Cancelled Shonen Jump’s Anime Revival Confirmed Huge Blunder By Publisher

Shueisha’s Shonen Jump magazines and platforms have serialized countless series over the decades, but not all of them managed to pique the readers’ interest. Whenever the publisher notices a series isn’t getting enough viewership or hype from the readers, it ends up getting axed without ever getting a chance to prove itself. Countless series with immense potential have ended this way, and Black Torch is no different. Written and illustrated by Tsuyoshi Takaki, the manga was serialized in the Jump SQ magazine from 2016 to 2018. It was eventually forgotten by readers until its anime revival was confirmed in March last year. The anime is all set for its debut next month, and the official trailer has been well-received by viewers.

It features impressive animation from 100studio and introduces the premise of the story. The series once again sheds light on the fact that it had way more potential than the publisher initially thought. However, having been cancelled in only 19 chapters, Takaki didn’t manage to explore the story as he initially wanted. Black Torch is one of the most anticipated anime of the year, again shedding light on the fact that Shueisha’s hasty decision that didn’t even allow the series a chance before tossing it away to make room for another manga.

What Is Black Torch About?

The series introduces unique supernatural themes, intense action, and even character development despite being a short story. 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the manga, and while the series doesn’t have a wide fanbase among new readers, the trailer is attracting more than enough enthusiasts. The story follows Jiro Azuma, a 17-year-old boy shunned by others for his ability to speak with animals.

Although he tries to live a peaceful life like his grandfather wanted, he always ends up running into trouble with others. His grandfather often gets disappointed in him since he expects Jiro to live up to the Azuma family name. The family is a descendant of a long-standing shinobi clan, which explains the reason Jiro has special abilities. The boy’s life turns upside down when he brings home an injured cat, who turns out to be a demonic spirit known as a mononoke, named Rago, that has long been at war with humanity.

When Jiro witnesses Rago being attacked by his own kind, the boy risks his life to save him and ends up with a fatal wound. The story continues as Rago uses his own energy to save Jiro, who later gets entangled in a battle with supernatural beings. All chapters of the manga are available on the official website of Viz Media, where you can also find links to buy the physical and digital copies of all volumes.

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