SEKIRO Anime Announced: Hand-Drawn with Game Cast

Teaser visual drawn by Takahiro Kishida

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(C) KADOKAWA/Sekiro: No Defeat PARTNERS

It has been announced that FromSoftware’s popular game “SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE” will be made into an anime titled “SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT.” A teaser visual and preview cuts have also been released.

“SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE” is an action-adventure game (released in 2019) depicting the battles of ninjas during the final days of the Warring States period. The cast of the anime version continues from the original game, with Daisuke Namikawa playing the main character, the ninja Wolf, Miyuki Sato playing the Wolf’s master Kuro, and Kenjiro Tsuda playing Genichiro Ashina.

The film is a fully hand-drawn 2D animation directed by Kenichi Kutsuna, with a script by Takuya Sato and character design by Takahiro Kishida. ARCH is producing, and Qzil.la is handling animation production.

Full comments from Director Kenichi Kutsuna, Qzil.la, and ARCH are below:

[Kenichi Kutsuna (Director)] In adapting the stunningly beautiful “SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE” into an anime, I have gathered all the beauty I could muster to create this work. Whether you’re a fan of the game or someone experiencing the world of “SEKIRO” for the first time through the anime, this is a work that is sure to leave you with something special. Please look forward to it.

[Qzil.la (Animation Production)] Expressing the charm of the original work, which combines beauty and intensity, in animation was a challenge that required great determination. Together with the wonderful creators who have agreed to take on this challenge, we are constantly experimenting in the pursuit of the visual beauty that only animation can deliver. We will work wholeheartedly to create a work that will leave a lasting impression on fans of the original work, as well as those experiencing the work for the first time through anime.

Shun Fukudome, CEO, Qzil.la Inc.

[ARCH (Produced)] As producer, when planning this work, I discussed with the staff how to best adapt the “story of a lonely master and servant” into an anime. A master and servant duo, yet both lonely. I believe we have been given a theme that is deeply relevant to us living in the modern world. Furthermore, Director Kutsuna took this opportunity to launch the creative collective Studio Beta, with ARCH participating in the management. We are pleased to be able to bring this work to you thanks to many people, including FromSoftware, the creator of the original work, KADOKAWA, which oversees domestic distribution, and Crunchyroll, which oversees international distribution.

Satoshi Suzuki, CEO, ARCH Inc.