Kagurabachi will be getting an anime adaptation by Cygames Pictures, as reported by Japanese Toyo Keizai. Cygames Pictures is a subsidiary studio of CyberAgent, which will be leading the project together with Shochiku.
The article also notes the potential of the CyberAgent and Shochiku partnership to emerge as a “third force” in the anime industry, which is currently dominated by giants like Sony (which is showing interest in acquiring Kadokawa) and Toho.
Toyo Keizai is one of Japan’s oldest and most respected business publications, known for their reports on major industries from finance and technology to culture and entertainment. However, the announcement has not been confirmed on the official Kagurabachi-related accounts.
Why CyberAgent and Shochiku Were Chosen to Lead the Kagurabachi Anime Project
Kagurabachi anime’s production rights were contested by many major companies, which was expected due to the manga’s overwhelming popularity. However, Toyo Keizai writes that CyberAgent and Shochiku were chosen despite being a relatively less dominant pair in the anime world due to the following reasons:
- Creative Vision: Their pitch and visuals impressed Shueisha’s editorial team and the manga’s author.
- Risk Management: The anime industry prefers spreading projects across different studios to avoid overloading the most popular ones like MAPPA or WIT Studio.
- Global Strategy: CyberAgent’s growing international IP plans likely aligned with Shueisha’s goals for overseas expansion.
Their main strengths include the fact that CyberAgent operates the Japanese streaming service ABEMA (they majority-own it with a 55.2% stake), and they have successfully tied anime campaigns with major advertisers. On the other hand, Shochiku has expertise in theatrical distribution and owns over 20 cinemas across Japan.
Kagurabachi by Takeru Hokazono has been serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since September 2023, with four volumes released as of October 2024. The manga won the Next Manga Award 2024 in the Print Category. VIZ Media licensed it in English, describing the story:
As a young boy, Chihiro trains every day under his father to become a swordsmith. Although different in temperament, the two spend peaceful days laughing and working together. But one day, tragedy strikes… Now Chihiro burns with hatred and sets out to exact revenge. Following clues left behind by a ruthless yakuza organization, Chihiro confronts the Hishaku, a deadly group of sorcerers that may be behind his father’s murder!
You can see the Kagurabachi Volume 4 trailer below.
Cygames Pictures was recently confirmed as the studio for the The Summer Hikaru Died anime adaptation, which will premiere in Summer 2025.
Source: Toyo Keizai
©Takeru Hokazono/SHUEISHA
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