During Opening Night Live at Gamescom 2025, Kadokawa, Crunchyroll, Qzil.la and ARCH officially unveiled Sekiro: No Defeat, a new hand-drawn anime that brings the award-winning video game epic Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice to life in a new way. The adaptation will be streamed exclusively on Crunchyroll worldwide excluding Japan, China, Korea, Russia and Belarus.
Sekiro: No Defeat is described as an adaptation of the game’s unforgettable story of loyalty and blood, set in a fantastical reimagining of Sengoku-era Japan. Developed by FromSoftware (Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Dark Souls) and published by Activision, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has sold over 10 million copies globally.
“We are taking on the monumental task of animating the breathtakingly beautiful Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. In doing so, we are pouring every ounce of our artistic vision and passion for beauty into its production,” said Kenichi Kutsuna, director of the adaptation. “The final product 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. Please look forward to it.”
Asa Suehira, Chief Content Officer at Crunchyroll, commented, “Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a game known for its precision and intensity, and those qualities carry through beautifully in this adaptation. We’re excited to bring Sekiro: No Defeat to fans around the world, and honored to work alongside Kadokawa, Qzil.la and ARCH to expand this iconic story through the medium of anime.”
Synopsis: Japan is fractured into many independent nations entangled in ceaseless war. At the center lies Ashina, a land of sacred earth and ancient mystery. Two decades after Sword Saint Isshin Ashina reclaimed the region in a brutal coup, a new threat emerges from within: The Interior Ministry. Desperate to protect his homeland, Isshin’s grandson Genichiro turns to forbidden powers. The only hope lies in a kidnapped boy — the Divine Heir — and his silent protector: a loyal shinobi known only as Sekiro.
This is the story of a lord and his retainer — and their quest to restore balance to a nation on the edge.
The anime’s voice cast will be led by Daisuke Namikawa as Wolf, Miyuki Satou as Kuro / The Divine Heri and Kenjiro Tsuda as Genichiro Ashina.
Kutsuna is the project’s director, teaming up with screenwriter Takuya Satou, character designer Takahiro Kishida, deputy director Shunsuke Fukui, chief animation director Kaito Moki, action animation director Takashi Mukoda, art director Yuji Kaneko, color designer Azusa Sasaki, cinematographer Keisuke Nozawa, editor Yoshinori Murakami, sound director Yasushi Nagura and composer Shuta Hasunuma.
