22 Years Later, One of The Greatest Psychological Anime Returns With an Official New Release

Written and illustrated by the legendary Naoki Urasawa, Monster released its anime adaptation in 2004. Produced by studio Madhouse, the series adapted the story into 74 episodes, eventually becoming one of the greatest psychological thrillers of all time. While Urawasa is best known for his 1994 manga Monster, he has also worked on more than a dozen titles. The creator began his artistic journey in 1981 and continues to captivate fans with his incredible and new series even now. After gaining recognition with Monster, Urasawa shocked the manga industry once again with 20th Century Boys, one of the most deeply complex psychological mysteries.

After making fans for several years, Urasawa’s most beloved masterpiece, Monster, is finally being released in Blu-ray version thanks to Discotek Media. While the series has always been praised for its incredible story, it’s mostly been available on streaming services instead of physical media due to limitations in regional availability and high prices. The official X handle of Discotek Media confirms the first 37 episodes of the anime are available in English dubbed and subbed, along with a Spanish subbed version. The Blu-ray was announced last year, and it’s finally available for pre-order. It will officially be released on August 25th, 2026, after which we can expect information on the second collection.

Why Is Monster So Loved Even Now?

This incredible story centers around Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a genius surgeon at Isler Memorial and fiancé to the director’s daughter. However, his life takes a turn for the worse when he defies the director’s orders to save a young boy, Johan Liebert, instead of the mayor. While he couldn’t bear to let the young boy die, the mayor lost his life due to a delay in treatment. This not only costs Tenma his relationship but also his career, status, and everything he held dear in life.

However, he was able to attain the position of the hospital director after the mysterious death of the previous director and two other doctors. Nine years later, Tenma’s past comes back to haunt him when he realizes the criminal whose life he saved is someone he is familiar with. Burdened by guilt and regret, he journeys across Germany and gathers allies to stop the deadly consequences of his choice.

Madhouse, the studio behind Monster, is one of the most renowned animation studios in Japan, and the level of animation was well ahead of its time. The harrowing and tense soundtracks only complemented the engrossing storytelling. The anime was faithful to the award-winning manga by Urasawa, which impressed fans even more. While you wait for the Blu-ray’s release, you can stream all episodes of the anime on Netflix. Furthermore, while the manga was originally compiled in 18 volumes, it was released in English in only 9 chapters. Links to buying all the volumes are available on the official website of Viz Media.

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