Exciting news for anime enthusiasts: VIZ Media has officially announced that the manga "Black Torch" is being adapted into an anime, and IGN is thrilled to exclusively unveil the first trailer. This announcement came during VIZ Media's panel at Emerald City Comic Con, where fans got a first look at protagonist Jiro Azuma, clad in his stealth uniform, alongside his powerful mononoke companion, Rago. The trailer tantalizingly teases a mysterious, ominous figure reflected against the cityscape, hinting at the looming threats that Jiro and Rago will face.

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. To give you a taste of what to expect, here's the official synopsis of the upcoming anime:

"A new era of ninja battles begins," the official synopsis reads. "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!"

For a visual treat, don't miss this special drawing by Takaki from the panel, celebrating this significant milestone for "Black Torch". (Link to be added when available.)

Tsuyoshi Takaki shared his enthusiasm about the adaptation, stating, “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. 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 other exciting anime projects. In the meantime, check out our list of the best anime from 2024, the most anticipated anime releases for 2025, and our top 25 anime of all time.