BLACK TORCH (2026 Anime): Release Date, Story, Cast, Trailer Breakdown & Why It Might Be the Next Big Supernatural Hit

Prepare for claws, chaos, and shinobi carnage — BLACK TORCH is officially coming to TV screens in July 2026, and the anime world is already buzzing. The beloved supernatural ninja manga by Tsuyoshi Takaki is finally getting the full animated treatment, and its new trailer proves one thing:

🔥 This adaptation is about to unleash a mononoke storm like no other.

With a fierce ninja protagonist, an ancient cat spirit, and a secret war bubbling beneath modern Japan, BLACK TORCH might just become 2026’s breakout supernatural hit.

BLACK TORCH anime premieres July 2026 with a brand-new trailer, cast lineup, and key visual. Here's everything you need to know about the plot, characters, production team, and why fans believe BLACK TORCH may become the next major action-fantasy phenomenon.

🗡️ What Is BLACK TORCH About? A Ninja, A Cat, and a Deadly Fate

Jiro Azuma is many things:

✔ A teenage punk

✔ A descendant of legendary ninjas

✔ A boy who can talk to animals

✔ A natural magnet for chaos

But everything changes when he rescues a wounded black cat in the forest — a cat who speaks with an ancient authority and introduces himself as:

RAGO — The Black Star of Doom

Not exactly your average stray.

Rago is a legendary mononoke, a supernatural creature feared by both spirits and humans. He’s being hunted for his impossible power, and when danger catches up to him, Jiro is caught in the crossfire.

The result?

💥 A forced fusion between human and mononoke

💥 A resurrection from death itself

💥 A new hybrid power that could save or end humanity

And so begins the clash: Shinobi vs. Mononoke. Hidden Bureau vs. ancient spirits. Boy vs. destiny.

🎬 BLACK TORCH Anime Release Date: July 2026

The official announcement confirms:

📅 Premiere: July 2026

📍 Region: Japan (worldwide streaming details forthcoming)

The hype only intensified as the first main trailer dropped, revealing intense swordplay, mononoke transformations, and kinetic animation that fans compared to Jujutsu Kaisen and Blue Exorcist.

🐾 New Trailer Breakdown — Why Fans Are Losing Their Minds

The trailer features:

• Jiro’s first encounter with the injured Rago

• Fluid ninja combat choreographed with razor-sharp timing

• Mononoke looming in eerie shadows

• Rago's monstrous true form teased through glowing eyes and black aura

• Ichika and Reiji entering the fray with lethal precision

• A powerful final shot of Jiro + Rago unleashing their fused form

The tone balances supernatural horror, high-speed action, and emotional depth — exactly what made the manga stand out.

🎤 Voice Cast: Who’s Bringing BLACK TORCH to Life?

The 2026 anime features a stacked cast:

Main Characters

🗡️ Jiro Azuma — Ryota Suzuki

🐈 Rago — Yoji Ueda

⚔️ Ichika Kishimojin — Sayaka Senbonoki

🎯 Reiji Kirihara — Junya Enoki

Fans are already celebrating Suzuki’s casting — his sharp, youthful tone fits Jiro’s punkish yet emotional personality perfectly.

🛡️ Production Staff: A Powerhouse Team Behind the Scenes

Studio 100studio is producing the adaptation, with:

• Director: Kei Umabiki

• Series Composition: Gigaemon Ichikawa

• Character Designer: Go Suzuki (Sword Art Online: Alicization)

• Music: Yutaka Yamada (Vinland Saga)

Yamada’s involvement has the fandom ecstatic — his emotional, sweeping compositions practically guarantee BLACK TORCH will sound epic.

🥷 Deep Dive: Why BLACK TORCH Is Built for Anime Popularity

BLACK TORCH combines everything audiences love in modern shōnen storytelling:

✔ A troubled but talented protagonist

Jiro is brash, loyal, funny, and flawed — the perfect modern hero.

✔ A mysterious supernatural partner

Rago is sarcastic, ancient, dangerous, and endlessly entertaining.

✔ A hidden war backdrop

The Bureau of Espionage’s secret operations open the door to multi-arc storytelling.

✔ A unique twist:

The fusion of boy + mononoke creates emotional tension and world-ending stakes.

✔ Stylish combat

Ninja techniques mixed with demonic powers? That’s anime gold.

Fans of Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and Blue Exorcist are already calling BLACK TORCH "the next big thing."

🔥 Jump Festa 2026: Live Talk Event Confirmed

A Jump Festa stage has been announced:

📅 December 21, 2026🕒 3:10 PM – 3:50 PM JST

Featuring all four main cast members — expect:

• Behind-the-scenes insights

• New footage

• Possibly a second trailer

• Fan Q&A moments

This event will be a major promotional push leading into 2026.

📚 The Manga: Short, Sharp, and Perfect for Adaptation

The original manga ran for 5 volumes.

Fans often describe it as “small but mighty,” packed with:

• tight pacing

• polished art

• cinematic fight sequences

• emotional character dynamics

The anime adaptation has the freedom to expand the world while staying loyal to the source.

⚔️ Plot Summary (Anime Version)

Jiro Azuma, a teen ninja with the rare ability to understand animals, rescues a gravely injured black cat. But Rago isn't a normal stray — he’s an immortal mononoke hunted by his own kind.

When a monstrous spirit kills Jiro, Rago fuses with him to save his life, forging a dangerous partnership. Now, the pair must work with the Bureau of Espionage to hunt down rogue mononoke… while controlling the overwhelming power inside them.

🧨 Why BLACK TORCH Could Dominate Summer 2026

Here’s the buzz:

• Short manga = high-quality adaptation

• Top-tier soundtrack by Yutaka Yamada

• Stylish supernatural action

• Market demand for dark-fantasy shōnen is sky-high

• Character designs are already viral on social media

It checks every box for global popularity.

🎯 Conclusion — The Shinobi vs. Mononoke War Begins July 2026

BLACK TORCH looks ready to ignite summer 2026 with high-octane action, stunning supernatural visuals, and a character duo fans will fall in love with.

Whether you’re into:

• stylish ninja combat

• human–spirit fusion battles

• supernatural conspiracies

• gripping emotional arcs

…this anime belongs on your must-watch list.

Jiro and Rago are coming. And the mononoke won’t know what hit them.