The manga by Tsuyoshi Takaki will soon have its very own TV anime adaptation.
Alongside sharing the news that a Black Torch anime is officially in production at VIZ Media, IGN is exclusively able to reveal its first trailer.
VIZ Media announced the Black Torch anime at its Emerald City Comic Con panel and the trailer below shows Jiro Azuma in his stealth uniform. He isn’t alone, however, as he has his powerful mononoke Rago on his shoulder. There is also a tease of a dark figure reflected in the cityscape that hints at the danger to come.
For those unfamiliar, Black Torch was created by Tsuyoshi Yakaki and was originally serialized in Jump SQ. and Shonen Jump+ from 2017 to 2018. As for what it is about, here is the official synopsis of the upcoming anime to catch you up.
“A new era of ninja battles begins,” the official synopsis reads. “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!”
Black Torch Manga Art. Image Credit: VIZFor more, check out this drawing by Takaki from the panel that celebrates this big milestone for Black Torch. (will add link when it is live.)
“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,” Takaki added. A new BLACK TORCH has been brought to life, now with voices, sounds, movement and color.”
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Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.
