Murciélago Anime Confirmed: Square Enix's Provocative Dark Action Hits TV in 2027

The wait is finally over for fans of high-octane, boundary-pushing seinen manga. Over a decade after debuting in the pages of Square Enix’s Young Gangan magazine, creator Kana Yoshimura’s cult-classic series MURCIÉLAGO is officially receiving a television anime adaptation. Unveiled with a teaser and promotional artwork at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles, the highly anticipated project is scheduled to premiere globally in 2027. Animation studios Satelight and Staple Entertainment are co-producing the series, while HIDIVE has secured exclusive international streaming rights.

Table Of Content

Key Information
What is the Murciélago Anime Adaptation?
Who is Producing the Murciélago Anime Series?
When is the Murciélago Anime Release Date?

Key Information

Title: MURCIÉLAGO
Original Creator: Kana Yoshimura
Anime Studios: Satelight and Staple Entertainment
Original Publisher: Square Enix
English Manga Publisher: Yen Press
Streaming Platform: HIDIVE
Premiere Window: 2027
Genre: Action, Crime, Yuri, Dark Comedy, Horror

What is the Murciélago Anime Adaptation?

MURCIÉLAGO is a wildly unconventional, addictively intense crime-action thriller that has captivated readers since its manga debut in August 2013. The story centers on Kuroko Koumori, a former death-row serial killer who has taken hundreds of lives. In a desperate and unusual bid to curb local crime, the government grants her a stay of execution. The catch: Kuroko must serve as a state-sanctioned executioner, hunting down the heinous criminals that the police cannot catch.

Accompanied by her partner Hinako Tozakura, a deceptively innocent-looking girl who happens to be an elite, daredevil driver, Kuroko plunges into the deepest underbelly of society. The resulting series is a unique blend of graphic violence, dark humor, intense car chases, and strong Yuri elements.

With over 28 compiled volumes released in Japan and more than 2.3 million copies in circulation worldwide, the franchise has built an incredibly passionate global following. English-speaking fans can read the official translation of the manga through the digital and physical volumes published by Yen Press.

Who is Producing the Murciélago Anime Series?

The television adaptation is a collaborative effort between two distinct animation studios: Satelight, known for their work on Macross Frontier and Helck, and Staple Entertainment, who recently worked on Tales of Wedding Rings.

The creative team steering the adaptation includes several seasoned industry veterans:

Chief Director and Series Composition: Takashi Naoya, recognized for Am I Actually the Strongest? and Tales of Wedding Rings, will oversee the overarching script, storyboards, and direction.
Director: Matsuo Asami, who recently directed Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table, takes the director’s chair.
Character Designer: Sei Tateishi will be translating Yoshimura’s distinct, expressive art style into animation.
Music Composers: Masanori Akita and Yuichi Tsuchiya are on board to craft the series’ intense, atmospheric soundtrack.

Chief Director Takashi Naoya highlighted that the production team is dedicated to preserving the stylish, gritty atmosphere of the manga. The team is actively working to push the series’ signature action and mature themes right to the limits of television broadcast standards, with a heavy emphasis on dynamic, three-dimensional car chases co-produced by Satelight’s CG department.

When is the Murciélago Anime Release Date?

While an exact day and month have not yet been announced, the MURCIÉLAGO anime is officially scheduled to premiere in 2027.

Upon release, the series will stream exclusively on HIDIVE in multiple major territories, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

To celebrate the greenlight, manga author Kana Yoshimura shared a passionate, heartfelt message thanking her readers for keeping her dream alive after more than a decade:

Ever since I chose the profession of manga author, seeing one of my works adapted into an anime has been one of my biggest dreams. It is thanks to the support and cooperation of all the readers and everyone involved that this dream has finally become a reality, and first of all I want to express my deepest gratitude. Thank you. Thank you so much. I is already excited to see Kuroko and the others come to life and move on the screen. To all the readers, I hope you continue to support both the original manga and the MURCIÉLAGO anime. It is going to be a blast! Oryaa!