The staff behind the upcoming anime adaptation “Sekiro: No Defeat” recently sat down for a detailed talk program at the 1st Aichi-Nagoya International Animation Film Festival on December 13. Director Kenichi Kutsuna, scriptwriter Takuya Sato, and producer Shun Fukutome from studio Qzil.la shared insights about bringing FromSoftware’s beloved action game to life through hand-drawn animation.
The event opened with an introduction to Kutsuna’s background. A native of Aichi Prefecture and a lecturer at Nagoya University of Arts and Sciences, Kutsuna is widely recognized as a pioneer of so-called “web-based animators,” having published self-produced animation online from a young age before being scouted into the industry.
Reflecting on his early years, Kutsuna said there were few opportunities in his local environment to receive feedback on animation, which led him to focus on web platforms where his work could be seen and evaluated.
He also spoke about his creative roots, citing films such as Doraemon: Nobita and the Kingdom of Clouds, Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack, and Macross Plus as formative experiences. In terms of influences, he named animators Satoru Utsunomiya and Norio Matsumoto, as well as directors Mamoru Oshii, Andrei Tarkovsky, and Jean-Luc Godard. For SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT specifically, Kutsuna revealed that Akira Kurosawa’s “Ran”, was a major influence.
SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT is an anime adaptation of FromSoftware’s action-adventure game SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE, which gained widespread acclaim both in Japan and overseas.
Kutsuna explained his approach to the adaptation, stating:
“I felt that the game isn’t just about action — there’s an aesthetic sense rooted in expressing the beauty of Japan. If the adaptation focused on that, I thought it was something I could direct.”
He added that among the many possible narrative paths, he was particularly drawn to the story’s sense of melancholy, saying that amplifying that emotional core would be essential when translating the work into animation.
Scriptwriter Takuya Sato, known for works such as NieA_7, joined the project at Kutsuna’s recommendation. Kutsuna explained that he admired how Sato handles character emotions and felt that, as a first-time director, he wanted to work outside the conventional director–scriptwriter dynamic.
Sato recalled his reaction to the offer:
“I honestly thought, ‘I’m glad you called me.’ I’ve been a fan of FromSoftware’s games for a long time, and knowing that Kutsuna — who is extremely particular about hand-drawn action — was directing made me want to support the project no matter what. Being able to participate was an honor.”
He also praised Kutsuna’s consistency and leadership:
“From the very first discussion about Sekiro, the concept was already solid and hasn’t wavered. That made him someone I could trust and want to see things through with.”
Sato described the production environment as one where staff members crossed boundaries between departments, sharing ideas freely, with Kutsuna bringing everything together, an approach he felt resulted in an ideal creative process.
Hand-Drawn Animation and “Overwhelming Beauty”
It has already been announced that SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT will be a fully hand-drawn 2D anime. Character designs are handled by Takahiro Kishida, whose work Kutsuna praised highly:
“I wanted designs that could deeply express characters’ emotions. Kishida’s art blends realistic proportions with manga-like and symbolic expression, giving it incredible emotional range. Even an ordinary scene drawn by him can be moving to the point of tears.”
The production also features Kaito Moki as chief animation director and Takashi Mukoda as action animation director. Producer Fukudome emphasized that many top-tier industry talents are involved beyond those already announced.
A key visual element of the anime is its hand-painted backgrounds, created by art director Yuji Kaneko. Kutsuna explained the reasoning behind this choice:
“Competing head-on with the game’s realism would be impossible. Instead, we needed to replace it with something overwhelmingly beautiful from a different value system. That required truly beautiful artwork, which is why we asked Kaneko to join.”
The anime also incorporates liquid art by Atsushi Harata, which Kutsuna described as having an “astonishing density of information.” Music is composed by Shuta Hasunuma, chosen specifically for his restrained and objective musical style.
“If you pair emotional visuals and a tragic story with overly emotional music, it falls apart. I wanted balance, and Hasunuma was the perfect fit,” Kutsuna said.
Extensive research was also conducted for the project, including studies of kobujutsu (traditional martial arts) and tea ceremony, with some behind-the-scenes footage shown during the event.
While the release format for SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT has yet to be announced, Fukudome stated that production is now entering its final stages, asking fans to look forward to the release.
Sato added, “I’m also eagerly awaiting the completed work as a viewer. There’s no doubt it will be a sharp, highly watchable piece of animation.”
“I don’t set out to make bold statements, but I think this will end up being a work that throws a stone into the industry. At the same time, we respect the original game to the utmost, so fans of Sekiro can enjoy it with confidence.”
The 1st Aichi–Nagoya International Animation Film Festival is being held across Nagoya City until December 17, featuring special screenings, international talk sessions, conferences, and a feature-length competition showcasing works from Japan and abroad.
About Sekiro
Sekiro is a video game developed by FromSoftware (Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Dark Souls) and published by Activision. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has sold over 10 million copies globally.
This game is receiving an anime adaptation by Studio Qzil.la and is set to release in 2026, exclusively on Crunchyroll.
Source: Comic Natalie
