At Anime NYC, original creator Tsuyoshi Takaki and acclaimed manga editor Shihei Lin sat down to reflect on the ongoing television anime adaptation of Black Torch. The supernatural ninja action series, which centers on rebellious young ninja Jiro Azuma and his bond with the mononoke cat Rago, has captured renewed international attention through its dynamic screen conversion.
Classic Shonen Roots
When discussing the creation of protagonist Jiro Azuma, Takaki pointed directly to the 1990s shonen icons that shaped his youth. Jiro's balance of hard-headed rebelliousness and firm moral principles drew heavily from characters like Yusuke Urameshi from Yu Yu Hakusho, Hanamichi Sakuragi from Slam Dunk, and Shotaro Kaneda from AKIRA.
Jiro was definitely inspired by the manga I read growing up. They all have a rebellious side, but they also have a really great core that yearns for justice and righteousness at the same time.
Tsuyoshi Takaki, Creator of Black Torch
Hands-On Anime Production
Both Takaki and Lin emphasized their deep involvement across every production tier of the anime adaptation. From initial scenario workshops alongside the director and series screenwriter to visual department approvals and attendance at voice recording sessions, the duo maintained close creative oversight.
Takaki commended the animation crew for successfully translating the dense impact of his full-page action layouts into kinetic visual sequences. Lin added that voice acting provided the crucial final layer, rendering the roster fully three-dimensional.
Future Outlook and Sequel Status
Addressing persistent fan questions regarding a potential manga continuation, Takaki confirmed that he currently has no plans to write a sequel to the printed manga, citing a desire to focus on new original projects like Heart Gear. However, he expressed enthusiasm for providing story support to the production team should the anime demand additional narrative content down the line.
The animated adaptation of Black Torch is currently streaming on Crunchyroll, while the complete original manga series is published digitally by VIZ Media.
