The official website for the television anime adaptation of Moto’o Nakanishi’s novel series, “Sword of the Demon Hunter: Kijin Gentosho,” released the first full promotional video on Wednesday.
The newly unveiled video confirms the anime’s premiere date of March 31 and introduces the ending theme song, “Sen-ya Ichi-ya feat. Izumi Nakasone (HY)” (One Thousand and One Nights) by Hilcrhyme.
The anime is set to debut with a one-hour special episode on the Tokyo MX channel on March 31 at 9:30 p.m. JST. It will then air on BS Fuji on April 1 at 24:00 JST (effectively, April 2 at midnight JST) and on MBS on April 1 at 26:30 JST (effectively, April 2 at 1:30 a.m. JST).
Beginning with its second episode, the series will settle into its regular broadcast schedule, airing on Tokyo MX at midnight JST on April 7 (effectively, April 8) and on MBS and BS Fuji on April 8. The anime will run for two consecutive cours (quarters of a year).
Originally scheduled for a July 2024 premiere with a one-hour special in June of that year, the anime faced delays due to production issues. The main cast includes Taku Yashiro as Jinta, Reina Ueda as Suzune, and Saori Hayami as Shirayuki.
Kazuya Aiura (known for “Assassins Pride” and “Hori-san to Miyamura-kun” OAV) is directing the series at Yokohama Animation Lab. Deko Akao (“Assassins Pride,” “Arakawa Under the Bridge,” “Noragami”) is handling the series composition.
Sword of the Demon Hunter
Character design is by Taro Ikegami (“Lapis Re:LiGHTs”), while the music is composed by Ryuuichi Takada, Keiichi Hirokawa, and Kuniyuki Takahashi from MONACA.
Seven Seas Entertainment is publishing both the original novel series and its manga adaptation in English. The publisher describes the story as follows:
Set in the Edo period, the tale follows young Jinta and his sister as they escape their home and find sanctuary in a remote mountain village. Years later, Jinta has honed his skills as a swordsman and dedicates himself to protecting the village shrine’s priestess. His duty leads him to face a menacing demon threatening the shrine.
However, during their battle in the forest, the demon reveals an astonishing truth—Jinta must encounter this same demon again 170 years in the future. Thus begins an epic fantasy adventure that spans across different eras, as Jinta embarks on a relentless pursuit of the demon through time, forcing him to confront his own shadowed fate.
Nakanishi first released the novel series’ debut volume, “Suihō no Hibi” (Days of Nothing), in June 2019, featuring artwork by Tamaki. The series concluded with its 14th and final volume in November 2023.
The manga adaptation by Yu Satomi, serialized in Monthly Action magazine, debuted its first compiled volume in September 2021. The upcoming eighth volume is scheduled for release on March 19.
