Shenmue the Animation Trailer Reveals Premiere Date
The first-ever anime adaptation of a cult video game series is coming soon with the premiere of Shenmue the Animation. The virtual Crunchyroll Expo on September 4, 2020, announced the development of the animated series. Sega published the original game for the Dreamcast in 1999, followed by Shenmue II in 2001 and Shenmue III in 2019 after a successful crowdfunding campaign. When Shenmue was released, it was the most expensive video game ever developed and turned into a commercial failure. Despite its financial drawbacks, the franchise has developed a cult following.
Chikara Sakurai directs Shenmue the Animation and is best known for One-Punch Man season 2 and serving as a key animator on A Certain Magical Index. It is written by Kento Shimoyama, with game series creator Yu Suzuki serving as Executive Producer, and has Kashitarō Itō performing the opening theme «UNDEAD-NOID.» Telecom Animation Film, known for their work on the Lupin III franchise and Crunchyroll original Tower of God, animate the series. Masaya Matsukaze and Austin Tindle voice Ryo in Japanese and English, respectively, who parallels his video game counterpart in avenging his father's murder by seeking out Lan Di (voiced by Takahiro Sakurai and Scott Gibbs).
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Adult Swim reveals Shenmue the Animation will release on February 5, 2022, at 9:30 p.m. PST, and debuts the official trailer. Crunchyroll co-produces the series and will premiere the Japanese subtitled version simultaneously. In it, Ryo arrives at his family's dojo to see his father confront Lan Di and subsequently perish after being asked about a mysterious mirror. Ryo engages with street gangs and other martial artists across Japan,
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