Pony Canyon has officially announced that an anime adaptation of the gritty historical crime manga Manchuria Opium Squad is in active development. Alongside the greenlight announcement, the production committee unveiled dual Japanese and English teaser visuals to mark the milestone for the critically acclaimed title.
Specific details regarding the animation studio, core staff, voice cast, and premiere window remain tightly under wraps at this stage. Producers have confirmed that further updates will be rolled out via the official website and social media channels as production progresses.
From Page to Screen
The source manga is written by Tsukasa Monma and originally illustrated by the late Shikako, who tragically passed away in December 2025. Following a brief mourning hiatus, the series resumed serialization under new artist Tsurushima. Initially launched on Kodansha’s Comic Days web platform in April 2020 before transitioning to Weekly Young Magazine, the publication spans 22 tankōbon volumes.
Kodansha USA publishes the manga in English digitally, setting its narrative framework within the dangerous, conflict-ridden puppet state of Manchukuo:
In the corrupt, conflict-ridden Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo, the illegal opium trade is a perilous path to quick riches—or a swift death. Desperate to save his doomed family, the young Isamu Higata seizes a dangerous opportunity, using his botanical expertise to make mind-blowing opium in hopes of cashing in.
