Emerald City Comic-Con Announcement

Viz Media has announced the adaptation of another shonen manga into an anime series, but this one stands out from the rest. The chosen manga is Black Torch, written by Tsuyoshi Takaki, which was first published in 2016. This anime adaptation will be directed by Kei Umabiki, known for his work on Quality Assurance in Another World, and produced by 100studio.

The story follows Jiro Azuma, a teenage ninja with a unique ability – he can communicate with animals. After rescuing a cat that turns out to be an evil spirit, known as a mononoke, named Rago, Jiro’s life takes a dramatic turn. Rago is from the Black Star of Doom, and after Jiro is killed by Rago’s attackers, the cat saves him by merging their souls. Before they can fully grasp their new circumstances, they are recruited by the Bureau of Espionage to eliminate emerging mononoke in the city.

What makes this announcement intriguing is that Black Torch concluded its run in 2018, consisting of 19 chapters across five volumes. This is an unconventional approach for Viz and the shonen anime scene, as they typically adapt ongoing or extremely popular series. This move could signal a change in the adaptation formula, potentially opening doors for other short-lived stories to be brought to life on screen.

While a release date for the Black Torch anime has not been announced, Tsuyoshi Takaki celebrated the news by drawing Jiro and Rago together, which can be seen below.

For more updates and news, check out the latest release dates for upcoming Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek projects. Also, find out what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.