New Trailer Released for Sekiro: No Defeat Anime Film: Release Date and Details Announced
FromSoftware's legendary title Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which took home the "Game of the Year" (GOTY) award in 2019, is preparing to step into the world of anime. According to the official announcement, the anime adaptation titled Sekiro: No Defeat (Sekiro: Fuha) will meet audiences in theaters in Japan for a limited three-week run starting September 4, 2026. The newly released trailer has heightened fan expectations by blending the game's dark and tense Sengoku period atmosphere with immense visual quality.
The film's production is being handled by the studio Qzil.la, which has made a name for itself recently. Kenichi Kutsuna, known for projects like The Fire Hunter and Magical Destroyers, sits in the director's chair, while the screenplay is penned by Takuya Satou, known for Fate/stay night and Selector Infected WIXOSS. Character designs are entrusted to Takahiro Kishida, who has worked on major productions such as Haikyu!! and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind. The production committee emphasized their commitment to artistic quality by stating that the film is prepared entirely with hand-drawn 2D animation to maintain the quality of the action scenes, with no use of generative artificial intelligence (AI).
On the story side, it appears the film will remain faithful to the game's main plot. Sekiro: No Defeat will follow the journey of Wolf, a one-armed shinobi sworn to protect his master Kuro (the Divine Heir), through the lands of Ashina, filled with revenge and loyalty. It was a big surprise for fans that the original Japanese voice cast from the game is returning; Daisuke Namikawa (Wolf), Miyuki Satou (Kuro), and Kenjiro Tsuda (Genichiro Ashina) are reprising their roles. Additionally, the use of the late legendary composer Ryuichi Sakamoto's work "Blu" for the film's music adds a melancholic and epic depth to the production.
This adaptation is seen as one of the largest media projects following the global success of FromSoftware games (including the Elden Ring and Dark Souls series). The game, known for its difficulty and having sold over 10 million copies, seems set to trade its challenging nature for fluid sword fights and a deep narrative in the anime. Following its theatrical run in Japan, Sekiro: No Defeat will meet global audiences via Crunchyroll within 2026. While no exact date has been given for an international release or digital streaming yet, the emphasis on "Hesitation is defeat" in the trailer has already created a huge wave of excitement within the community.
