Announcement from ECCC

VIZ Media officially announced today at its Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC) panel that the highly anticipated TV anime adaptation of BLACK TORCH, the action-packed manga by Tsuyoshi Takaki, is in production. Originally serialized in Jump SQ. and Shonen Jump+ from 2017 to 2018, BLACK TORCH quickly gained popularity across Japan and international markets. Now, fans can look forward to seeing the world of ninja and mononoke come to life on screen.

Teaser Visual & PV Released at ECCC

The newly unveiled teaser visual showcases protagonist Jiro Azuma in his stealth uniform, with Rago, the powerful mononoke, perched on his shoulder—perfectly capturing their dynamic as partners. A mysterious dark silhouette reflected in the cityscape hints at the looming threats they will face.

Watch the Official Trailer

Official Synopsis

A New Era of Ninja Battles Begins!
Jiro Azuma is not your average high schooler. Hailing from a long line of ninja, Jiro has been brought up by his grandfather in the ancient warrior art of the shinobi. Jiro also happens to be a particularly skilled communicator able to converse with the animal world. But life takes an abrupt turn thanks to a mysterious encounter in the forest with an injured black cat named Rago. Only, Rago’s feline appearance is deceiving…

It turns out the “ordinary” cat is the stuff of mononoke legend–the Black Star of Doom! Swarming in the shadows are more mononoke, eager to exploit Rago’s uniquely immense powers. To fight back against the tide of dark spirits, the undercover Bureau of Espionage is poised to seek and destroy. Of course, everyone has their motives when it comes to Rago’s powers. But Jiro and Rago are ready.

A shinobi clash between boy and mononoke is about to ignite!

Special Drawing from Creator Tsuyoshi Takaki

To commemorate the anime announcement, BLACK TORCH creator Tsuyoshi Takaki has shared an exclusive drawing for fans celebrating the adaptation.

Watch the Official Trailer

Production Staff Revealed

A powerhouse creative team has been assembled to bring BLACK TORCH to life:

• Original Work: Tsuyoshi Takaki (Published by Shueisha)
• Director: Kei Umabiki
• Character Design: Gou Suzuki
• Series Composition & Screenplay: Gigaemon Ichikawa
• Music: Yutaka Yamada
• Animation Production: 100studio

Creative Team Comments

Tsuyoshi Takaki (Creator):
“I’ve been supervising the settings and storyboards, and I feel it’s been recreated into something even better, while still fully respecting the original story. A new BLACK TORCH has been brought to life, now with voices, sounds, movement, and color.”

Kei Umabiki (Director):
“In creating the anime, we’ve made full use of elements that are unique to the medium like color, movement, music, and a brilliant cast. The entire staff is working hard to bring the excitement and charm of the original work to this production!”

Gigaemon Ichikawa (Series Composition & Screenplay):
“With a lot of care and passion, I did my best to adapt the fiery, cool, heartrending, and heartwarming world of BLACK TORCH created by Tsuyoshi Takaki Sensei.”

Yutaka Yamada (Music Composer):
“To bring the world of BLACK TORCH to life with music, we’ve created a unique soundscape with our own original tones and beats. We’re putting our all into making sure we embody the charm of the original work.”

Stay Connected

For the latest updates on the BLACK TORCH anime, visit the official website and follow us on social media:
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Join the conversation with #BLACKTORCH

Credits

©Tsuyoshi Takaki/Shueisha, Project BLACK TORCH

ーOfficial Press Release