Kagurabachi, a manga series by Takeru Hokazono, has rapidly risen to prominence since its serialization began in Weekly Shonen Jump in September 2023.
Despite having fewer than 40 chapters released, the series has garnered significant attention, initially through memes and social media, and has now established itself as one of the best new manga in Shonen Jump.
The story of Kagurabachi revolves around Chihiro Rokuhira, a young swordsmith on a quest for revenge for his father’s death, armed with magical katanas. Its early comparisons to established franchises like One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen helped boost its popularity.
However, the series’ appeal has proven to go beyond initial hype, retaining a dedicated fan base and climbing to the 6th spot on the Oricon charts for weekly manga sales. Kagurabachi also won the best new series contest by Manga Plus and received a recommendation from Naruto’s creator, further solidifying its growing reputation.
The possibility of an anime adaptation for Kagurabachi has recently gained traction. According to a social media user on X (formerly Twitter) known as AniTsumi, Shueisha, the publisher of Kagurabachi, filed trademark documents for the series in early 2024.
These documents indicate an “Intent to Use” in areas like “Animation Production” and “Pre-recorded media and video files containing animation content.” This move mirrors what Shueisha has done with other popular manga series before their anime adaptations were officially announced, such as Oshi no Ko and Kaiju No.8.
Typically, an anime adaptation is announced once a series has over 100 manga chapters to ensure enough material for at least a 12-episode season.
However, with the competitive nature of the anime industry, exceptionally popular series like Kagurabachi might see this timeline shortened. Other successful manga like SAKAMOTO DAYS and Dandadan had similar trademark filings roughly a year after serialization began, with their anime adaptations slated for release in 2025 and 2024, respectively.
While the trademark registration for Kagurabachi is a promising sign, it does not guarantee an immediate anime adaptation. The process from trademark filing to anime production can take several months to a few years.
Nonetheless, this proactive step by Shueisha suggests they are preparing for an anime adaptation, allowing them to protect the brand across various media formats
For Kagurabachi fans, this news is encouraging. If the manga maintains its popularity, an anime adaptation featuring Chihiro Rokuhira and his magical katanas might arrive sooner than expected.
Until an official announcement is made, fans are advised to temper their expectations and continue supporting the manga.
The speculation about which animation studio might handle the adaptation adds to the excitement, with fans wondering if it will be MAPPA, known for Jujutsu Kaisen, or A-1 Pictures, praised for Oshi no Ko. Regardless, the future looks promising for Kagurabachi.
