"VIZ Media Announces Black Torch Anime Production"

IGN is thrilled to share the exciting news that the highly anticipated Black Torch anime is officially in production at VIZ Media. Alongside this announcement, we are proud to exclusively unveil the first trailer for the series.

The Black Torch anime was revealed at VIZ Media's Emerald City Comic Con panel, where fans got a glimpse of protagonist Jiro Azuma in his stealth uniform. Accompanying him is his formidable mononoke companion, Rago, perched on his shoulder. The trailer also teases a mysterious dark figure reflected in the cityscape, hinting at the looming dangers Jiro and Rago will face.

For those new to the series, Black Torch was created by Tsuyoshi Takaki and was initially serialized in Jump SQ. and Shonen Jump+ from 2017 to 2018. Here's the official synopsis to bring you up to speed on what you can expect from the upcoming anime:

"A new era of ninja battles begins," the synopsis states. "Jiro, hailing from a lineage of ninja, has been trained by his grandfather in the ancient warrior art of the shinobi. Jiro possesses an extraordinary ability to communicate with animals. However, his life takes a dramatic turn after a mysterious encounter in the forest with an injured black cat named Rago. But Rago is far from ordinary...

"Rago is the legendary Black Star of Doom, a mononoke with immense powers. As dark spirits swarm in the shadows, eager to exploit Rago’s abilities, the Bureau of Espionage steps in to combat the threat. With various factions vying for control of Rago's powers, Jiro and Rago stand ready to confront the challenges ahead. A thrilling clash between a boy and a mononoke is about to ignite!"

For more, be sure to check out a special drawing by Tsuyoshi Takaki from the panel, celebrating this significant milestone for Black Torch. (Link will be added once available.)

Tsuyoshi Takaki shared his thoughts on the anime adaptation, 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.”

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