Voice actor Shunsuke Takeuchi is set to portray the adult version of the legendary hitman Jūzō Ōgami in the upcoming anime adaptation of Tadatoshi Fujimaki’s KILL BLUE. The anime adaptation is based on the manga of the same name by mangaka Tadatoshi Fujimaki, the creator of Kuroko’s Basketball and ROBOT × LASERBEAM.
The series, which, if it’s anything like its manga counterpart, will blend high-stakes action with a coming-of-age twist. Shunsuke Takeuchi is known for his roles in The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls and Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS. His character this time?
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Well, it’s the fearsome 39-year-old assassin who is unexpectedly transformed into a middle school student. The announcement coincided with the release of a new visual showing Ōgami in his hitman glory: white-haired, smoking a cigarette, and wielding a gun. Yes, another white-haired hitman to take Sakamoto’s place between seasons!
What can we expect from the KILL BLUE anime?
The official synopsis released by the studio:
A legendary assassin at 39. Starting over… as a middle schooler.
Jūzō Ōgami is a legendary hitman who has never failed an assignment, no matter how impossible. One day, after wiping out a powerful organization, he is stung by a mysterious wasp and collapses. When he wakes up, the fearsome 39-year-old assassin has been transformed into a 13-year-old boy!
Before he can even process what happened, his boss delivers a new order: “In that body, infiltrate a middle school.” What awaits him is an unexpected school life filled with colorful classmates, youthful chaos, and looming danger. Can Jūzō ever return to his original form? Or will the assassins closing in on him end his second life before it even begins?
What can we expect from Jūzō Ōgami?
When discussing the role, Takeuchi noted his approach to portraying the character’s unique situation in a press release.
“Jūzō has the mind of an adult but the body of a child, so at first I thought I might need to do some detective work—but it seems that’s not the case! What a relief! I’ve often been told I seem a bit older than my age, so I feel a certain kinship with this character. All of the characters in KILL BLUE are incredibly expressive, and I’m excited to pop in from time to time and watch over their energetic interactions.”
Production Details
Hiro Kaburagi, known for directing Netflix’s GREAT PRETENDER and beloved shojo series Kimi ni Todoke, helms the project. Miho Daidōji, who previously worked on Kuroko’s Basketball and Kimi ni Todoke Season 3, is handling Character Design with animation production managed by CUE.
What is the KILL BLUE release date?
KILL BLUE is scheduled for a 2026 release; however, a specific release date has not been shared by the production company. We also do not have a release platform for the series.
