki as Kurona Yasuhisa

Haruka Tomatsu as Nashiro Yasuhisa

The website also confirmed the following returning cast members from the last two episodes of the anime:

Koji Yusa as Tatara

Maaya Sakamoto as Eto

Kazuhiko Inoue as Donato Porpora

Asami Seto as Akira Mado

Takayuki Kondou as Take Hirano

The main cast and staff will also return.

The website posted with a summary of episode 1. [The story summary below may contain spoilers. Highlight text to read transcript.]

Ghouls, mysterious beings that eat humans, lie hidden in Tokyo. In the secret base of the belligerent group "Aogiri Tree," a fierce battle between the Aogiri, CCG (The Commission of Counter Ghoul), and Anteiku unfolds. The CCG's Yukinori Shinohara, Iwao Kuroiwa and their followers fight against SSS-rate ghoul "Fukurō." Meanwhile, the Anteiku's Uta, Renji Yomo, and Shū Tsukiyama battle Noro, one of the Aogiri Tree's leaders. In one part of the battle, Touka Kirishima faces her own brother Ayato and is cornered by his overwhelming strength. And, when he tries to attack Touka with a final blow...

Finally, the website updated its character designs for Ken Kaneki. [Follow the links here and here to see the character designs, which may contain spoilers.]

Tokyo Ghoul √A will premiere on January 8 and run for 12 episodes. Tokyo's Toho Cinemas Nihonbashi will host an advance screening of the first episode on January 4. Funimation will stream the series as it airs.

Whereas Ishida was credited with creating the original manga for the first season, Ishida is now also credited with the original story concept for the second season. Funimation streamed the first season as it aired this past summer, and holds the home video rights.

The band amazarashi will perform the ending song "Kisetsu wa Tsugitsugi Shindeiku" (Seasons Dying One After Another). österreich will perform the opening theme "Munō" (Incompetence).