Anime fans attending New York Comic Con 2026 got a major update on one of the most anticipated adaptations in recent memory. During its panel at the convention on Thursday, Crunchyroll revealed new cast members, additional staff, and a delay for the upcoming Ghost of Tsushima: Legends anime series, known in Japan as Ghost of Tsushima: Kuroudo Kitan. The announcement confirmed two new starring voice actors while also revealing that the series, which was first announced to debut in 2027, has now been pushed to 2028.
New Cast Members Take the Stage
The biggest casting news from the panel is that the anime will star Mayumi Sako and Shinya Fukumatsu. The two actors join a production that has already generated significant buzz thanks to its creative team, and their addition gives fans their first concrete look at the vocal talent bringing this supernatural samurai world to life.
An Experienced Creative Team Grows
Alongside the cast reveal, Crunchyroll announced several key additions to the anime's staff. Music composition duties will be handled by Keiji Inai, whose previous credits include Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, This Monster Wants to Eat Me, and The Beginning After The End. With the Legends storyline drawing heavily on Japanese folklore and mythology, Inai's score is expected to play a crucial role in establishing the series' tone.
Sound direction will be overseen by Yoshikazu Iwanami, a veteran whose resume spans Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and KONOSUBA – God's blessing on this wonderful world!!. Rounding out the audio team is sound effects artist Yasumasa Koyama, known for his work on Ajin, Brave Bang Bravern!, and Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works.
Traditional Japanese artistry is also being woven into the production. Calligrapher Gyousyou Suzuki, who previously handled lettering and calligraphy supervision on the Barakamon anime, has worked on the calligraphy of the anime's Japanese title, "Kuroudo Kitan."
Previously Announced Talent
These new additions build on an already impressive core team. Takanobu Mizuno, who directed the acclaimed Star Wars: Visions short "The Duel," is directing the anime at studio Kamikaze Douga. The studio itself carries an enviable pedigree, having worked on Star Wars: Visions "The Duel," Batman Ninja, Sand Land, and the opening sequences of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
The script is being written by Satoshi Maejima and Gen Urobuchi, with Urobuchi previously announced for story composition as well. Character design comes from Takashi Okazaki. HAYATE Inc. is overseeing production, with Aniplex collaborating on the anime and Sony Music serving as the "music and soundtrack partner."
A Delay to 2028
Perhaps the most bittersweet piece of news for fans is the timing. The anime was first announced to debut exclusively on Crunchyroll in 2027, but the panel confirmed that the series has now been delayed to 2028. While delays are never what audiences want to hear, the expanding staff roster suggests the production is being given the resources and time needed to do justice to its source material.
From Game to Anime: The Source Material
For those unfamiliar with the property, Ghost of Tsushima was released by Sucker Punch Productions and SIE on PlayStation 4 in July 2020, followed by a PlayStation 5 release in August 2021 and a PC release in May 2024. The game is a fictionalization of the historical 1274 Mongol invasion of the island of Tsushima, following samurai Jin Sakai, the sole survivor of his clan, as he fights a guerilla war against the invading Mongols.
The Legends anime, however, draws from a different side of the franchise. Ghost of Tsushima: Legends is a multiplayer addition to the original game that debuted in October 2020 and became available as a separate release in September 2021. Unlike the historically grounded setting of the base game, the multiplayer mode focuses on Japanese folklore and mythology — a shift that explains the supernatural flavor of the anime adaptation and the involvement of a writer like Urobuchi, known for his dark, mythologically tinged storytelling.
The franchise remains very much alive in gaming as well. A sequel, Ghost of Yōtei, launched in October 2025, with its story set more than 300 years after the original, in 1603 in Hokkaido.
What This Means for Fans
The combination of a Star Wars: Visions director, a legendary writer in Gen Urobuchi, a distinctive character designer in Takashi Okazaki, and now a seasoned audio team makes Ghost of Tsushima: Legends one of the more intriguing anime projects on the horizon. The delay to 2028 may test fans' patience, but with Crunchyroll continuing to invest in the production — including high-profile collaborators like Aniplex and Sony Music — the project appears to be moving forward with considerable ambition.
As production continues at Kamikaze Douga under the oversight of HAYATE Inc., fans can likely expect more casting announcements and promotional material in the lead-up to the 2028 premiere. For now, the reveal of Mayumi Sako and Shinya Fukumatsu as stars gives audiences a first taste of the voices that will carry this folklore-infused samurai tale.
We will continue to follow developments on the Ghost of Tsushima: Legends anime as more information becomes available, so stay tuned to WeebHQ.com for future updates on the cast, staff, and release plans.
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