Danica Davidson
August 19, 2025 
Kadokawa, Crunchyroll, Qzil.la, and ARCH have announced that they’re all working together on a hand-drawn anime adaptation of video game Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The anime, which will stream exclusively for Americans on Crunchyroll in 2026, is titled Sekiro: No Defeat.
A trailer and visual have been shared.
Sekiro: No Defeat Trailer
Here is the visual.
It’s being directed by Kenichi Kutsuna, who was an assistant director for Chi’s Sweet Adventure, and has worked on many other anime titles, including Bleach, Blue Exorcist, and FullMetal Alchemist, doing key animation.
Kutsuna remarked, “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. 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.”
Chief Content Officer at Crunchyroll Asa Suehira remarked, “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.”
Takuya Satou is penning the scripts, Shuta Hasunuma of A New Dawn is composing the music, and Takahiro Kishida of Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! is credited with character design.
Here’s what we know about the voice cast:
- Daisuke Namikawa (Yamato Ishida in Digimon Adventure) plays Wolf
- Miyuki Satou (an animation director for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba) plays Kuro/The Divine Heir
- Kenjirō Tsuda (Hannes in Attack on Titan) plays Genichiro Ashina
Source: Press release
____
Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
