Sekiro: No Defeat Anime Scheduled for Streaming on Crunchyroll in 2027

Crunchyroll revealed today that Sekiro: No Defeat, the entirely hand-drawn anime adaptation made by Kadokawa, Qzil.la and Arch, is set to start streaming weekly episodes in January 2027. The series will be available exclusively on Crunchyroll globally, excluding Japan, China, Korea, Russia, and Belarus.

Sekiro: No Defeat will debut on Crunchyroll as an eight-episode series with added content beyond the theatrical version currently shown in Japan.

The new anime brings to life the captivating story of the acclaimed game Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice: a narrative of loyalty, bloodshed, and sacrifice set in a fantastical reinterpretation of Sengoku-era Japan. The enriched episodic format will provide viewers with an even deeper exploration of Wolf and Kuro’s saga. Developed by FromSoftware (Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Dark Souls) and published by Activision, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has achieved over 10 million sales worldwide.

Initially planned for a limited three-week theatrical presentation, Sekiro: No Defeat will continue to be shown in Japan owing to popular demand. Prior to its release at Japanese theaters, the feature film version was showcased as part of Annecy’s “Midnight Specials” segment and made its North American debut at the Fantasia International Film Festival.

The anime is helmed by Kenichi Kutsuna (animation director, Hori and Miyamura) written by Takuya Satou (Fate/stay night) featuring character design by Takahiro Kishida (Haikyuu!!). Key staff members also include 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.

The voice cast stars Daisuke Namikawa (Jack the Ripper in Black Clover) as Wolf, Miyuki Satou (Reika in Terminator Zero) as Kuro / The Divine Heir, and Kenjiro Tsuda (Ogata in Golden Kamuy) as Genichiro Ashina.

Synopsis: The setting is Sengoku. Japan is divided into numerous independent territories caught in unending conflict. At the heart of this lies Ashina, a land imbued with sacred soil and age-old enigma. Two decades after Sword Saint Isshin Ashina seized the area through a violent coup, a fresh threat arises from within: The Interior Ministry.

In a bid to safeguard his homeland, Isshin’s grandson Genichiro resorts to forbidden powers. The sole chance of salvation rests in a kidnapped child — the Divine Heir — alongside his mute guardian: a devoted shinobi known solely as Sekiro. This is the narrative of a lord and his retainer — battling to restore harmony to a nation on the brink.