The official website for the anime adaptation of Ichiro Sakaki's Hitsugi no Chaika (Chaika the Coffin Princess) fantasy light novels confirmed the main staff on Saturday.

Soichi Masui (Anyamaru Tantei Kiruminzuu, Crayon Shin-chan: Arashi o Yobu Ōgon no Spy Daisakusen, Crayon Shin-chan: Arashi o Yobu! Ora to Uchū no Princess) is directing the project at the anime studio BONES (Eureka Seven, Star Driver). Masui and BONES also collaborated on 2003's Scrapped Princess, another anime based on Sakaki's writings. Touko Machida (Karneval, Lucky Star, The [email protected], Tears to Tiara) is in charge of the series scripts, and Nobuhiro Arai (animation director on Blast of Tempest, Shakugan no Shana film) is designing the characters.

Hitsugi no Chaika's story centers around Toru Acura, a 20-year-old retired soldier meandering through life now that the war has ended. He encounters Chaika Trabant, a 14-year-old sorceress carrying a coffin, and he follows her in hopes of finding meaning to his life again. The two travel with Toru's adopted sister, Akari, the employed member of the group and thus Toru's source of income.

Sakaki launched the light novel series with illustrations by Namaniku ATK (Nitroplus) in 2010, and Fujimi Shobo published the seventh volume in July. Shinta Sakayama began drawing a manga adaptation in Kadokawa Shoten's Monthly Shonen Ace magazine in 2011, and Kanikama started a four-panel comic adaptation in Kadokawa Shoten's 4-Koma Nano Ace in 2011.

Sakaki's other works include Scrapped Princess, Strait Jacket, Magician's Academy, Polyphonica, CODE-E, and Outbreak Company ~Moeru Shinryakusha~ — all of which inspired anime. The television anime of Outbreak Company ~Moeru Shinryakusha~ premiered this month.

Source: animeanime.jp

Image © Ichiro Sakaki, Namaniku ATK (Nitroplus)