Kana Yoshimura's Murcielago manga is getting a TV anime adaptation in 2027, co-produced by Satelight and Staple Entertainment with HIDIVE securing exclusive streaming rights.
Kana Yoshimura's Murcielago, the dark buddy-action manga serialized in Square Enix's Young Gangan magazine, is officially getting a TV anime adaptation set to premiere in 2027. The announcement came at Anime Expo 2026, with Satelight and Staple Entertainment confirmed as co-production studios and HIDIVE locking down exclusive streaming rights.
The anime's creative team brings together experienced talent across multiple roles. Takashi Naoya serves as both chief director and series composer, steering the overall vision for the adaptation. Matsuo Asami takes on the director role, handling episode-level execution. Sei Tateishi is attached as character designer, tasked with translating Yoshimura's distinctive art style into animation.
On the music side, composers Masanori Akita and Yuichi Tsuchiya will collaborate on the score. NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan is involved on the production committee side, having co-presented the announcement alongside HIDIVE at Anime Expo.
A super teaser trailer and key visual were unveiled during the reveal, giving fans a first animated glimpse of protagonist Kuroko Koumori. Yoshimura also created a commemorative illustration to mark the occasion.
Murcielago has been running in Square Enix's Young Gangan magazine since August 2013, building a dedicated following over more than a decade of serialization. The series has been compiled into 28 tankoubon volumes as of January 2026, with the 29th volume scheduled for release on July 24, 2026. Worldwide circulation has reached 2.3 million copies.
The story follows Kuroko Koumori, a former death-row inmate chosen through extraordinary legal measures to serve as a state-sanctioned executioner. Paired with her partner Hinako Tozakura, a skilled getaway driver, Kuroko takes on violent criminals and underground threats that conventional law enforcement cannot handle. The series blends intense action sequences with dark humor and an unapologetically over-the-top tone that has defined its identity in the seinen landscape.
Yen Press holds the English-language publishing rights and has released 26 volumes in English as of February 2026, keeping the translation relatively close to the Japanese release schedule.
HIDIVE has secured exclusive streaming rights for the Murcielago anime across a broad set of English-speaking territories. Confirmed regions include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. The platform continues to build its catalog of exclusive anime pickups, and a dark-action seinen title like Murcielago fits squarely within the kind of programming HIDIVE has been pursuing.
No specific premiere date beyond the 2027 window has been announced, and additional cast details have yet to be revealed. Given that the announcement is still in its early stages, further information on voice actors, episode count, and a more precise broadcast schedule will likely surface in the months ahead.
The Murcielago adaptation marks another collaboration between Satelight, known for its work on franchises like Macross and Symphogear, and the newer Staple Entertainment studio. With nearly three decades of source material available and a manga still actively publishing, the anime has no shortage of content to draw from. Fans of the manga and newcomers alike can look forward to more production details as the 2027 premiere window approaches.
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