New Sekiro Anime Trailer Turns The Game Into A Work Of Handcrafted Art

From Software's cult-classic soulslike Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice returns to TV screens later this year as an anime adaptation, and ahead of its debut, a new trailer for the series has debuted. Compared to the first teaser, this new trailer offers a deeper look at the adaptation from producers Arch, Qzil.la, and Studio Betta, while also shining a light on its unique hand-drawn animation. Fans of the game can also get a sneak peek at several iconic bosses in anime form, like Genichiro Ashina, Gyoubu Oniwa, and the Corrupted Monk.

Alongside the new trailer, a brand-new synopsis for the show has also been released. "Japan is fractured into many independent nations entangled in ceaseless war. At the center lies Ashina, a land of sacred earth and ancient mystery. Two decades after Sword Saint Isshin Ashina reclaimed the region in a brutal coup, a new threat emerges from within: The Interior Ministry. Desperate to protect his homeland, Isshin's grandson Genichiro turns to forbidden powers. The only hope lies in a kidnapped boy--the Divine Heir--and his silent protector: a loyal shinobi known only as Sekiro.

Speaking to Variety, director Kenichi Kutsuna said that the anime adaptation aims to take "as many elements from the underlying work of the game as possible," and the story won't deviate too far from the source material. Kutsuna added that some liberties were taken out of necessity so that the story isn't told just from Wolf's perspective. One part of the IP that Kutsuna did want to retain was the multiple different paths that players could take as Wolf, and this gameplay aspect has been reinterpreted for the anime.