Satoshi Mizukami’s Sengoku Youko fantasy manga is getting a television anime adaptation that is set to premiere in January 2024. The three-cours anime will adapt the manga’s World Reform Siblings Arc and the Thousand Demons Chaos Arc.
Initially serialized in 2007 by Mag Garden’s Monthly Comic Blade, the series follows the story of Tama, a fox spirit who loves humans, and Jinka, a hermit who despises them. As sworn siblings, they fight the Katawara using the power of the Spirit Transformation. Alongside a cowardly swordsman named Shinsuke, who is on a quest to become strong, they uncover a nefarious plot to transform humans into monsters. Determined to protect humanity, the trio vows to defeat those responsible, embarking on a journey filled with battles.
The main cast was also revealed along with the announcement. Sōma Saitō plays Jinka, Yūki Takada plays Tama, Ryohei Kimura plays Shinsuke, Tomoyo Kurosawa plays Shakugan, Hiroki Nanami plays Senya and Maaya Uchida plays Tsukiko.
The production team includes series director Masahiro Aizawa, screenwriter Jukki Hanada, character designer Yousuke Okuda and music by Evan Call. White Fox will be handling the animation production.
In a statement, author Mizukami expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming adaptation and commented, “I’m thrilled to announce that Sengoku Youko will be adapted into an anime. Incredibly, this will be my third work to be animated. Thank you so much. Though it was concluded quite some time ago in 2016 with a total of 17 volumes, I’m pleased to reveal that the series will be animated from the beginning to the end of the original story.” To commemorate the adaptation announcement, the author also shared a celebratory illustration.
▍Sengoku Youko Anime Main Characters
■ Jinka – CV: Sōma Saitō
– “My dream is to abandon my human body and obtain a true Katawara form.”
The protagonist of Part 1, The World Reform Siblings Arc. A human who practices hermit arts and travels with the fox spirit Tama as sworn siblings. A childhood incident led to his hatred of humans. He possesses a secret art called Spirit Transformation and fights between darkness (Katawara) and humans, seeking a way to become a true Katawara.
■ Tama – CV: Yūki Takada
“We are the mourners of this troubled world! People call us ‘World-Reforming Siblings’.”
She looks like a young girl but is actually a fox spirit who has lived for over 200 years. Unlike Jinka, she loves humans and travels with him as the World-Reforming Siblings to right the wrongs of the world. She has a motherly but also youthful and cute side. Her favorite food is daikon radish.
■ Shinsuke Hyoudou – CV: Ryōhei Kimura
– “What’s wrong with wanting power?”
A martial artist on a journey to become a warrior. Born a peasant, his oppressed past fuels his desire to become strong and significant. Encountering Jinka and Tama, he witnesses their fight against the Katawara and decides to join them to become stronger.
■ Shakugan – CV: Tomoyo Kurosawa
– “Leave me alone, I’m a monster!”
A red-haired girl who was saved by Jinka, Tama, and Shinsuke, and joined them on their journey. Innocent and naive, yet possessing supernatural spiritual power since childhood and harboring a sad past. She is an experimental subject, a Spiritually Enhanced Modified Human, combining humans and Katawara.
■ Senya – CV: Hiroki Nanami
– “I’ll kill you if you make a strange move.”
The protagonist of Part 2, Thousand Demons Chaos Arc. A mysterious boy who rarely shows emotion. Known as Dragon, he is the leader of the four beast generals of the monster-slaying group and is feared for having a cloud deity as his father. He is believed to possess hidden power even greater than his father’s.
■ Tsukiko – CV: Maaya Uchida
– “I’m weak, so… I’ll become strong…”
Appearing from Part 2, Thousand Demons Chaos Arc. A girl who is the strongest swordfighter in her village. She becomes friends with Senya after helping him. A battle against an attacking mad god prompts her to change her weak self. She insists on becoming Shinsuke’s disciple and follows him forcefully.
▍Sengoku Youko Anime Staff & Production
Original Work: Sengoku Youko by Satoshi Mizukami (Serialized in Mag Garden’s Monthly Comic Blade)
Director: Masahiro Aizawa
Series Composition/Screenplay: Jukki Hanada
Character Design: Yousuke Okuda
Music: EVAN CALL
Animation Production: WHITE FOX