The recent Dengeki Bunko 30th anniversary has revealed a new visual and the second teaser trailer, and additional cast members for the television anime adaptation of Keiso’s fantasy-action light novel Ishura. The teaser also unveiled its debut in January 2024 on the Disney+ streaming service worldwide.
First announced in February, the second teaser revealed many of the demigods known as Shura competing for the title of ‘True Hero’ in the show. It also ended with an intense battle scene between the series protagonist Soujiro and the skeleton warrior Shalk the Sound Slicer.
The original Ishura novel began serialization on the Kakuyomu and Shōsetsuka ni Narō self-publication websites. It would later be acquired by ASCII Media Works, which began publishing the series on September 17, 2019, under its Dengeki no Shin Bungei imprint. A manga adaptation of Ishura with illustration by Meguri began serializing in Kōdansha’s Gekkan Shōnen Magazine on March 5, 2021.
The series takes place in a world where the spurred Demon King is long dead, many powerful demigods have taken it upon themselves to inherit the world as its leader. A young girl, Yuno, is in the midst of despair when she is suddenly attacked by a golem and loses her best friend before her eyes. Just then Soujiro, a master swordsman who claims to be the “last practitioner of the Yagyu-style on earth,” appears.
Seeing Soujiro make quick work of the fearsome golem, Yuno’s hatred for the powerful swordsman grows, even though he saved her life. Supported by her hate against those who wield these otherworldly powers, the girl sets off with the swordsman as he sets foot on a quest to beat these demigods, in a contest that would proclaim the last man standing as the one true hero among all.
▍Ishura Anime Additional Cast
■ Shalk, the Sound Slicer – CV: Kōichi Yamadera
A skeleton mercenary brought to the New Principality of Lithia by Taren the Punished. He is extremely mobile, to the point of reaching the speed of sound, and can deliver spear blows with inhumane precision and power.
■Kia the World Word – CV: Aoi Yūki
A young elven wizard who wields the immeasurable power to bend the world to her will by merely speaking them out loud as words. Her nigh-omnipotent powers have made her extremely confident in herself, which is reflected in her loud-mouthed and cocky attitude.
■Elea the Red Tag – CV: Mamiko Noto
Despite being the Seventeenth Minister and Chief Intelligence Officer of Aureatia, Elea is of low birth and holds little influence among the Twenty-Nine Officials that govern the kingdom. However, she harbors an ambition to attain greater power through the powers of her protege, Kia.
■Nihilo, the Vortical Stampede – CV: Rie Takahashi
A magical weapon of mass destruction known as a revenant, Nihilo was originally created by the Self-Proclaimed Demon King in his prime. Previously held captive for her crimes against Aureatia, she is released to fight against the New Principality of Lithia in exchange for her freedom.
■Regnejee, the Sunset Wings – CV: Showtaro Morikubo
The commanding general of the Lithian army, Regnejee is a fiery-tempered wyvern with a strong sense of discipline who wields the power to breathe fire but is more known for his unusual intelligence. His commands in battle are direct and firm, and he frequently berates his subordinates for their mistakes and has zero tolerance for those who would defy orders.
■Curte, the Clear Sky – CV: Sora Amamiya
A girl who lost her home and her sense of sight to the Self-Proclaimed Demon King. After being adopted under Taren, she spends her days protected within a tower located in the Principality of Lithia. She has known Regnejee for her whole life and keeps a diary of her memories with him.
■Ars, the Starrider – CV: Jun Fukuyama
A blue wyvern who uniquely possesses three arms, Ars holds an insatiable greed that could only be described as an unusual craving for all things treasure. Keen to prove himself as something more than a mere wyvern, he joins the fight dextrously wielding magical weapons and items.
■Harghent, the Silencer – CV: Akio Ōtsuka
Harghent the Silencer is the Sixth General of the Twenty-Nine Officials of Aureatia. He has a strong sense of honor but is often mocked by his cohorts as a “Wing Clipper” due to his tendency to take on mundane and low-risk wyvern extermination missions. Despite this, he is a military veteran with a wealth of experience mainly in air-to-air combat. Harghent harbors a rivalry with Ars, the Starrider whom he views as his sworn rival.
■Taren, the Punished – CV: Romi Park
An ex-general of Aureatia Taren the Punished quickly seceded from the kingdom, found the New Principality of Lithia, and declared war against her former country. She is gathering powerful pawns and mercenaries in preparation for an all-out war.
■Dakai, the Magpie – CV: Sōichiro Hoshi
Taren’s right-hand man and bandit, Dakai is an aloof person with a friendly guise on the surface. He possesses the “Razhucourt’s Magic Sword of Punishment,” which always strikes first against any target. He combines monstrous physical abilities with extraordinary reaction speed. Bored by an endless series of easy targets, Dakai yearns for adversaries and stronger opponents.
▍Ishura Anime Production & Staff
Original Story: Ishura by Keiso (Published by ASCII Media Works)
Original Character Design: Kureta
Chief Director: Takeo Takahashi
Director: Yuki Ogawa
Assistant Director: Takuya Asaoka, Fujiaki Asari, Takahiro Majima, Hironori Aoyagi
Screenplay/Composition: Kenta Ihara
Character Design: Yoko Kikuchi, Yuka Takashina
Monster: Hiroya Iijima, Seiji Handa
Mecha Design: Kanta Suzuki
World Design: Tatsuya Fukushima
Art Setting: Nobuhito Sue, Shūhei Tada
Background Art: Kusanagi
Art Director: Kazuo Ogura, Yuuki Hatakeyama
Color Key: Ritsuko Utagawa
Photography Director: Mari Inoue
Compositing/Photography: SANZIGEN
Editing: Ayako Tan, Nami Niinuma
Sound Director: Takatoshi Hamano
Sound Effects: Katsuhiro Nakajima
Sound Production: Magic Capsule
Music: Masahiro Tokuda
Music Production: Kadokawa
Animation Production: Passione
Production: Ishura Production Committee
▍Ishura Anime Cast
■ Soujiro, the Willow Sword – CV: Yuki Kaji
■ Yuno, the Distant Talon – CV: Reina Ueda
■ Ars, the Starrider – CV: Jun Fukuyama
■ Harghent, the Silencer – CV: Akio Ōtsuka
■ Taren, the Punished – CV: Romi Park
■ Dakai, the Magpie – CV: Sōichiro Hoshi
■ Regnejee, the Sunset Wings – CV: Showtaro Morikubo
■ Curte, the Clear Sky – CV: Sora Amamiya
■ Kia the World Word – CV: Aoi Yūki
■ Elea the Red Tag – CV: Mamiko Noto
■ Nihilo, the Vortical Stampede – CV: Rie Takahashi
■ Shalk, the Sound Slicer – CV: Kōichi Yamadera