Fans of acclaimed manga artist Hiromu Arakawa, best known for her global phenomenon Fullmetal Alchemist, have cause for celebration as her latest work, Daemons of the Shadow Realm (original title: Yomi no Tsugai), is officially receiving an anime adaptation. The news was unveiled during Crunchyroll’s industry panel at Anime Expo 2025, sending ripples of excitement through the anime community. Crunchyroll has also confirmed that it will stream the anime upon its premiere across various regions, including North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS, and the Indian Subcontinent.
A Storied Production Team at Studio Bones
The highly anticipated adaptation will be helmed by Studio Bones Film, a studio with a formidable reputation in the anime industry, notably having produced both Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. This connection has particularly thrilled fans of Arakawa’s previous works, assuring them that her distinct artistic vision and narrative depth will be in capable hands.
The production team boasts an impressive lineup of talent:
- Director: Masahiro Andō, recognized for his work on Sword of the Stranger, will be directing the series.
- Series Composition: Noboru Takagi, known for his contributions to Kingdom seasons 3-6 and the first four seasons of Golden Kamuy, will oversee the series scripts.
- Character Design: Nobuhiro Arai, who worked on Bungo Stray Dogs, is responsible for the character designs.
- Music: Kenichiro Suehiro, celebrated for his compositions in Golden Kamuy and the Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- franchises, will be composing the music.
A teaser visual and trailer were showcased during the Anime Expo panel, offering a first glimpse into the animated world of Daemons of the Shadow Realm. While no release date has been announced yet, the reveal of the studio and key staff members suggests that production is well underway.
The Intriguing Premise of Daemons of the Shadow Realm
Daemons of the Shadow Realm, known in Japan as Yomi no Tsugai (literally “The Hinge of the Underworld”), is an adventure and supernatural shonen manga series. Arakawa launched the manga in Square Enix’s Monthly Shonen Gangan magazine in December 2021. Square Enix Manga & Books is publishing the series in English.
The story is set in a remote mountain village, where a young man named Yuru lives contentedly, relying on hunting and foraging. His twin sister, Asa, however, is held captive in a cage, bound by a mysterious “duty” to the village. The narrative takes a dark turn when armed men, referred to as “dragons,” assault the village in search of Yuru, leaving a trail of destruction. As Yuru seeks out his sister, he uncovers a shocking truth: the person claiming to be his twin is, in fact, an imposter who killed the real Asa.
The manga’s premise revolves around a world where certain humans possess the ability to command powerful supernatural duos known as Daemons. The twins, Yuru and Asa, are prophesied as “the children who sunder day and night,” destined to rule over these entities. Separated at a young age and unaware of their true heritage, they must embark on a perilous journey to reunite, claim their birthright, and ultimately, save their world.
Hiromu Arakawa’s Continued Legacy
Hiromu Arakawa is a revered figure in the manga and anime world, celebrated for her ability to weave intricate plots, develop compelling characters, and deliver impactful emotional narratives. Her most famous work, Fullmetal Alchemist, which ran from 2001 to 2010, received widespread critical acclaim and inspired two highly successful anime adaptations in 2003 and 2009. Her other notable works include Silver Spoon and the manga adaptation of The Heroic Legend of Arslan.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm has already garnered significant attention and critical praise since its serialization. The series has achieved impressive sales, surpassing 3.5 million copies worldwide even before its anime announcement. It has also received numerous accolades, including ranking highly on “Book of the Year” lists and winning awards such as Rakuten Kobo’s first E-book Manga Award in the “I Want to Read it Now! Featured Manga” category in 2023. The announcement of the anime adaptation is expected to further boost the series’ popularity, introducing Arakawa’s latest fantastical world to a broader global audience.