Black Torch Anime | Crunchyroll July 4 Premiere, Studio 100studio

TOKYO

For anime fans hunting for a slick blend of ancient ninja arts, secret government agencies, and supernatural combat, the wait is officially over. The anime adaptation of Tsuyoshi Takaki’s cult manga Black Torch premieres globally on July 4, 2026 via Crunchyroll, arriving as one of the most anticipated titles on the summer 2026 anime slate.^[1]

A trailer released in May showcasing blistering action sequences and a heavy-hitting soundtrack sent the series trending across Reddit, X, and YouTube within 48 hours. The show is drawing comparisons to Witch Hat Atelier as a second sleeper-to-phenomenon story of the same Crunchyroll season.

Studio 100studio | Hybrid 2D and 3DCG Production

The Black Torch anime is produced by 100studio (One Double-O studio), an animation house with offices across Tokyo, Osaka, Taiwan, and Korea. Director Kei Umabiki leads the project, with series composition by Gigaemon Ichikawa and character designs by Gou Suzuki.^[2]

While 100studio is younger than heritage studios like MAPPA or Bones, CG Director Hirotaka Naito confirmed the production employs more action and CGI than any of the studio’s previous works. The production team is targeting a stylish, ink-heavy aesthetic that replicates Takaki’s original panel style with added fluidity only motion can provide.

The Plot | Ninja, Spirit, One Body

The story follows Jiro Azuma, a teenage ninja-in-training with the rare ability to communicate with animals. His world unravels when he rescues a battered black cat in the woods. The cat is Rago, a legendary immortal mononoke known as the Black Star of Doom. When a rogue spirit attacks and nearly kills Jiro, Rago fuses with the boy to save his life. Now sharing one body, the duo is drafted into the Bureau of Espionage’s covert Black Torch division, tasked with hunting down rogue spirits threatening the country.

Why the Hype | 3 Reasons Black Torch Is July’s Sleeper Hit

1. The Underdog Comeback

The original Black Torch manga ran in Shueisha’s Jump Square and Shonen Jump+ but was cancelled after only 19 chapters. Despite the short run, the series built a passionate international following drawn to its tight pacing, lack of filler, and extraordinary art. The announcement that a full anime was in production was treated by fans as a genuine vindication nearly a decade in the making.^[3]

2. SiM Opens the Show

No single factor has amplified Black Torch’s hype faster than its soundtrack. 100studio recruited SiM, the Japanese metal band whose previous anime work includes Attack on Titan openings, to perform “FREEZE ME UP.” The ending theme, “Groooovy,” comes from rock band I Don’t Like Mondays., giving the series a clean contrast between opening aggression and quieter character moments.^[4]

3. A Complete Arc, No Waiting

Fans burned by long-running series that go on indefinite hiatus are actively seeking anime with a finite, fully adapted story. At 19 manga chapters, Black Torch offers a rare guarantee: the entire story will be covered. The production team has also hinted at using Takaki’s original notes to expand beyond the manga’s ending, giving even longtime fans something new to anticipate. For another major manga moment arriving the same week, see Hunter x Hunter Volume 39’s July 3 release date.

For fans covering the full summer season, Young Ladies Don’t Play Fighting Games shares the same July premiere window on Crunchyroll, rounding out a competitive slate for the platform heading into Q3 2026.