Image via Twitter account for the anime Karasu wa Aruji o Erabanai
© 阿部智里/文藝春秋/NHK・NEP・ぴえろ
The official website for the television anime adaptation of Chisato Abe's Karasu wa Aruji o Erabanai (The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master) novel, the second novel in her Yatagarasu novel series, confirmed on July 19 that the anime's 15th episode will be delayed by three weeks due to coverage of the 2024 Summer Olympics, which will take place in Paris from July 26 to August 11. The Olympics will precede the anime in its airing timeslot on July 27, August 3, and August 10. The anime's 15th episode will instead air on August 17.
The 14th episode of the anime aired last Saturday, kicking off a new season of the anime based on the third novel in the Kin no Karasu (Golden Crow) series.
The anime premiered on NHK on April 6 at 11:45 p.m. JST (10:45 a.m. EDT). Crunchyroll is streaming the series under the title YATAGARASU: The Crow That Doesn't Choose Its Master.
Yoshiaki Kyougoku (Laid-Back Camp first two seasons and films) is directing the series at Studio Pierrot, and Yukiko Yamamuro (Touch (live-action film)) is supervising the series scripts. Takumo Norita (Lagrange-The Flower of Rin-ne, Broken Blade) is designing the characters, Eishi Segawa (Ushio & Tora both seasons, Gintama (live-action film)) is composing the music, and Yuji Tange is the sound director. NHK, NHK Enterprises, and Pierrot are producing the anime.
The book focuses on the world of the yatagarasu (the Japanese name for a variant of the mythical crow that appears in East Asian folklore). The yatagarasu can shapeshift between human and crow form, and live in the world of Yamauchi, a parallel world created by the god yatagarasu Yamagami. Inside Yamauchi, the yatagarasu live in a society reminiscent of Heian-period Japan.
NHK describes the anime's story:
Yamauchi, a wonderful world where Yatagarasu lives
Yukiya, a young Yatagarasu, is appointed personal servant to the eccentric Crown Prince Wakamiya. Before long, he becomes entangled in a web of intrigue aimed at overthrowing the heir to the Imperial throne.
Abe debuted the novel series with the first novel Karasu ni Hitoe wa Niawanai in 2012. The first part of the novel series has six novels (of which Karasu wa Aruji o Erabanai is the second novel, released in 2013) and one spin-off novel. The second part of the novel series has so far inspired three novels (the latest released in October 2022) and one spin-off novel.
The first two novels in the series have inspired manga adaptations. Mitsumi Matsuzaki drew a manga adaptation of Karasu ni Hitoe wa Niawanai, which ran on Kodansha's Comic Days app from June 2018 to April 2020. Kodansha is releasing the manga in English on its K MANGA service under the title A Raven for All Seasons. Matsuzaki launched the Karasu wa Aruji o Erabanai manga in Kodansha's Evening magazine in May 2020 and moved it to Comic Days in December 2021, where the series is ongoing.
Source: website, NHK