Exciting news for anime fans: VIZ Media has officially announced that the *Black Torch* anime is in production, and IGN is thrilled to exclusively unveil its first trailer. The announcement came during VIZ Media's panel at Emerald City Comic Con, where fans were treated to a glimpse of Jiro Azuma in his stealth uniform, accompanied by his formidable mononoke, Rago. The trailer also teases a mysterious dark figure reflected against the cityscape, hinting at the impending dangers that lie ahead.
For those new to the series, *Black Torch* was created by Tsuyoshi Takaki and originally serialized in Jump SQ. and Shonen Jump+ from 2017 to 2018. Here's the official synopsis to bring you up to speed:
"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!"
For a deeper look into the project, check out this special drawing by Takaki from the panel, celebrating this significant milestone for *Black Torch*. (Link will be added when available.)
"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," Takaki added. "A new BLACK TORCH has been brought to life, now with voices, sounds, movement, and color."
For more anime excitement, explore our list of favorite anime from 2024, the other major anime releases slated for 2025, and our top 25 anime of all time.
