VIZ Media officially announced today at its Emerald City Comic Con panel that the highly anticipated TV anime adaptation of BLACK TORCH, the action-packed manga by Tsuyoshi Takaki, is in production. Originally serialized in Jump SQ. and Shonen Jump+ from 2017 to 2018, BLACK TORCH quickly gained popularity across Japan and international markets. Now, fans can look forward to seeing the world of ninjas and mononoke come to life on screen.
The newly unveiled teaser visual showcases protagonist Jiro Azuma in his stealth uniform, with Rago, the powerful mononoke, perched on his shoulder—perfectly capturing their dynamic as partners. A mysterious dark silhouette reflected in the cityscape hints at the looming threats they will face.
VIZ describes Black Torch as follows:
A New Era of Ninja Battles Begins!
Jiro Azuma is not your average high schooler. 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 commemorate the anime announcement, BLACK TORCH creator Tsuyoshi Takaki has shared an exclusive drawing for fans celebrating the adaptation.
A powerhouse creative team has been assembled to bring BLACK TORCH to life:
- Original Work: Tsuyoshi Takaki (Published by Shueisha)
- Director: Kei Umabiki
- Character Design: Gou Suzuki
- Series Composition & Screenplay: Gigaemon Ichikawa
- Music: Yutaka Yamada
- Animation Production: 100studio
Source: Press Release
