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Monster Hunter Stories RIDE ON Anime's Announcement Video Streamed

Fuji TV began streaming an announcement video on Thursday for the Monster Hunter Stories RIDE ON television anime series (Note: the linked video is only available to viewers in Japan).

The video notes that the Monster Hunter game franchise has sold more than 36 million copies.

The anime's official website describes the story:

Creating bonds with monsters, the rider's journey begins.

This is a world where both men and monsters exist. Those who hunt the monsters are called Hunters. But in a small corner of the Hunter's world, there are those called Riders who bond with and coexist with monsters. With their Kizuna Ishi (Bonding Stones) that allow them to awaken the hidden power inside monsters, Riders live in secrecy together with their Otomon, the monsters they have formed a connection with.

Ryuto, a young boy living in the Rider village of Hakum, dreams of becoming the world's best Rider. Having just turned 12, he sets out to find his own Otomon for himself before the ceremony where he is given his own Kizuna Ishi. Together with his kind-hearted childhood friend Shuval, his inquisitive childhood friend Lilia, and his partner Naviloo, he sets out deep into the forest, and has a miraculous encounter with a Rathalos.

A story begins where a Rider and his Otomon will deepen their bond.

The show will star (character name spellings are not official):

Mutsumi Tamura as Ryuto, a young boy whose dream is to become the best Rider in the world.

M.A.O a Naviloo, a Felyne with a "slightly different shape."

CAPCOM is credited with the anime's original work, and Mitsuru Hongo (World Trigger series director, Battle Spirits: Shōnen Toppa Bashin director) is directing the anime at david production (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure). Natsuko Takahashi (My Love Story!!, 07-Ghost) is writing and overseeing the scripts, and Takuya Saitō (Macross Zero, Outlaw Star) is designing the characters.

The anime will air on Fuji TV on Sundays at 8:30 a.m. Fuji TV is creating a new morning anime timeslot for the series for the first time in 10 years. The show was previously listed at 48 episodes, with each episode being 30 minutes long.

The series is the first anime based on CAPCOM's Monster Hunter game franchise, and is inspired specifically by the upcoming Monster Hunter Stories Nintendo 3DS role-playing game. The game will ship in Japan on October 8.

Thanks to Dennis R. for the embedded video.