TMS Entertainment Co., Ltd. announced that their original anime series, High Card, will begin airing in January 2023. Showcased in the newly debuted official trailer, the opening theme will be “Trickster” by FIVE NEW OLD.
The key visual unveiled by TMS was illustrated by the show’s character designer and chief animation supervisor, Nozomi Kawano. The poster showcases the two-faced nature of the High Card members, who embark on dangerous missions using supernatural powers, while moonlighting as employees of a long-established car dealership.
The preview reveals the show’s artistic style and features Finn and the other members of High Card in exhilarating action scenes.
Synopsis: After discovering that his orphanage was on the brink of closing due to financial stress, Finn, who was living freely on the streets, set out for a casino with the aim of making a fortune. However, nothing could have prepared Finn for the nightmare that was awaiting him. Once there, Finn encountered a car chase and bloody shootout caused by a man’s “lucky” card.
Finn will eventually learn what the shootout was about. The world order can be controlled by a set of 52 X-Playing cards with the power to bestow different superhuman powers and abilities to the ones that possess them. With these cards, people can access the hidden power of the “buddy” that can be found within themselves.
There is a secret group of players called High Card, who have been directly ordered by the king of Fourland to collect the cards that have been scattered throughout the kingdom, while moonlighting as employees of the long-established car maker Pinochle. Scouted to become the group’s fifth member, Finn soon joins the players on a dangerous mission to find these cards.
“All you need in life are manners, dignity, and the will to bet on your own life.”
However, Who’s Who, the rival car maker obsessed with defeating Pinochle, and the Klondikes, the infamous Mafia family, stand in the way of the gang. A frenzied battle amongst these card obsessed players, fueled by justice, desire and revenge, is about to begin!
Are you ready? It’s Showdown!!
An original work from TMS, Homura Kawamoto and Hikaru Muno, High Card is direected by Junichi Wada. Newly announced collaborators on the series are composer Naoki Kuroyanagi, chief animation supervisors Nozomi Kawano and Haruna Nagata (Given), editor Rie Ito, sound effects designer Hiromune Kurahashi, with music by Ryo Takahashi (SK8 the Infinity).
The previously announced roster also includes screenwriters Kenichi Yamashita, Kazuhiko Inukai and Shingo Nagai; character draftre Ebimo; animation directors/key animators Shunpei Mochizuki an dJunichi Hayama; effects animation director Takashi Hashimoto; color designers Yumi Nanmoku; art directors Minoru Onishi and Akira Suzuki;
cinematographer Tomoyuki Kunii; CG director Masafumi Uchiyama and sound director Shoji Hata. High Card features card design by BALCOLONY, reoenl (FLAT STUDIO) provided concept art and STUDIO HIBARI CO., LTD. produced the animation.
TMS also shared additional character information for two key roles in the series:
Bernard Symons (voiced by Kazuhiro Yamaji) is High Card’s Handler and Administrative Staff at Pinochle’s Old Maid branch. He does everything from making tea, cleaning, performing car maintenance and relaying information to and from the head office. He is also Leo’s caretaker.
Theodore Constantine Pinochle (voiced by Daisuke Ono) is the boss of High Card and the CEO of Pinochle, a company built upon tradition and formalities. His administrative skills are highly trusted by political and business establishments. Being a cool-headed man of few words, even his son Leo knows little about his past.
The voice cast also features Gen Sato as Finn Oldman, Toshiki Masuda as Chris Redgrave, Shun Horie as Leo Constantine Pinochle, Haruka Shiraishi as Wendy Sato, Yuichiro Umehara as Vijay Kumar Singh and Kazuhiro Yamaji as Bernard Symons.
Hailing from Kobe, Japan, FIVE NEW OLD (fivenewold.com / @fivenewold) is a highly acclaimed international rock band known for their captivating stage presence, and bilingual singer Hiroshi’s impressive vocals. HIroshi also plays guiter, alongside Wataru (guitar/keyboards), Shun (bass) and Hayato (drums). “Trickster” is licensed from Warner Music Japan.
TMS Entertainment Co., Ltd. (TMS) is one of the largest anime studios in Japan. With strong focus on anime production, licensing and distribution, TMS boasts a library of over 12,000 episodes across a total of 420 titles that include much-loved anime titles such as Lupin the 3rd, Dr. STONE and MegaloBox. (www.tms-e.co.jp)
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