The Red River anime — the long-awaited adaptation of Chie Shinohara's Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori (known in English as Anatolia Story) — has added two cast members. Sōma Saitō joins as Ramses, a free-spirited Egyptian general and Kail's great rival, and Shun Horie voices Juda, the sixth prince in line for the Hittite throne.
Quick answer
The Red River (Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori) TV anime cast Sōma Saitō as Ramses and Shun Horie as Juda. Produced by Tatsunoko Production and directed by Kōsuke Kobayashi, the series premiered July 7, 2026 in NTV's AnichU block and streams on Crunchyroll. Per MAL's report, a second cour is slated for fall 2026. It adapts Chie Shinohara's shōjo manga (serialized 1995–2002; Viz Media in English). According to SenpaiRanks, Red River tracks at an adjusted 6.48 on its dual-axis board.
The new cast
Both additions are franchise-adjacent power players. Ramses, as Kail's rival, is the kind of role that anchors the political-intrigue half of Anatolia Story, and Saitō's casting suggests the second cour leans into it. Horie's Juda slots into the Hittite succession thread. The returning core — Mirai Tachibana as Yuri, Wataru Katō as Kail Muršili, and Aya Uchida as Queen Nakia — stays intact.
Where it comes from
Anatolia Story is a classic. Shinohara's manga ran for 28 volumes and won the Shogakukan Manga Award; it follows modern teenager Yuri, pulled back in time to the Hittite empire and caught between palace politics and a romance with prince Kail. Viz released the full run in English and began omnibus reprints in October 2024 — timing that lines up neatly with the anime finally arriving after decades of fan requests.
Where to watch
The series streams on Crunchyroll. If you want the wider shōjo-romance slate, SenpaiRanks tracks it on the best romance anime of 2026 board, and our earlier Red River July 7 premiere guide has the full where-to-watch and ranking rundown. Rate the show yourself on the Red River page.
Here is the trailer:
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who are the new Red River cast members?
A: Sōma Saitō as Ramses and Shun Horie as Juda.
Q: When did the Red River anime premiere?
A: July 7, 2026, in NTV's AnichU programming block, streaming on Crunchyroll.
Q: Is there a second cour of Red River?
A: Per MAL's report, a second cour is slated for fall 2026.
Q: What is Red River based on?
A: Chie Shinohara's shōjo manga Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori, known in English as Anatolia Story, released by Viz Media.