The upcoming fantasy series MARS RED will premiere on Funimation beginning March 29th; one whole week before the Japanese broadcast.

It’s rare for the English release of an anime to precede its Japanese release, but that appears to be the case according to Funimation. However this week headstart is only relevant for the first episode and English-speaking fans will need to wait two whole weeks for episode 2; putting them on the same pacing as their Japanese counterparts.

MARS RED was announced late last year and follows a squad of vampires who are ironically tasked with taking down renegade vampires. The squad was originally intended to handle information but has since been turned to handle the domestic vampire crisis.

The series takes place in a fictionalized 1923 where vampires have existed for quite some time. A mystery unfolds as the number of vampires explodes and an unknown blood source called Ascra appears. The Japanese government creates the Code Zero task force which recruits vampires for use in anti-vampire operations.

Our previous coverage includes a list of staff and cast, including Miyuki Sawashiro as Defflet and Kouichi Yamadera as Tokuichi Yamagami. Sawashiro is known for her lead roles as Celty Sturluson in Durarara!! and Shinku in Rozen Maiden. Yamadera is known for his roles as Spike Siegal in Cowboy Bebop and Tenshinhan in Dragon Ball Z.