IGN has the exciting scoop that VIZ Media is officially bringing the Black Torch manga to life with an anime adaptation. At the Emerald City Comic Con panel, VIZ Media not only announced this thrilling news but also unveiled the first trailer, giving fans a tantalizing glimpse of what's to come.
In the trailer, we see Jiro Azuma donning his stealth uniform, accompanied by his formidable mononoke companion, Rago, perched on his shoulder. The teaser also hints at looming danger with a shadowy figure reflected in the cityscape, setting the stage for intense confrontations.
For those new to the series, *Black Torch* is the brainchild of Tsuyoshi Takaki, initially serialized 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 synopsis declares. "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!"
“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.”
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