Mecha Samurai: Shaman King artist designs new web anime

The new web anime Mecha Samurai starts on November 2, 2026 with short videos on YouTube and several social networks. The series is a joint project of the broadcaster TV Tokyo and the animation company Plott. The character designs come from Hiroyuki Takei, the manga artist behind Shaman King.

Release dates for short videos and anime episodes

The release will happen in several stages. From November 2, 2026, vertical short videos will appear daily on YouTube, X, Instagram and TikTok. On November 20, 2026, the first episode of a seven-part preseason follows on YouTube. The main series is set to begin in spring 2027.

According to its own statements, TV Tokyo is taking part in an anime project for the first time that initially focuses its distribution on YouTube and social networks. Producer Plott already runs several series of short animations and is also working on international distribution of its own short anime. The goal of the joint project is to make the characters and their world known first through short formats and then to expand the story in longer episodes.

Samurai against mechanical demons

The story is set in modern Japan. There, so-called Kimon, gates to another world, open at various locations. From them emerge mechanical yokai, called Yokai, which attack people. An organization of Samurai opposes them, fighting its enemies with special weapons called Katana.

The young Chiaki Kuzumi, however, carries a blade himself that contains the powers of his enemies. His battles are the focus of the series. The materials published so far also show the characters Yuna Fujimiya and Kiyoharu Obana.

The voice roles have already been cast: Kentaro Mashiro voices Chiaki, Riona Yamashita Yuna and Ayumu Mizukami Kiyoharu. A first official promo clip was released together with the announcement.

Hiroyuki Takei designs the characters

Hiroyuki Takei is known for his manga Shaman King, which has already been adapted into anime several times. For Mecha Samurai he provides the original designs of the main characters; the project is not an adaptation of an existing manga by him.

The short videos appear on the official YouTube channel of Mecha Samurai. Further information about the production and the characters is available on the anime website as well as in the TV Tokyo press release. A German-language dub has not yet been announced.