VIZ Media has announced the four main cast members for the upcoming BLACK TORCH TV anime series at Anime Expo 2025. A premiere date for the anime was not announced, as of the time of writing.
Two videos from the company were released, with one unveiling the characters and their respective voice actors and the other being an announcement video with the cast themselves.
The four main cast members include:
- • Ryota Suzuki as Jiro Azuma
- • Yoji Ueda as Rago
- • Sayaka Sembongi as Ichika Kishimojin
- • Junya Enoki as Reiji Kirihara
Kei Umabiki (Quality Assurance in Another World) is directing the anime adaptation, with Go Suzuki (Sword Art Online: Alicization co-character designer) as character designer, Kigaemon Ichikawa (Bogus Skill <<Fruitmaster>> ~About that time I became able to eat unlimited numbers of Skill Fruits (that kill you~)) as series screenwriter and scriptwriter, and Yutaka Yamada (Vinland Saga) as music composer. 100studio is in charge of the animation production.
The original sci-fi supernatural action manga by Tsuyoshi Takaki was first launched in Shueisha’s Jump Square magazine from December 31, 2016, to March 2, 2018. It then moved to the Shonen Jump+ website on April 11, 2018, where it continued for four more chapters until July, when it concluded. Five total tankobon volumes were released in Japan.
VIZ licensed the BLACK TORCH anime series for release outside of Japan. It describes the main premise of the manga’s first volume as:
Although he may appear rough-and-tumble, Jiro Azuma’s compassionate side emerges when it comes to the furry critters he can communicate with. But Jiro’s soft spot for animals gets him in major trouble when a suspicious stray cat fuses with him, granting him exceptional power but also dragging him into humanity’s hidden battle against powerful Japanese spirits, mononoke.
Sources: BLACK Torch Official English Twitter (2), press release
