Exciting news for anime fans: VIZ Media has officially announced the production of the Black Torch anime at its Emerald City Comic Con panel. IGN is thrilled to exclusively reveal the first trailer, which showcases Jiro Azuma in his stealth uniform, accompanied by his powerful mononoke companion, Rago. The trailer also teases a mysterious dark figure reflected in the cityscape, hinting at the thrilling danger that lies ahead.
For those new to the series, Black Torch was crafted by Tsuyoshi Yakaki and originally serialized in Jump SQ. and Shonen Jump+ from 2017 to 2018. Here's the official synopsis to get you up to speed on what to expect from this upcoming anime:
"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!"
During the panel, a special drawing by Takaki was showcased, celebrating this significant milestone for Black Torch. (Link to the drawing will be added once it's live.)
Tsuyoshi Takaki shared his enthusiasm about the project: “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.”
For more on anime, explore our list of the best anime from 2024, the most anticipated anime set to release in 2025, and our top 25 anime of all time.
