is a Japanese
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
television series adaptation of its
namesake video game. The series is animated by
Zexcs
is a Japanese animation studio located in Koganei, Tokyo, Japan. It was established on January 23, 1998, by former J.C.Staff producer Tomoko Kawasaki and is known for doing the animation production of series such as ''Sister Princess'' and ''Dia ...
and directed by
Keiichiro Kawaguchi
is a Japanese animator and director born in Kawasaki, Kanagawa.
Life and career
Kawaguchi got his start at Ashi Productions and has worked as a key animator and animation director, as well as episode director for many projects. In recent years, h ...
, with Rintaro Isaki and
Deko Akao
is a Japanese singer and screenwriter. She has released 17 singles and 11 albums since her debut in 1994. Several of her songs have been used as openings and endings of anime and radio dramas. She has also written the screenplays of various anim ...
handling series composition, Hiroki Harada designing the characters, and
Yoshihiro Ike
is a Japanese composer, music arranger, and bassist. He is best known for scoring and composing music for film, TV dramas, anime and video games. He has worked on over 100 titles in the last 20 years. His most recognized composing works are ''A ...
composing the series' music. The series aired from April 7, 2020, to March 23, 2021, on
TV Tokyo
JOTX-DTV (channel 7), branded as is a Japanese television station that serves as the flagship of the TX Network.[simulcast
Simulcast (a portmanteau of "simultaneous broadcast") is the broadcasting of programs or events across more than one resolution, bitrate or medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at exactly the same time (that is, simultaneously) ...]
internationally on
Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is an American Video on demand#Subscription models, subscription video on-demand Over-the-top media service, over-the-top Streaming media, streaming service owned by Sony, Sony Group Corporation. The service primarily distributes fi ...
. The band Penguin Research performed the first opening theme, "Kirifuda" (lit.
Trump Card
Trump card(s) may refer to:
Cards
* Trump (card games), any higher-ranked playing card
* Trump cards, or Major Arcana, a suit in tarot
* Trump Cards, 2022 NFTs featuring Donald Trump
Film and television
* ''The Trump Card'' (film), a 1942 Fren ...
), while
Yui Ogura
is a Japanese voice actress and singer from Gunma Prefecture.
Career
In 2009, Ogura performed the motion capture for Hatsune Miku in the game ''Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA (video game), Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA''. Ogura is a member of the J ...
performed the first ending theme, "Happiness Sensation". The second opening theme, "Shinsekai" (New World), was performed by
FLOW
Flow may refer to:
Science and technology
* Fluid flow, the motion of a gas or liquid
* Flow (geomorphology), a type of mass wasting or slope movement in geomorphology
* Flow (mathematics), a group action of the real numbers on a set
* Flow (psyc ...
, while the second ending theme, "Kokoro Darenimo" (Heart to Everyone), was performed by the Game Jikkyōsha Wakuwaku Band.
A second anime series, titled ''Shadowverse Flame'', has been announced. The main staff members are returning to reprise their roles. The series aired from April 2, 2022 to September 28, 2024. The opening theme is "Shingan" (The Mind's Eye) by Lanndo featuring
Keina Suda
is a Japanese musician and singer-songwriter. He belongs to the label Unborde, a sublabel of Warner Music Japan. Before 2017 he made music using Vocaloid and other related software under the name .
Life and career
Keina Suda started playing ...
, while the ending theme is "My Turn" by Yui Ogura.
Plot
Season 1
Hiro Ryūgasaki is an ordinary middle school student at Tensei Academy. Through a strange occurrence, Hiiro obtains a mysterious
smartphone
A smartphone is a mobile phone with advanced computing capabilities. It typically has a touchscreen interface, allowing users to access a wide range of applications and services, such as web browsing, email, and social media, as well as multi ...
with the popular digital card game ''Shadowverse'' app installed. Through the game, Hiro meets rivals, meets new friends, participates in tournaments, and forms bonds with others. Later, Hiro and his friends discover that the true purpose of Shadowverse is to save the world from an impending
doomsday
Doomsday may refer to:
* Eschatology, a time period described in the eschatological writings in Abrahamic religions and in doomsday scenarios of non-Abrahamic religions.
* Global catastrophic risk, a hypothetical event explored in science and fict ...
event.
Season 2: Shadowverse Flame
Set three years after the events of the first season. Light Tenryu enrolls at Shadowverse College after receiving an invite and pre-loaded deck from the school's founder, Wolfram Zerga. Light has no idea how to even play Shadowverse at first but is told the college is the key to his destiny. He soon joins a soon to be disbanded club called "Seventh Flame." Meanwhile, the newly reformed Genesis Corp has started research into a new artifact called the Arc that has been mysteriously stolen.
Characters
Season 1
;
:
: Hiro is a 2nd-year middle school student at Tensei Academy. He is extremely perseverant and has a strong genuine love for the game. He lives with his grandfather and had long believed that his parents died during an accident while he was young, however it was later revealed his parents are trapped inside the Tree of Woe, an invention developed by his father's company that backfired and was destined to destroy the world. He plays the Dragoncraft
class
Class, Classes, or The Class may refer to:
Common uses not otherwise categorized
* Class (biology), a taxonomic rank
* Class (knowledge representation), a collection of individuals or objects
* Class (philosophy), an analytical concept used d ...
. He returns in the second season as a member of the Seven Shadows, the top Shadowverse players in the world who hold a secret behind Light's Digifriend Draconir. He has also come to use the Portalcraft class.
;
:
: Luca is a middle school student at a different school than Hiro's. At a young age, a truck killed his parents and badly injured his sister, Shiori, who lives in a
rehabilitation hospital
Rehabilitation hospitals, also referred to as inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, are devoted to the rehabilitation of patients with various neurological, musculoskeletal, orthopedic, and other medical conditions following stabilization of their ...
. Luca plays ''Shadowverse'' with the goal to raise enough money for Shiori to recover. He is rarely happy due to Shiori's condition, much to Shiori's chagrin who just wants to see her older brother smile. He plays the Bloodcraft class. He returns in the second season as a member of the Seven Shadows, the top Shadowverse players in the world who hold a secret behind Light's Digifriend Draconir.
;
:
: Mimori is Hiro's classmate and one of his best friends. She worries a lot about being too ordinary. She also is not a fan of ghosts and other scary things. She plays the Forestcraft class. She returns in the second season having continued her education and became a high schooler.
;
:
: Kazuki is Hiro's classmate and one of his best friends. He is great at sports, but still has room for improvement when it comes to Shadowverse. Due to having to take care of his six younger brothers and sisters, he is surprisingly responsible. He plays the Swordcraft class. He returns in the second season having become close friends with Kai and now runs his family's restaurant.
;
:
: Kai is a 1st-year middle school student at Tensei Academy. He became part of Hiro's group of friends after hearing about him beating the school bully Takuma and challenging him to a Shadowverse duel. He is extremely analytical and proclaims himself as a "
genius
Genius is a characteristic of original and exceptional insight in the performance of some art or endeavor that surpasses expectations, sets new standards for the future, establishes better methods of operation, or remains outside the capabiliti ...
among geniuses". He plays the Runecraft class. He returns in the second season having become close friends to Kazuki.
;
:
: Alice is a child
idol
Idol or Idols may refer to:
Religion and philosophy
* Cult image, a human-made object that is venerated or worshipped for the deity, spirit or daemon that it embodies or represents
* Murti, a devotional image of a deity or saint used during puja ...
with millions of fans. She enjoys Shadowverse but it gives her mixed feelings as her
managers
Management (or managing) is the administration of organizations, whether businesses, nonprofit organizations, or a government bodies through business administration, nonprofit management, or the political science sub-field of public administr ...
force her to play "cute" cards which prevent her from playing and enjoying Shadowverse to her full potential. She became part of Hiro's group of friends when bumping into Mimori at a mall and challenging her to a game of Shadowverse. She plays the Shadowcraft class. She returns in the second season showing she has continued her idol career and gives advice to Light.
;
:
: Mauro is a teenager whom Hiro first met at the semi-finals of the National Shadowverse Tournament, but appeared to mysteriously already know Hiro and his father. He takes great thrill in slowly chasing his opponents and backing them into a corner. Later it's revealed he was
alone and
homeless
Homelessness, also known as houselessness or being unhoused or unsheltered, is the condition of lacking stable, safe, and functional housing. It includes living on the streets, moving between temporary accommodation with family or friends, liv ...
as a child, so Leon
adopted him, with the sole purpose of developing Mauro's Shadowverse skills so he can eventually
sacrifice his life to save the world from the Tree of Woe. He plays the Havencraft class. He returns in the second season working for the Genesis Corporation to help them keep their ARC project and the events of the first season a secret.
;
:
: Leon is the CEO of Genesis Corp, the creator of Shadowverse. Originally his company was inventing the Tree of Blessings which was designed to bring good fortune to the world, only for it to backfire and become the Tree of Woe which will eventually destroy the world. Leon then invented the Shadowverse game with the purpose of shutting down the Tree of Woe and saving the world. Formerly plays the Havencraft class, he currently plays the Portalcraft class.
;
:
: Marguerite is Leon's secretary who sometimes accuses Leon of being impulsive. She has become the new CEO of Genesis Corp in the second season after the events of the first season.
Season 2
;Light Tenryu
: Voiced by:
Yūto Uemura
is a Japanese actor, voice actor and singer. He is affiliated with Himawari Theatre Group.
Personal life
On March 16, 2024, Yūto announced that he had gotten married.
Filmography Television drama
*'' Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger'' (2003), Lad
* ...
: A brand new student at Shadowverse College. He has never played Shadowverse before the start of the season. He's bad with machines and bad at lying. He's very good though at keeping his promises. His Digifriend is the mysterious Draconir. He plays using the Dragoncraft class.
;Draconir
: Light's Digifriend that has the unusual ability to actually talk. He has lost his memories of an alleged life before his time with Light that may have something to do with the mysterious Arc artifact. Light is lead to believe that the Seven Shadows hold pieces of Draconir's missing memory.
;Itsuki Mitsutagawa
:President of the Seventh Flame club. He prefers cute and flowery things which alienated him from other kids growing up. His Digifriend is Slade. He plays using the Forestcraft class.
;Subaru Makabe
:Light's first friend at Shadowverse College. He prefers to be laid back and not take things seriously. He actually resents Shadowverse because of the pressure from his family to become a pro at it but becomes more serious and confident after joining Seventh Flame. His Digifriend is Baccherus. He plays using the Shadowcraft class.
;Shion Otosaka
:A solitary and reclusive person. She's incredibly smart but has a hard time connecting with others. This leads to her only interacting with others via her digital avatar, Lady & Gentleman. Originally the secret president of the Sixth Magic club, she joined Seventh Flame after losing to Light. Her Digifriend is Milady and she plays using the Runecraft class.
;Ren Kazamatsuri
:She's a very athletic and ditzy person with a love of heroes. This alienates her from others around her due to her not being girly enough. She was originally from the Fifth Sword club but joined Seventh Flame in hopes of getting to be who she truly is. Her Digifriend is Amyroth and she plays using the Swordcraft class. She wanted to make friends with Hina.
;Tsubasa Takanashi
:Former president of the Third Feather club. She initially lost interest in Shadowverse after her best friend quit the game after repeated harassment from Haruma Hazeura. She has since become more confident and assertive after joining Seventh Flame. Her Digifriend is Wingy and she plays using the Havencraft class. She mourn Andrea in episode 83.
;Ryoga Jasei
:Former student & president of Shadoba Collage's Second Blood. The only things he cares about are his love of metal music and crushing people in Shadowverse. He considers everything else as unnecessary noise. His Digifriend is Demonium but rejects him and he plays using the Bloodcraft class.
;Haruma Hazeura
:President of the First Reaper club. An enemy of Light, who intends to destroy Seventh Flame. He became cold hearted and focused on crushing anyone he considers weak after repeated losses to Mikado. He plays using the Shadowcraft class.
;Mikado Shirogane
:Board chairman of Shadowverse Battle College. His Digifriend is Garuel. He initially looks childish and just wants to have fun. In reality he's cold-hearted and views everyone around him as boring toys for him to break. He plays using only Neutral cards (ones not tied to any of the seven classes).
;Andrea Rondo
:Voiced by
Fumiko Orikasa
is a Japanese actress, voice actress and singer. She voiced Rukia Kuchiki in ''Bleach'', Meyrin Hawke in '' Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny'', Chun-Li in ''Street Fighter'', Kanade Minamino/Cure Rhythm in ''Suite PreCure,'' Lotte Yanson in '' ...
:Andrea survived the fall but has a broken right arm.
;Hina Sinclair
:Voiced by
Inori Minase
is a Japanese voice actress and singer affiliated with Axl One.
In March 2016, she won the Best Lead Actress Award in the 10th Seiyu Awards for her leading roles as Jun Naruse in the box office hit '' The Anthem of the Heart'' and as Yuki Ta ...
:Hina ran away from home. It is revealed that she survived the fall.
;Mrs. Rondo
:Voiced by Unknown
:She is the mother of Andrea Rondo. Her director stole her theories when Andrea was young.
Episodes
Shadowverse
#This is Shadowverse!!
#Hiro's Resolve
#The Plot of the Genius Among Geniuses
#Something Special
#Fierce Battle! Hiro vs. Kazuki!
#The Reason For Strength
#Aim for Master Rank!
#The National Tournament Finals Begin!
#The Curtain Rises! A Beautiful Witch Show!
#Maura's Spellcasting!
#Hiro vs. Lucia!
#Who Will Claim Victory?
#The Shadow Grand Prix Begins
#A Mouthwatering Battle! Marcel Tabeoka!
#Super Rich! Miyabi Zaizenji!
#An Invitation to the Underworld! The Justine Sisters!
#Special and Ordinary
#A Terrible Trap! Zuo and Ko
#Bearers of Shadow!
#A Smile that's Black
#Battle of Destiny
#Conclusion, and...
#Unknown Encounter
#Blessing and Woe
#Seven Hopes
#Grab the Legend
#The Ultimate Dragon
#Overlapping Answers
#Proof That I Am Me
#Resolve and Courage
#Hero's Blade
#Footsteps of Hope
#Fate of Destruction
#Battle of Despair
#Prelude to the End
#A Heart That Believes
#A Voice That Calls to Awaken
#Hiro and the Black Dragon Knight!
#Mimori's an Idol
#Alice's Truth
#Kazuki's Great Escape!
#Kai and the Forbidden Magic
#Mauro's Wish. A Longing that Cannot Be!
#Lucia and the Undead King
#The Castle in the Sky
#The Ruler of the World
#Time of Evolution
#Battle! Shadowverse!
Shadowverse Flame
#My Shadowverse Starts Here!
#This Is My Brilliant Plan!
#I Can Tell Because We Battled!
#Lady & Gentleman!
#Do Me a Favor
Shadowverse Flame: Seven Shadows-hen
#We Challenge the Strongest!
#I Accept Your Challenge!
#That's Your Weakness
Shadowverse Flame: Arc-hen
#For the sake of the world, we will defeat you!
#Judgement has already been passed
#You're fighting against four!
#Open a path to the future!
#I'll pay the world back for what it's done to me!
#So this what you call anger
#This is the truth of everything!
#I'm simply following my destiny
Notes
References
External links
Anime official website
TV Tokyo official website
*
{{Zexcs
2020 anime television series debuts
Anime television series based on video games
Crunchyroll anime
TV Tokyo original programming
Zexcs