The Red River anime has added two experienced voice actors to its cast: Minami Takayama voices Yuri's mother, while Kazuhiko Inoue plays her father. Both bring prior experience with the material—Takayama previously voiced Yuri herself in a drama CD adaptation, and Inoue voiced co-lead character Kail in the same production.

Red River, based on Chie Shinohara's beloved shōjo manga, follows Yuri, a Japanese girl who passes her college entrance exam and shares her first kiss with her childhood boyfriend. Her life takes a dramatic turn when water begins reacting strangely around her. One night, mysterious hands drag her through a puddle into an ancient Middle Eastern village, where she's captured and taken to the Hittite queen's palace as a human sacrifice.

The main cast includes Mirai Tachibana as Yuri and Wataru Katō as Kail Muršili (later King Muršili II), alongside Aya Uchida as Queen Nakia and Shōya Chiba as Prince Zannanza Hattušili. Supporting roles feature Tomoaki Maeno, Kōji Yusa, Kōsuke Toriumi, and others rounding out the Hittite court and military hierarchy.

The anime premiered on NTV's AnichU programming block on July 7. Kōsuke Kobayashi directs at Tatsunoko Production, with Yoriko Tomita overseeing scripts and Kenji Fujisaki handling character design. Yoshihisa Hirano composed the music, while Hiroto Morishita directs sound. The opening theme, "Akatsuki no Sora" (Dawn Sky), is performed by Hiroki Nanami.

A notable aspect of the production is its historical consultation. Kimiyoshi Matsumura and Daisuke Yoshida, both members of the Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology, are credited as historical researchers, suggesting the anime aims for cultural authenticity in its ancient Middle Eastern setting.

The series represents a rare anime adaptation of the long-running shōjo manga, which originally ran in the 1990s and has maintained a dedicated fanbase for decades.