MURCIÉLAGO Anime Announced for 2027 With Violent Buddy Action and Teaser Visual
MURCIÉLAGO, Kana Yoshimura’s long-running crime action manga, is officially getting a television anime adaptation in 2027.
The announcement was made during Anime Expo 2026, where the project revealed its first teaser promotional video, teaser visual and main staff. The anime adapts one of Square Enix’s most intense and unconventional action manga, a story built around criminals, executioners, serial killers, car chases, violent cases and a leading duo that fights evil by becoming something just as dangerous.
Animation production will be handled by SATELIGHT and Staple Entertainment. Takashi Naoya serves as chief director and series composer, while Matsuo Asami directs the anime. Kiyoshi Tateishi is responsible for character design, and the music will be composed by Masanori Akita and Yuichi Tsuchiya.
The teaser visual presents the series with a sharp and dangerous atmosphere, matching the manga’s reputation as a “dangerously intoxicating” buddy action story. A specific premiere date, Japanese broadcast schedule, episode count, theme songs and voice cast have not yet been announced.
A 2027 Anime for One of Square Enix’s Most Extreme Action Manga
MURCIÉLAGO will air as a television anime in 2027.
The anime is based on the manga by Kana Yoshimura, serialized in Young Gangan by Square Enix. The manga has been running for more than a decade and has reached 29 volumes in Japan, with the latest volume scheduled for release on July 24, 2026.
The franchise has surpassed 2.3 million copies in circulation worldwide, according to Japanese promotional materials connected to the anime announcement.
The adaptation is significant because MURCIÉLAGO is not a gentle, mainstream crime series. It is known for its extreme energy, violent cases, dark humor, stylish action and morally chaotic protagonist. The anime will need to capture the manga’s dangerous personality without softening the core idea that makes it stand out.
At the center of the story is Kuroko Koumori, a former death-row inmate turned state-sanctioned executioner, and Hinako Tozakura, her partner and watchdog. Together, they confront some of society’s most vicious criminals in cases that push far beyond ordinary police drama.
What Is MURCIÉLAGO About?
The official introduction describes the series with a simple but powerful idea: fight evil with evil.
Kuroko Koumori is a former death-row inmate selected through extraordinary legal measures to serve as a state-sanctioned executioner. She is not a normal detective, police officer or heroic investigator. She is a dangerous criminal given permission to hunt even worse criminals.
Her partner is Hinako Tozakura, who acts as her watchdog and companion. Hinako is known for her extraordinary driving skills, making her essential to the series’ high-speed action, pursuit scenes and chaotic missions.
Together, Kuroko and Hinako take on one heinous case after another, facing the darkness hidden within society. Their work is brutal, stylish and often morally unstable, because the people sent to stop monsters are not clean heroes themselves.
This is the core appeal of MURCIÉLAGO. The series does not ask what happens when pure justice defeats evil. It asks what happens when society decides that the only person capable of stopping its worst monsters is someone who has already crossed the line.
Kuroko Koumori Is Not a Traditional Hero
Kuroko Koumori is the reason MURCIÉLAGO has such a distinct identity.
She is not a noble detective with a strict moral code. She is not a righteous avenger trying to cleanse society. She is a former death-row inmate who receives permission from the state to eliminate criminals too dangerous or twisted for ordinary methods.
That makes her both terrifying and fascinating.
Kuroko does not operate like a standard crime protagonist. Her methods are extreme, her personality is chaotic and her sense of justice is not clean. She can be funny, stylish, vulgar, frightening, clever and completely unpredictable within the same case.
The anime’s biggest challenge will be making her compelling without removing the danger that defines her. Kuroko is not supposed to be comfortable. She is supposed to feel like a weapon society only uses because it has no better option.
That tension is what makes her interesting. She may be fighting criminals, but she is also a reminder that the system itself has chosen to use evil against evil.
Hinako Tozakura Gives the Story Its Buddy Action Energy
Hinako Tozakura is Kuroko’s partner, watchdog and one of the most important pieces of the series’ rhythm.
Where Kuroko brings madness and danger, Hinako brings speed, loyalty and incredible driving ability. Her role is not simply to follow Kuroko around or react to her chaos. She is part of the action identity of the story.
Car chases are one of the elements highlighted by the anime’s production comments, with the director noting that the team is putting effort into stylish 3D car action with help from SATELIGHT’s CG department.
That detail matters because MURCIÉLAGO is not only a violent crime series. It is also a kinetic action story. The duo’s investigations can shift from criminal horror to explosive pursuit, from strange comedy to full-speed destruction.
Hinako’s presence helps give the story movement. She is the driver, the partner and the person constantly connected to Kuroko’s violent path through society’s darkest corners.
The Teaser PV Sets the Tone for a Dangerous Adaptation
The first teaser PV does not reveal the full story structure of the anime, but it establishes the mood clearly.
This is a stylish, aggressive and adult-oriented crime action adaptation. The promotional materials lean into the manga’s reputation as a “dangerously intoxicating” buddy action series, using sharp imagery and bold character presentation to signal that the anime will not be a conventional mystery show.
The teaser visual and PV introduce Kuroko and Hinako as the heart of the anime’s identity. They are not framed as ordinary investigators solving cases from a safe distance. They are presented as a chaotic pair stepping directly into violence, darkness and social corruption.
Director Matsuo Asami’s comments also suggest that the adaptation is aiming to preserve the manga’s stylish crime action, while pushing the limits of what can be shown within broadcast boundaries.
That will be one of the most important points for fans. MURCIÉLAGO’s manga is known for material that can be violent, sexual, grotesque and deliberately outrageous. The anime will need to decide how far it can go while still functioning as a television production.
SATELIGHT and Staple Entertainment Produce the Anime
Animation production is being handled by SATELIGHT and Staple Entertainment.
This co-production is one of the most important details of the announcement because MURCIÉLAGO will require several different kinds of visual energy. It needs character acting for Kuroko’s wild personality, violent action choreography, crime-scene atmosphere, grotesque tension and fast vehicle sequences.
SATELIGHT’s CG department is specifically mentioned in connection with the anime’s car action, suggesting that the production is treating the chase scenes as a major part of the adaptation’s appeal.
That is the right approach. MURCIÉLAGO is not only about violent confrontations. It is also about momentum. The story often feels like it is accelerating toward the next terrible case, the next criminal, the next impossible confrontation.
The anime’s success may depend on whether the production can make that momentum feel stylish rather than merely chaotic.
Takashi Naoya Serves as Chief Director and Series Composer
Takashi Naoya serves as chief director and also handles series composition.
That dual role is significant because adapting MURCIÉLAGO will require careful structural decisions. The manga has many cases, criminals and supporting characters, but the anime must decide what material can fit into its first season while preserving the core appeal.
Naoya has commented that, as series composer, he focused on how to express the work’s charm within a single cour. That suggests the first anime season is being planned with a clear adaptation scope rather than trying to cover too much too quickly.
This matters because MURCIÉLAGO’s tone can easily become overwhelming. If the anime only rushes from one violent incident to another, viewers may miss the rhythm that makes the manga memorable.
The adaptation needs space for Kuroko and Hinako’s dynamic, the mood of each case, the brutality of the criminals and the strange humor that cuts through the darkness.
Matsuo Asami Directs the Series
Matsuo Asami directs the anime.
Asami’s comments reveal that voice recording is already underway, although the cast has not yet been officially announced. He also described the team’s goal as capturing the manga’s stylish crime action and pushing its adult elements as far as possible within broadcast limitations.
That statement is important because it shows awareness of the source material’s identity.
MURCIÉLAGO is not a series that can be adapted properly by treating it like a clean procedural. Its personality comes from excess: extreme criminals, wild emotional shifts, violent action, unsettling humor and Kuroko’s unstable charisma.
At the same time, the anime cannot become visually incoherent. The action needs clarity, the cases need tension and the characters need enough presence to make the audience care about more than shock value.
Asami’s direction will therefore be central to balancing style, violence, comedy and momentum.
The Main Staff Behind MURCIÉLAGO
The currently announced main staff includes:
- Original Creator: Kana Yoshimura
- Publication: Young Gangan by Square Enix
- Chief Director: Takashi Naoya
- Director: Matsuo Asami
- Series Composition: Takashi Naoya
- Character Design: Kiyoshi Tateishi
- Music: Masanori Akita and Yuichi Tsuchiya
- Animation Production: SATELIGHT × Staple Entertainment
- Production: MURCIÉLAGO Production Committee
The voice cast has not yet been revealed. Although production comments indicate that recording is underway, fans will need to wait for a future announcement to learn who will voice Kuroko, Hinako and the supporting cast.
The Manga’s Long Run Gives the Anime Plenty of Material
MURCIÉLAGO began serialization in Young Gangan, Square Enix’s seinen manga magazine.
The manga has continued for years and has reached 29 volumes in Japan. This gives the anime a large amount of source material, but it also creates a challenge.
A first season cannot adapt everything. Instead, it needs to introduce Kuroko and Hinako properly, establish the world’s unusual legal premise and select cases that show why the manga became such a cult favorite.
The story’s structure may work well for anime because its crime cases can give the season a strong episodic or semi-episodic rhythm. Each case can introduce a new form of darkness, a new target and a new way for Kuroko’s methods to clash with ordinary ideas of justice.
At the same time, the anime will need to maintain continuity through the central duo. Kuroko and Hinako are the anchor. No matter how extreme the cases become, viewers need to remain invested in their partnership.
A Story About Fighting Evil With Evil
The phrase “fight evil with evil” is not only a slogan for MURCIÉLAGO. It is the moral engine of the story.
In many crime stories, the protagonist represents order. They may be flawed, but they stand on the side of law, justice or personal morality.
Kuroko complicates that structure.
She is used by the state because she is dangerous enough to eliminate people the system cannot handle normally. That makes her an instrument of justice and a violation of justice at the same time.
The existence of a state-sanctioned executioner raises uncomfortable questions. What does it mean when society gives a killer permission to kill? Can evil become useful if directed at worse evil? Does using someone like Kuroko protect society, or does it reveal that society is already corrupted?
MURCIÉLAGO does not need to answer these questions cleanly. Its appeal comes from charging directly into the mess.
Kuroko and Hinako’s Partnership Is the Heart of the Series
For all its violence and crime action, MURCIÉLAGO depends heavily on the relationship between Kuroko and Hinako.
The two are not a typical detective pair. Kuroko is the executioner, the chaos agent and the person capable of matching monsters. Hinako is her watchdog, partner and driver, someone tied to Kuroko’s missions both practically and emotionally.
Their dynamic creates the “buddy action” identity of the series.
Buddy action works best when the central pair brings contrasting energy. Kuroko’s extreme personality needs someone beside her who can keep the story moving, react to her chaos and participate in the violence without becoming a copy of her.
Hinako fills that role. Her driving skills also give the anime a physical rhythm beyond gunfights, knife fights or direct confrontations.
If the voice cast captures their chemistry, the anime could make the duo even more memorable than they already are in the manga.
Why MURCIÉLAGO Has a Cult Following
MURCIÉLAGO has built a loyal audience because it refuses to behave like a safe crime manga.
The series is excessive, stylish and morally unstable. It has the structure of a crime action story, but the tone is closer to a dangerous cocktail of dark comedy, grotesque violence, erotic provocation and buddy chaos.
That combination is not for every viewer, and that is part of the point.
MURCIÉLAGO’s appeal comes from the feeling that it is constantly pushing forward with too much energy. The criminals are extreme. Kuroko is extreme. The cases are extreme. Even the comedy can feel inappropriate in a way that matches the protagonist’s broken relationship with ordinary morality.
For fans, that danger is exactly what makes the manga addictive.
The anime now has to translate that cult identity into motion, voice acting, music and action direction.
The Anime May Become One of 2027’s Most Unusual Crime Action Titles
Most anime crime stories lean toward mystery, police investigation, psychological suspense or organized crime drama.
MURCIÉLAGO is different.
It is a crime action series where the protagonist is already one of the most dangerous people in the room. The question is not whether Kuroko can understand a criminal mind. The question is whether anyone can survive once she decides to move.
This gives the anime a very different kind of energy from traditional detective fiction.
Instead of a clean investigation leading to a legal arrest, MURCIÉLAGO often feels like society has unleashed a controlled disaster to destroy a worse disaster. That makes the story unpredictable, sometimes outrageous and often uncomfortable.
If the anime preserves that tone, it could stand out strongly in the 2027 lineup.
The Car Action Could Be a Major Highlight
One of the most interesting production comments concerns car action.
Director Matsuo Asami specifically mentioned that the team is putting effort into cool 3D action with support from SATELIGHT’s CG department. That suggests the anime wants to make Hinako’s driving a visual highlight rather than a background detail.
This is a smart choice because car action gives MURCIÉLAGO a different flavor from many other violent action anime.
Instead of only focusing on close combat, the adaptation can use chases, crashes, narrow escapes and high-speed movement to create a sense of urban danger. Hinako’s skill behind the wheel becomes part of the duo’s weapon set.
Good vehicle animation can also help the anime feel stylish. If the chases are directed with energy and clarity, they could become one of the show’s most recognizable features.
The Teaser Visual Sells Style Before Story
The first teaser visual does not attempt to explain every part of the plot.
Instead, it sells the feeling of MURCIÉLAGO: danger, madness, sharp attitude and violent partnership. That is exactly what an early visual should do for this series.
Before viewers know the details of Kuroko’s past or Hinako’s role, they need to understand that this is not a standard action anime. The visual identity must communicate that the story is bold, aggressive and not interested in polite heroism.
The official Japanese and English website also presents the premise in both languages, emphasizing Kuroko as a former death-row inmate chosen as a state-sanctioned executioner and Hinako as the partner with unmatched driving skill.
That international presentation suggests the production is already aware of the manga’s appeal beyond Japan.
HIDIVE Will Stream the Anime in Select Regions
HIDIVE has announced that it will stream MURCIÉLAGO as part of its 2027 lineup.
The platform’s announcement covers select English-speaking territories, including markets such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
Streaming availability in other regions has not yet been fully detailed. Fans outside HIDIVE’s listed territories should wait for additional distribution announcements closer to the anime’s premiere.
This is especially important for international viewers because MURCIÉLAGO is likely to attract a strong cult audience. The source material’s intensity and long-running reputation make it the kind of adaptation that could travel well among fans of darker, adult-oriented action anime.
What Has Not Been Announced Yet?
Several key details remain unknown.
The anime has a confirmed 2027 broadcast window, but no exact premiere date has been announced.
The total episode count has not been revealed. Takashi Naoya’s comments mention focusing on expressing the work’s appeal within one cour, but the production committee has not publicly listed the final episode number.
The voice cast has not been announced. Director comments indicate that recording is underway, but the actors for Kuroko, Hinako and other characters remain officially unconfirmed.
The opening and ending theme songs have not been revealed.
Additional trailers, character visuals, cast announcements, broadcast details and regional streaming information are expected before the 2027 premiere.
Why the Anime Announcement Matters
The MURCIÉLAGO anime announcement matters because it brings a long-running, cult crime manga into animation after years of serialization.
Some manga feel easy to adapt because their tone fits neatly into existing anime categories. MURCIÉLAGO is not one of them.
Its mixture of violence, dark sexuality, outrageous comedy, criminal psychology and stylish action creates a difficult adaptation challenge. The anime must preserve the manga’s identity while still making it work within television limits.
That difficulty is also what makes the project exciting.
If the production succeeds, MURCIÉLAGO could become a standout for viewers who want something sharper and more dangerous than standard action anime. It has a strong premise, a memorable duo and enough source material to support a bold adaptation.
When Will MURCIÉLAGO Premiere?
MURCIÉLAGO will premiere as a TV anime in 2027.
The anime is based on Kana Yoshimura’s manga from Young Gangan by Square Enix. It will be produced by SATELIGHT and Staple Entertainment, with Takashi Naoya as chief director and series composer, Matsuo Asami as director, Kiyoshi Tateishi as character designer and music by Masanori Akita and Yuichi Tsuchiya.
The teaser PV and visual introduce a dangerous buddy action story about Kuroko Koumori, a former death-row inmate transformed into a state-sanctioned executioner, and Hinako Tozakura, her partner and watchdog with extraordinary driving skills.
They do not fight crime as clean heroes.
They fight evil with evil.
In 2027, MURCIÉLAGO will bring its violent, stylish and dangerously addictive crime action to television.
