An anime adaptation of FromSoftware's critically acclaimed action-adventure game Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has been announced. Titled Sekiro: No Defeat, the series will premiere in 2026 exclusively on Crunchyroll.
Developed by FromSoftware and released in 2019, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an action-adventure set in late 1500s Sengoku Japan. Described as a "brutal period of constant life and death conflict," the story follows Wolf/Sekiro, the "one-armed wolf, on a mission to rescue his captured young lord.
"In Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice you are the “one-armed wolf”, a disgraced and disfigured warrior rescued from the brink of death. Bound to protect a young lord who is the descendant of an ancient bloodline, you become the target of many vicious enemies, including the dangerous Ashina clan," the game's description reads. "When the young lord is captured, nothing will stop you on a perilous quest to regain your honor, not even death itself."
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice marked a departure from FromSoftware's Dark Souls series and was met with acclaim from critics who praised its setting and gameplay. It would go on to become 2019's Game of the Year, and has since sold over 10 million copies worldwide.
The newly announced Sekiro: No Defeat is an adaptation of the game, directed by Kenichi Kutsuna at studio Qzil.la. The announcement was accompanied by a trailer for the anime, showcasing the studio's gorgeous hand-drawn animation.
"We are taking on the monumental task of animating the breathtakingly beautiful Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice,” said director Kenichi Kutsuna. “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."
The time is Sengoku. Japan is fractured into many independent nations entangled in ceaseless war. At the center lies Ashina, a land of sacred earth and ancient mystery. Two decades after Sword Saint Isshin Ashina reclaimed the region in a brutal coup, a new threat emerges from within: The Interior Ministry. Desperate to protect his homeland, Isshin’s grandson Genichiro turns to forbidden powers. The only hope lies in a kidnapped boy — the Divine Heir — and his silent protector: a loyal shinobi known only as Sekiro. This is the story of a lord and his retainer — and their quest to restore balance to a nation on the edge.
Three main voice actors from the game will reprise their roles for the anime: Daisuke Namikawa as Wolf, Miyuki Satou as Kuro/The Divine Heir, and Kenjiro Tsuda as Genichiro Ashina.
Sekiro: No Defeat is scheduled to premiere in 2026. The series will stream exclusively on Crunchyroll worldwide, except in Japan, China, Korea, Russia, and Belarus.