Exciting news for anime enthusiasts: VIZ Media has officially announced that a Black Torch anime is in production, and IGN has the exclusive first look at its trailer. The announcement came during VIZ Media's panel at Emerald City Comic Con, where fans were treated to the first glimpse of protagonist Jiro Azuma in his stealth uniform, accompanied by his powerful mononoke companion, Rago. The trailer also hints at the looming danger with a dark figure reflected in the cityscape, setting the stage for intense battles ahead.
For those new to the series, Black Torch was created by Tsuyoshi Takaki and initially serialized in Jump SQ. and Shonen Jump+ from 2017 to 2018. Here's the official synopsis to give you a taste of what the anime will bring:
"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!"
To celebrate this significant milestone for Black Torch, Tsuyoshi Takaki shared a drawing from the panel. (Link to be added when available.)
Takaki also provided insight into the anime adaptation, saying, "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."
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