"VIZ Media Announces Black Torch Anime Production"

Exciting news for fans of supernatural ninja tales: VIZ Media has officially announced that a Black Torch anime is in the works, 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 fans got a glimpse of the protagonist, Jiro Azuma, clad in his stealth uniform and accompanied by his formidable mononoke companion, Rago. The trailer tantalizingly hints at the looming threat through a shadowy figure reflected in the cityscape, setting the stage for the high-stakes drama to come.

For those new to the series, Black Torch is a manga masterpiece crafted by Tsuyoshi Yakaki, which was serialized in Jump SQ. and Shonen Jump+ from 2017 to 2018. To get you up to speed, here's the official synopsis of the 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!"

To celebrate this monumental step for Black Torch, Tsuyoshi Yakaki shared a special drawing from the panel. (Link to be added when available.)

Yakaki expressed his enthusiasm for the project, saying, "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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