Exciting news for anime fans: VIZ Media has officially announced that the popular manga series, Black Torch, is being adapted into an anime. IGN is thrilled to exclusively reveal the first trailer for this much-anticipated series, showcased during VIZ Media's panel at Emerald City Comic Con. The trailer introduces us to Jiro Azuma, clad in his stealth uniform, accompanied by his formidable mononoke companion, Rago. A glimpse of a shadowy figure in the cityscape teases the looming threats that await.
For those new to the series, Black Torch was crafted by Tsuyoshi Takaki and initially ran in Jump SQ. and Shonen Jump+ from 2017 to 2018. Here's the official synopsis to get you up to speed:
"A new era of ninja battles begins," the official synopsis states. "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!"
Adding to the excitement, Tsuyoshi Takaki shared his thoughts on the adaptation during the panel. "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 stated. "A new BLACK TORCH has been brought to life, now with voices, sounds, movement, and color."
Stay tuned for more updates on Black Torch, and in the meantime, check out our favorite anime from 2024, the other biggest anime headed our way in 2025, and our top 25 anime of all time.