FromSoftware’s Sekiro Gets Anime Adaption On Crunchyroll

Here’s the latest anime adaption of a video game coming to Netfl—–wait a minute. This one’s a Crunchyroll original. Guess they decided to hop on the bandwagon before the other streamer gobbled up all the good IPs. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was released for PS4, XBox One and PC in 2019. It was slightly different than the ultra-punishing, darkly lit games FromSoftware was known for already….it still had those elements, but it was not a Soulslike, the genre they popularized. It was more of an action game with not as much emphasis on exploring. Also unlike the player avatars that Souls games centered around, Wolf was a specific character with a linear storyline. This fact should make the game easier to adapt into cinematic form than something like Elden Ring (which A24 is currently attempting anyway). The anime adaption will be called Sekiro: No Defeat, contain the same story from the game, and be illustrated with fully hand-drawn art by studio ARCH. And yes, to make that clear, we said fully hand-drawn. There was a rumor flying around the Net after the show’s announcement that AI would be involved, because one of the production companies is Qzil.la, which has some […]
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I played Sekiro when it first came out, and it remains one of my favorite action games ever. Hearing that it is being adapted into an anime makes sense to me, because unlike Dark Souls or Elden Ring, Sekiro has a defined protagonist and a clear story to follow. Wolf is not a blank character, he has motivations and connections that fit naturally into a scripted format. The fact that it will be fully hand-drawn makes me even more confident. Too many new projects rely on shortcuts, but if the studio is committing to the old methods, then the fights and the atmosphere can carry the same sharp feeling the game had.

I am honestly happy that Crunchyroll is doing this instead of Netflix. Netflix has good anime sometimes, but they cancel things too quickly. Crunchyroll feels like the better home because people who subscribe are already fans of Japanese animation. Sekiro has very deep roots in Japanese history and folklore, so the match is logical.

The director’s comment about Japanese sword combat is very meaningful to me. Many anime make sword fights look too light, almost like toys. Sekiro was heavy. Every strike was about timing, patience, and weight. If the anime respects that, it can show action that is not just flashy, but also full of tension. That can separate it from many other game adaptations.

I think calling it No Defeat is powerful. It captures the main spirit of Sekiro, because in the game the player is expected to rise again after failure. Naming the anime this way shows that the creators understand what the story represents.

The casting looks perfect. Daisuke Namikawa as Wolf is a strong choice. He has a voice that can sound calm but also deadly serious when needed. Kenjiro Tsuda is also amazing in villain roles, so having him as Genichiro feels right. A lot of the success will come from how the voices bring the story alive.

I imagine that new viewers who never played the game might enjoy it just as much. The story is not dependent on gameplay knowledge. It is a tale about loyalty, duty, and survival. If the anime keeps the balance of action and emotion, it can stand alone without needing the game as context.

To be honest, I did not finish Sekiro because it was too difficult for me. But I always admired the art and the world design. An anime version will allow me to experience the whole journey without struggling with the gameplay. For people like me, this is a perfect chance to understand the full story.

I like that the studio is using hand-drawn methods. When I hear “fully hand-drawn,” I think of older anime where every frame had a soul. Even if digital tools help in some areas, the effort of hand work shows in the final product. If they can really pull this off, it might set a new standard for game adaptations.

Some people may complain that it is only a retelling of the game story and not a new adventure. I understand that view, but I disagree. The game’s story is strong enough to deserve another form. Not everyone can play, but everyone can watch. If the adaptation stays true but also adds cinematic depth, it will have value on its own.