VIZ Media Announces Black Torch Anime Production

Exciting news for fans of the supernatural and action-packed manga series: 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 was made during VIZ Media's panel at Emerald City Comic Con, where attendees were treated to a glimpse of the protagonist, Jiro Azuma, clad in his stealth uniform. Accompanying Jiro is his formidable mononoke companion, Rago, perched on his shoulder. The trailer also hints at impending danger with a shadowy figure ominously reflected in the cityscape.

For those new to the series, Black Torch is the brainchild of Tsuyoshi Takaki, originally serialized in Jump SQ. and Shonen Jump+ from 2017 to 2018. Here's the official synopsis to bring you up to speed on what to expect from the anime:

"A new era of ninja battles begins," the synopsis declares. "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!"

For a deeper dive into the world of Black Torch, don't miss out on a special drawing by Takaki from the panel, celebrating this significant milestone for the series. (A link will be added once available.)

Tsuyoshi Takaki himself shared his enthusiasm for the project, stating, "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."

Stay tuned for more updates on Black Torch and other anime news. In the meantime, explore our favorite anime from 2024, the most anticipated anime coming in 2025, and our top 25 anime of all time.