Sekiro: No Defeat is the anime adaptation of FromSoftware’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and it’s coming exclusively to Crunchyroll once it debuts. We don’t know when that is yet, but we got a brief introduction to the art style at Gamescom 2025 and it looks great.
Released back in 2019, Sekiro had players take control of a shinobi called the Wolf and changed up FromSoftware’s usual Dark Souls formula. It was more of an action-adventure game than a standard RPG, emphasizing perfect parries and giving players access to a grappling hook to explore the world. It won Game of the Year at The Game Awards in 2019 and is one of the studio’s best games to date. How do you turn that into an episodic anime?
Take a look at the trailer:
“The time is Sengoku,” reads the official description. “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. This is the story of a lord and his retainer — and their quest to restore balance to a nation on the edge.”
Rumors of the anime first surfaced back in 2023, with leaks claiming it would be a limited-episode series. “We are taking on the monumental task of animating the breathtakingly beautiful Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice,” director Kenichi Kutsuna said in a statement. “In doing so, we are pouring every ounce of our artistic vision and passion for beauty into its production. The final product is being crafted to be a truly memorable experience, one that will leave a lasting impression on both dedicated fans of the game and those who are discovering the world of Sekiro for the very first time. Please look forward to it.”