Viz Media Unveils Major Announcements: Black Torch Anime, Kingdom Trailer Reveal, and Yaiba: Samurai Legend Streaming on Netflix & Hulu

San Francisco, CA – March 8, 2025 – Viz Media took center stage at Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC) today, unveiling a powerhouse lineup of major announcements that underscore its commitment to delivering the best in manga and anime to global audiences. During its highly anticipated panel, VIZ thrilled fans by confirming that the anime adaptation of Black Torch is officially in production, dropping the first English trailer for the legendary manga Kingdom, and revealing key details about the upcoming streaming debut of Yaiba: Samurai Legend on Netflix and Hulu.

These announcements mark a bold expansion of Viz Media's ever-growing portfolio, reinforcing its position as the driving force behind some of the biggest and most influential titles in Japanese pop culture.

Black Torch Anime Officially in Production
Announced at Emerald City Comic Con, Viz Media confirmed that the anime adaptation of Black Torch—Tsuyoshi Takaki's acclaimed ninja-meets-mononoke manga—is now in production. The series, known for its high-stakes action and supernatural themes, is set to captivate anime fans worldwide.

Official Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v36GbO-J9nI
Credit line: ©Tsuyoshi Takaki/Shueisha, Project BLACK TORCH
Creator Video Released: HERE
Director: Kei Umabiki | Animation Production: 100Studio
Special Commemorative Artwork by Creator Tsuyoshi Takaki
For more details, visit: https://blackTorch-anime.com/EN

Kingdom Trailer Revealed & English Debut Announced

For the first time, Yasuhisa Hara's critically acclaimed manga Kingdom—a historical epic with over 110 million copies sold worldwide—will be published in English, launching November 11, 2025. The series has inspired an anime adaptation, three live-action films, and video games, cementing its place as one of Japan's most revered sagas.

Official Trailer Now Available: HERE
Credit line: KINGDOM © 2006 by Yasuhisa Hara/Shueisha, Inc.
First English Edition Set for Release in November 2025

Yaiba: Samurai Legend to Stream on Netflix & Hulu Viz Media also announced that Yaiba: Samurai Legend, based on Gōshō Aoyama's beloved shonen manga, will make its streaming debut on April 5, 2025, available on Netflix (North America, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand) and Hulu (U.S.). The action-packed adventure follows young samurai Yaiba Kurogane as he embarks on a journey filled with humor, epic battles, and legendary swords.

Credit line: ©Gōshō Aoyama/Shogakukan/Yaiba: Samurai Legend Project
Streaming Premiere: April 5, 2025
Manga Volume 1 Set for Print Release on July 8, 2025

About Viz Media:
Wherever manga and anime fans are, we are! Viz Media is No. 1 in Japanese pop culture, introducing fans to what's now, new, and next. Home to the world's most influential and groundbreaking storytellers and artists, who today drive multiple industries from publishing and animation to film and gaming. If it's big in Japan, you can find it at VIZ.

Viz Media is proudly certified as a Most Loved Workplace® in America and Inc Magazine's Best Workplace. For more information on Viz Media visit: https://www.viz.com/