At a joint panel at Anime Expo 2015, Studio 4°C introduced its first anime crowdfunding project, titled Red Ash the Animation: Magicicada. The studio is also partnering with Comcept in developing a video game titled Red Ash: Kikanjou Karkanon no Majo (Red Ash: The Indellible Legend).

Comcept was founded by Keiji Inafune, best known as a co-designer of the Rockman (Mega Man) character at Capcom. It has created games such as Soul Sacrifice and Mighty No. 9. According to Studio 4°C president Eiko Tanaka, the collaboration originated from meetings she and Inafune had on the sidelines of Anime Expo 2014.


Red Ash the Animation will use treasure hunting as a story concept, and it will be in a setting separate from but parallel to the video game. Yuuta Sano, who is previously a CG animator for the Berserk: Ougon Jidaihen movies, will make his directorial debut in the project. Studio 4°C will experiment in combining 3D characters with hand-drawn paintings.

The anime Kickstarter has a total crowdfunding goal of US$2.48 million. It is composed of eight episodes of varying length, each with its own stretch goal. The first stretch goal of US$150,000 has a deadline of August 4, 2015. A ninth stretch goal is to produce an ending animation. Should the project meet its ultimate funding target, it will be presented as a feature film of at least 75 minutes, which includes an epilogue to the story.

Yuuki Kaji will voice the protagonist Beck. Supporters who pledge US$14 or more to the project will have a right to vote for the seiyuu cast of two other characters, Call and Tyger. In the game, Call will be voiced by Asami Seto, while Tyger will be voiced by Houchuu Ootsuka.

Official site: http://redashgame.com/
Official anime Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mightyno9/red-ash-magicicada-by-studio4c
Official game Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mightyno9/red-ash-the-indelible-legend