90s Anime Meets Modern Fantasy In Glorious New Series Every Shonen Fan Needs To Watch
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The Vermilion Mask does not believe in easing viewers into a new world. Within its roughly 21-minute premiere, the anime introduces Peru d’Arrest, a collection of supernatural masks, the troubled city of Lisblanc, and a mystery involving Peru’s former master. It is a lot to throw at an audience immediately, but surprisingly, the episode rarely feels confusing.
What makes the premiere work is that all of this chaos has a purpose. Peru’s masks are not just flashy weapons for action scenes. They are tied directly to the worst events of his life, particularly the sentient Mask of the War God and the tragedy involving legendary mask maker Gaston Lou. That gives the otherwise frantic adventure a surprisingly dark emotional core.
Peru initially comes across as a fairly carefree mask seller trying to make a living in Lisblanc. That changes quickly when Sona steals one of his masks and drags him into a much bigger problem. Taihi Kimura gives Peru enough personality to make his humor believable, but there is clearly something more serious underneath his playful exterior.
The premiere of The Vermilion Mask does a good job revealing Peru’s motivation without explaining every detail. He wants to destroy Gaston Lou’s masks, and the flashback involving the Mask of the War God shows why. The mask once took control of Peru and resulted in Gaston and other apprentices being killed. Peru is now living with the consequences of something he could not control.
That guilt also makes his fighting style more interesting. Peru does not simply overpower everyone with one signature ability. He carries numerous masks and chooses between them depending on what the situation demands. The Spider Mask helps him escape with Sona, while other masks turn him into a much more dangerous opponent. He fights intelligently, and occasionally quite ruthlessly, when cornered.
The Masks And Lisblanc Create A Dangerous World
The supernatural masks are easily the anime’s most unique concept. The Mask of the War God, Spider Mask, Chameleon Mask, Cat Mask, and Warrior Mask each offer different abilities, but the premiere makes clear that these powers are not harmless upgrades. Their supernatural gifts can become burdens, making the masks simultaneously useful tools and sources of suffering.
Lisblanc itself reinforces that darker idea. The city’s inhabitants live under oppressive leadership, giving Sona a personal reason to resent the kingdom’s rulers. Her apparent role as a thief gradually develops into something more complicated, particularly once her true identity as Sonarue Maywood is revealed. The episode deliberately leaves much of her history unresolved, creating another mystery for the full anime to reveal in time.
The conflict escalates when Peru and Sona attempt to infiltrate Lisblanc Castle so Peru can destroy Gaston’s creations. Totoque and his soldiers pursue them, producing several quick battles that emphasize Peru’s lethality. He dispatches enemies with surprising efficiency, yet the episode never lets him feel invincible. Lord Gouon’s eventual appearance establishes that someone in Lisblanc can outmaneuver him.
A Fast-Paced Premiere With A Unique Style
Director Tetsuaki Watanabe’s approach gives The Vermilion Mask an appealing sense of clarity. The series combines contemporary animation with an intentional 1990s and early-2000s anime styles, particularly in how its action is staged, making it perfect for 90s anime fans and new gen anime lovers alike. Despite the supernatural abilities and rapid movement, fights remain relatively easy to follow, preventing the spectacle from overwhelming the story.
The visual presentation is not necessarily the most elaborate animation of the season, but the premiere knows when its strongest moments need emphasis. Character designs are particularly memorable, while the masks provide striking visual variety. Music and sound effects also contribute to the tension, helping distinguish the different powers without requiring lengthy explanations every time Peru changes masks.
Most importantly, Episode 1 ends by expanding rather than resolving its main mysteries. Lord Gouon shows an unsettling ability to anticipate Peru, while Sona’s revelation introduces another painful connection to the masks’ violent history. With Peru forced to confront consequences he desperately wants to escape, The Vermilion Mask finishes its premiere with enough unanswered questions to make its October Crunchyroll debut well worth watching.
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