The anime adaptation of FromSoftware’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, titled Sekiro: No Defeat, is transitioning from the big screen to television. Following its theatrical run in Japan, the project will be restructured into an eight-episode series set to air this January. The production team confirmed that the episodic version will incorporate new content not seen in the original film.
Fans can expect the return of the game's original Japanese voice cast, including Daisuke Namikawa as the titular Sekiro, Miyuki Satō as Kuro, and Kenjirō Tsuda as Genichiro Ashina. Behind the scenes, the series retains the film's core staff, led by director Kenichi Kutsuna at studio Qzil.la, with character designs by Takahiro Kishida and a score featuring Ryuichi Sakamoto’s "Blu."
Crunchyroll has secured exclusive international streaming rights for the series, covering most regions outside of Japan, China, Korea, Russia, and Belarus. While the film saw a limited theatrical release and a screening at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, this television expansion offers a broader look at the Sengoku-era narrative.
Why it matters: The transition from a standalone film to an episodic format suggests a significant amount of material was either condensed or newly produced for this release. With the game maintaining a strong legacy since its 2019 launch, it remains to be seen how the pacing of the eight-episode structure will compare to the original theatrical cut.
