Kagurabachi's first 20 minutes slices through the explosive Anime Expo hype
Overview & Key Takeaways
The long-awaited adaptation of Takeru Hokazono’s hit manga premieres at Anime Expo, offering fans their first glimpse at the next big shonen anime
For a manga that became a phenomenon almost overnight, Kagurabachi has always carried the weight of expectation. Long before it had enough chapters to establish itself, Takeru Hokazono’s dark fantasy revenge tale was being crowned as Weekly Shonen Jump’s next blockbuster by an internet eager to create its next obsession.
Now, after years of anticipation and buildup, the series is finally making the leap to anime, and the 2026 Anime Expo is where fans are getting their first real look in celebration of the Kagurabachi World Tour.
Attendees, including Polygon, were among the first in the world to watch the opening 20 minutes of Kagurabachi‘s first episode. The premiere was accompanied by a panel featuring Chihiro Rokuhira voice actor Taihi Kimura, Kagurabachi manga editor Takuro Imamura, and anime producer Koichi Yasuda, offering an early look behind the scenes before the series officially premieres in April 2027.
Kagurabachi follows Chihiro Rokuhira, the son of legendary swordsmith Kunishige Rokuhira, whose peaceful life is shattered after his father is murdered, and six mystical Enchanted Blades are stolen by the magical criminal organization known as the Hishaku. Armed with Enten — the seventh and secret blade forged by his father — Chihiro embarks on a brutal quest for revenge that quickly grows into a battle over the future of the blades themselves. Its blend of supernatural swordplay, stylish action, and surprisingly measured emotional storytelling has helped the manga become one of Shonen Jump’s fastest-rising modern hits.
Saturday's presentation showcased how that signature visual identity translates to animation, with fans finally getting a sense of the adaptation’s pacing, direction, and action choreography after months of teasers. The first 20 minutes was utterly breathtaking, featuring Chihiro in action scenes that will make fans who love bloody swordplay feel right at home. Finally seeing those action scenes jump from page to screen is truly unforgettable. Episode 1 only covers a small portion of the first chapter, but the pacing was stellar.
Series director Tetsuya Takeuchi uses these incredible canted angled shots throughout the episode that captures the vibe so well, but in its own original way. Plus, Yutaka Yamada's score gives the show this deep, ethereal feel that explodes the moment action starts, using light piano and jazz undertones that elevate the quieter moments. It's truly something special, one that Kagurabachi fans — and anime fans on the whole — won't want to miss next year. And it can't come sooner enough.
For fans who can't wait to see Chirhiro's Enten in action for themselves, the Kagurabachi World Tour continues at Anime NYC in August.
Kagurabachi will begin streaming on Crunchyroll starting in April 2027.
