Muse Asia will announce distribution details for The Elusive Samurai at a later date. The anime will premiere in Japan on July 6.
The anime will star rookie voice actress Asaki Yuikawa as Hojo Tokiyuki and Yūichi Nakamura as Suwa Yorishige.
The cast includes:
- Hinaki Yano as Shizuku
- Mari Hino as Kojirō
- Sayumi Suzushiro as Ayako
- Aoi Yūki as Kazama Genba
- Kikunosuke Toya as Fubuki
Yuta Yamazaki (assistant director for Wonder Egg Priority, series director for both Love Rice series) is directing the anime at CloverWorks, and Yasushi Nishiya (chief animation director for Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us, Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!) is designing the characters.
Viz Media and MANGA Plus are both simultaneously releasing new chapters of the manga in English digitally as they debut in Japan.
Viz Media is also releasing the manga in print, and the company describes the first volume:
After the massacre of his family by the traitor Ashikaga Takauji, Tokiyuki flees with the help of a handful of loyal retainers who have also survived the purge. One of them is Suwa Yorishige, an ally of the Hojo clan and lord of Suwa Province. The slightly odd Yorishige also claims to be clairvoyant and foretells that Tokiyuki will one day become the ruler of Japan. But for the moment, escaping from enemy territory is the priority!
The first season debuted in Japan in October 2023. Muse Asia streamed the anime as it aired in Japan.
Masaomi Andō (Astra Lost in Space, Scum's Wish, School-Live!) directed the series at studio 8-Bit (Blue Lock, Encouragement of Climb). Kōsaku Taniguchi was the assistant director, Yasuhiro Nakanishi wrote and oversaw the series scripts, Yūichi Tanaka was the main character designer, and Hinako Tsubakiyama composed the music. MindaRyn performed the opening theme song "Shiny Girl."
Yen Press is releasing the manga series in English, and it describes the story:
Earth was on the brink of a third World War when super-powered individuals came forth from each country around the globe, ending the conflict and ushering in a new era of relative peace. Among those heroes, Japan is represented by a timid young girl known as “Shy.” She may spend more time worrying about her own shortcomings than she does battling villains, but she'll show the world that despite it all she still has the heart of a hero!