With Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice being a FromSoftware-developed title set in the late Sengoku period and inspired by Japanese folklore, it only makes sense that the game’s upcoming anime adaptation, Sekiro: No Defeat, is being made by a Japanese production company and animation studio.
Sekiro: No Defeat is being produced by ARCH and animated by Qzil.la, two companies with several anime under their belts. ARCH, founded by former Bandai Namco and Production IG producer Nao Hirasawa, has worked on titles like Promare, Tribe Nine, The Journey, and Monster Strike films. ARCH was also involved in 2022’s The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes, and the gacha game Azur Lane.
Qzil.la, headed by Production IG’s Shun Fukudome, is known for Enter The Garden, Kuromi’s Pretty Journey, and the ending theme of Chainsaw Man episode 11. Following the announcement of their involvement in Sekiro: No Defeat, some people have drawn attention to Qzil.la’s self-reported use of AI to improve anime production.
On the other hand Sekiro: No Defeat is reportedly set to feature full, hand-drawn 2D animation that focuses on the lives of the game’s characters as well as the conflicts they face. Kenichi Kutsuna – a key animator who worked on popular anime such as Naruto: Shippuden, Bleach, and One Punch Man – will be directing the anime. According to a Crunchyroll statement, Kutsuna says that the anime “is being crafted to be a truly memorable experience, one that will leave a lasting impression on both dedicated fans of the game and those who are discovering the world of Sekiro for the very first time.”
Other notable staff members include screenwriter Takuya Satou (Steins;Gate, Fate/stay night, Haikyuu!!), chief animation director Kaito Moki (My Dress-Up Darling, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 5: Golden Wind), and art director Yuji Kaneko (Trigun Stampede, Heavenly Delusion).
To maintain the authenticity that fans of the game expect, Daisuke Namikawa, Miyuki Satou, and Kenjiro Tsuda, who served as the Japanese voices of Wolf, Kuro, and Genichiro Ashina, respectively, will be reprising their roles for the anime.
Sekiro: No Defeat is currently in production and will be streaming exclusively on Crunchyroll.
