The ninja and yokai manga published by Shueisha in Jump Square from 2016 to 2018 finally has a release date. Black Torch has released its second trailer, confirming its premiere on July 4, 2026, featuring the opening and ending themes for the season, along with a new promotional image. Before its regular debut, there will also be a world premiere at the Anime Expo event in Los Angeles.

The opening is titled “Freeze Me Up” and is performed by SiM, the Japanese reggae-punk-metal band with a strong fanbase in the anime community. The ending “Groooovy” is interpreted by I Don’t Like Mondays. Both songs can be heard in the trailer alongside scenes introducing the main characters and the supernatural action tone of the series.

Voice Cast

• Ryota Suzuki as Jiro Azuma. (Yu Ishigami in Kaguya-sama: Love Is War and Ryusui Nanami in Dr. Stone).
• Sayaka Senbongi as Ichika Kishimojin. (Mumei in Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress and Trish Una in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind).
• Junya Enoki as Reiji Kirihara. (Megumi Fushiguro in Jujutsu Kaisen and Nagi Taira in Tank Chair).
• Junichi Suwabe as Ryosuke Shiba. (Archer in Fate/stay night and Daiki Aomine in Kuroko no Basket).
• Nobuhiko Okamoto as Koga. (Katsuki Bakugo in Boku no Hero Academia and Accelerator in Toaru Majutsu no Index).
• Toshiyuki Morikawa as Amagi. (Naraku in Inuyasha and Griffith in Berserk).
• Reina Ueda as Hana Usami. (Miraim Kasumi in Assault Lily: Bouquet and Aya Mariner in Amanchu!).

Production Team

Direction is handled by Kei Umabiki at 100Studio, with Gigaemon Ichikawa supervising the series and writing the scripts. Character design is by Go Suzuki, and the music is composed by Yutaka Yamada, known for high-impact action series. Sound direction is by Takeshi Takadera.

About Black Torch

Black Torch is a manga by Tsuyoshi Takaki, also known for Heart Gear, published in Shueisha’s Jump Square magazine from December 2016 to August 2018, concluding in five volumes. The story follows Jiro Azuma, a descendant of a long line of shinobi who can communicate with animals. His life takes a turn when a mysterious stray cat merges with him, granting him great power but also pulling him into a secret conflict between humans and dangerous spirits. The series blends ninja action with Japanese yokai folklore in a story that, though concluded in the manga years ago, arrives in anime with a cast and production team backing the material.

Did SiM’s opening or I Don’t Like Mondays’ ending win you over from the trailer?