MURCIÉLAGO TV Anime Debuts in January 2027
The January 2027 debut locks in a concrete date for one of the more anticipated violent action adaptations, and HIDIVE's exclusive streaming rights across multiple regions position the platform as the primary home for the series outside Japan.
Key Facts
- MURCIÉLAGO TV anime debuts in January 2027, as announced at Anime NYC by HIDIVE.
- HIDIVE streams the series exclusively in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
- The anime is directed by Matsuo Asami at Satelight and Staple Entertainment, with Takashi Naoya as chief director and series composer.
- The manga, by Kana Yoshimura, has 2.3 million copies in circulation and has run in Square Enix's Young Gangan since 2013.
- Yen Press publishes the English manga, releasing the 27th volume on September 22, 2026.
Reporting from 2 sources: Anime News Network, Anime Corner.
The television anime adaptation of Kana Yoshimura's MURCIÉLAGO manga will debut in January 2027, as announced at Anime NYC by HIDIVE. The streaming service also released a super teaser promotional video for the series, which will be available exclusively in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. HIDIVE describes the story as following Kuroko Koumori, a former death-row inmate chosen through extraordinary legal measures to act as a state-sanctioned executioner, partnered with driver Hinako Tozakura. The anime is directed by Matsuo Asami at Satelight and Staple Entertainment, with Takashi Naoya serving as chief director and handling series composition. Sei Tateishi designs the characters, while Masanori Akita and Yuichi Tsuchiya compose the music. The adaptation was first announced in July during Anime Expo 2026, and this announcement narrows the previously stated 2027 release window. The manga, serialized in Square Enix's Young Gangan magazine since 2013, has 2.3 million copies in circulation worldwide.
- Matsuo Asami directs the anime; her prior credits include The Villainess Is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom and episode direction on SHIBOYUGI: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table.
- Chief director Takashi Naoya is also known for Am I Actually the Strongest? and Tales of Wedding Rings; he handles series composition in addition to his directing role.
- The super teaser promotional video was released at Anime NYC, where the January 2027 debut was confirmed as a television format.
- Square Enix published the manga's 29th compiled book volume on July 24; the series has 28 volumes in Japan and 26 internationally.
- Yen Press releases the original manga in English and will publish the 27th volume on September 22.
- Yoshimura launched a spinoff, Murciélago Byproduct Araña, in Square Enix's Manga UP! app in January 2018; it ran until June 2020 and centered on Reiko Kuchiba.
- The manga has been serialized in Young Gangan since August 2013, with the story described as blending dark humor, action, and horror.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Anime News Network News Murciélago TV Anime Debuts in January 2027
- Anime Corner MURCIÉLAGO Anime Sets January 2027 Release