Among Loot Crate partnerships, previews of upcoming series, and more, Crunchyroll made the major announcement that it’s partnering with Adult Swim Production to produce a Shenmue anime. Based on the cult-classic video game series of vengeance, martial arts – and teens, the series will stream exclusively on Crunchyroll and air domestically in the United States on Adult Swim’s Toonami.
Shenmue III broke an 18-year drought for the series when it hit shelves last November, and the series has only gained traction in the time since then. The upcoming anime will take place over 13 episodes, telling the story of Ryo Hazuki as he searches for his father’s killer, leading him from Yokosuka, Japan, to Hong Kong and beyond. To helm the project, Crunchyroll and Adult Swim have tapped One Punch Man season two and Naruto director Sakurai Chikara, with storied anime studio Telecom Animation Film (Lupin the 3rd, Batman: The Animated Series) handling animation production and Shenmue creator Yu Suzuki acting as EP. No release date is mentioned yet.
For more, see the full press release below.
September 5, 2020 – At Virtual Crunchyroll Expo, the first-ever digital edition of Crunchyroll’s yearly flagship anime convention, Crunchyroll announced that it will partner again with Adult Swim on the production of Shenmue, an original anime series based on the beloved SEGA game franchise. This latest Crunchyroll and Adult Swim Production will stream worldwide outside of Japan and mainland China on Crunchyroll and air on Adult Swim’s Toonami in the domestic United States.
“The first Shenmue video game was released more than twenty years ago and we’re so excited to be working again with Adult Swim to bring this franchise to life through anime,” said Sarah Victor, head of development, Crunchyroll. “We’re eager to show our fans more of this action-packed adventure series as we move through production.”
Shenmue is an anime series with 13 episodes, following the journey of Ryo Hazuki. After he witnesses his father’s murder at the family dojo, Ryo dedicates his life to finding the man responsible – a mission that takes him from the streets of Yokosuka, Japan to the sprawling metropolis of Hong Kong, and beyond. Soon he’ll learn that larger, mystical forces are at play as he trains to become the ultimate martial artist in his quest for revenge.
“The world of Shenmue is fascinating and unique, and we are so excited to partner with Yu Suzuki to bring his epic creation to anime- and make a kick-ass martial arts epic!” said Jason DeMarco, svp/creative director on-air for Adult Swim.
Shenmue, a Crunchyroll and Adult Swim Production, is being directed by Sakurai Chikara (season two of One Punch Man, Naruto) with animation production by Telecom Animation Film, and production management provided by Sola Entertainment. Video game creator Yu Suzuki is also onboard as an Executive Producer. Additional Crunchyroll and Adult Swim Productions include the recently-announced Fena: Pirate Princess and BLADE RUNNER – BLACK LOTUS.
Fans eager to re-watch the announcement can register for a free Virtual Crunchyroll Expo badge now at crunchyrollexpo.com and stream the Crunchyroll Industry Panel in the V-CRX On-Demand section.
Looking ahead, Crunchyroll also previewed How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord: Omega, the next season of the hit-series, Dr. Stone and previously announced shows, Jujutsu Kaisen and Noblesse.
How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord: Omega – Season two of the popular anime series follows the adventures of a young MMORPG player who is transported to another world and becomes a (pretend) demon lord. The series is coming to Crunchyroll 2021.
Dr. STONE – Crunchyroll announced that season two of the scientific adventure series is coming to Crunchyroll in January 2021. “Dr. STONE” follows the journey of Senku as he works to rebuild humanity through science.
Crunchyroll also announced that it’s teaming up with Loot Crate for two different bundles: the Crunchyroll Crate and the Limited Edition Mobile Suit Gundam Life Crate. The former will collect merch from all of the platform’s most popular titles including Noblesse, Mob Psycho 100, Welcom to Demon School Iruma-Kun, That Time I got Reincarnated As a Slime, and more. The latter, meanwhile, is a series of 8 crates shipped quarterly with otherwise ambiguous details for the time being – although fans should sign up at this link for more info as it comes.
Check out the Shenmue key art below – and keep an eye out for more Crunchyroll.
