The second cour of the anime is airing weekly, with the story advancing through a confrontation between Yuru, Asa, and the Daemons who deceived them, and the series has revealed its third major faction, Nishino Village.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm, the anime adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa's manga, has been running for two consecutive cours since April 4, with Crunchyroll streaming it and a same-day English dub. The production team, led by director Masahiro Ando at Bones Film, includes series scriptwriter Noboru Takagi, character designer Nobuhiro Arai, and composer Kenichiro Suehiro. The cast includes Kensho Ono as Yuru, Yume Miyamoto as Asa, and Yuichi Nakamura as Dera, with several veteran actors joining as the story expanded.
Early episodes established the world of demon-wielding factions and the siblings Yuru and Asa, who reunite in episode 5. Episode 9 confirmed the attack on the village was an inside job pointing to Higashi Village. Episode 12 broadened the world-building, introducing Ivan's infiltration and questioning the village's barrier defenses. By episodes 13-15, Yuru learned that his best friend Danji and his little sister are Daemons, leading to his emotional breakdown and paranoid suspicion of his allies.
The second cour, which began July 4, brought the central deception to a head. Episode 21 revealed that Kiri and Danji lied to Yuru for years, binding and controlling him, but without malice. Asa, who tried to kill Kiri in the first episode, now sees her as a victim. The series also named Nishino Village as the third major faction pulling Hayato's strings. Reviews have praised Arakawa's long-game plotting, while criticism has targeted contrived fight logic in some episodes.
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Episode 22 of Daemons of the Shadow Realm splits into two character studies. The first follows Gonzo's first meeting with Asuma's mother Iori, which reads as evidence that Gonzo, despite his pragmatism, genuinely loved her. The second follows Akio, an orphan Gonzo took in who turned traitor after finding a sense of belonging with people from Nishino Village. The episode casts Akio as a possible future for Asa and Yuru.
Manta, the global content platform, announced worldwide distribution deals with KADOKAWA, Square Enix, and Square Enix's Manga UP! platform. More than 300 titles are being added, including The Apothecary Diaries, Proud to be the Villainess, Daemons of the Shadow Realm, and Tokyo Ravens. The company launched its manga category in April with Kodansha titles.
Episode 21 of Daemons of the Shadow Realm brings the confrontation between Yuru, Asa, and the Daemons who deceived them. Kiri and Danji lied to Yuru for years, binding and controlling him, yet the betrayal carried no malice. Asa, who tried to kill Kiri in the first episode, now sees her as a victim. The episode reveals Asa's obsession with Yuru as a coping mechanism after a decade of isolation.
Episode 20 of Daemons of the Shadow Realm shows Ivan winning a four-on-one fight but paying a price, as his sword's daemon-draining power backfires when used on strong enemies like Left. The episode also names the third major faction as Nishino Village, which has been pulling Hayato's strings.
Anime News Network's review of episode 19 reads the installment as a study of how Yuru and Asa think. Yuru, who walked into a trap to save Fake Asa and a village girl, must choose between the hostages and his long-held goal of finding his parents. Asa rescues the hostages and saves Fake Asa as a calculated move, putting her brother's need for the truth ahead of vengeance. Yuru responds by agreeing to meet her after the crisis.
Episode 18 of Daemons of the Shadow Realm centers on Asuma, whose motives remain ambiguous despite Yozakura's claim that his daemons are held hostage by a loathed relative. The episode ends on a cliffhanger with Asa arriving to save the captives while Yuru faces a moral dilemma between saving a friend or an innocent child.
Episode 17 of Daemons of the Shadow Realm reveals that Akio, a member of Jin's squad, wanted Yuru dead, a fact set up back in episode 4. The episode also develops Gabby, who tries to kill Akio after he threatens to destroy the Kagemori compound. The review praises Hiromu Arakawa's long-game plotting.
Episode 16 of Daemons of the Shadow Realm focuses on Yuru's interrogation by Hayato and Asuma, who try to recruit him with promises of freedom and reminders of betrayal. Yuru resists, trusting his allies and stalling for rescue. Dera's loyalty is also questioned in a separate scene.
In episodes 13-15 of Daemons of the Shadow Realm, protagonist Yuru reaches a breaking point after learning his best friend Danji and his little sister are Daemons. He spirals into paranoid suspicion of everyone around him before eventually recognizing his own avoidance patterns. The episodes also set up a confrontation with Ivan and Hayato, who kidnap the fake Asa to draw Yuru out.
The staff for the television anime of Hiromu Arakawa's Daemons of the Shadow Realm manga released the main promotional video, key visual, and theme song details for the second cour on Sunday. Kei Sugawara performs the ending theme song "Kujaku" (Peacock), while Masanori Otoda provides the opening theme song "back shot." The second cour debuts on July 4. The anime, directed by Masahiro Ando at Bones Film, premiered on April 4 and is set to run for two consecutive cours. Crunchyroll streams the series with a same-day English dub. The cast includes Kensho Ono as Yuru, Yume Miyamoto as Asa, Yuichi Nakamura as Dera, and Misaki Kuno as Gabu-chan. Noboru Takagi oversees series scripts, Nobuhiro Arai handles character design and chief animation direction, and Kenichiro Suehiro composes the music. Arakawa launched the manga in Square Enix's Monthly Shonen Gangan in December 2021, with the 13th volume releasing July 10.
Episode 12 of Daemons of the Shadow Realm shifts focus from Yuru and Asa's personal story to broader world-building, showing how different demon-wielding factions react to recent events. The episode introduces Ivan's infiltration of Higashi Village, reveals that villagers were aware of a plot to kill Yuru, and questions the effectiveness of the village's barrier defenses.
Episode 11 of Daemons of the Shadow Realm introduces Ken, Dera's previously unknown half-brother, who claims to have found powerful Daemons by chance. The episode also reveals that Dera's father helped Yuru and Asa's parents escape their village before disappearing. The review questions Ken's trustworthiness and suggests he may be a spy.
Anime News Network's review of episode 10 of Daemons of the Shadow Realm gives the episode a community score of 4.1 but criticizes the fight choreography as contrived. The reviewer argues that Dera's use of a sniper rifle is illogical, as he could have ended the battle immediately but instead made choices that prolonged the fight for dramatic effect.
Voice actor and ADR assistant director Ben Stegmair appeared on the podcast Something Genuine Season 2, Episode 2. He discussed his early focus on voice acting, the mentors who shaped his career, and his role as Yuru in Daemons of the Shadow Realm. Stegmair also shared his Mt. Rushmore of manga and his ambition to create original comics.
Episode 9 of Daemons of the Shadow Realm is a necessary but not particularly entertaining episode that focuses on tying up loose ends. The Kagemoris investigate the mastermind behind the previous night's attacks, revealing a fool-proof lie detector and that the attack was an inside job. Meanwhile, Dera takes Yuru shopping for arrow-making supplies, leading to discussions about the bandits who attacked Yuru and the likely involvement of Higashi Village. The episode ends with Dera and Yuru leading their pursuers into a trap, but two of the three are killed by Tenaga-Ashinaga, setting up a fight between Left and Right and Tenaga-Ashinaga.
The television anime adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa's manga Daemons of the Shadow Realm (Yomi no Tsugai) announced five new cast members on Sunday, May 31. Yū Shimamura will voice Natsuki Kurotani, and Hayato Fujii will play Fuyuki Kurotani. Ayumu Murase joins as Blacklist. Ako Mayama and Shigeru Chiba will voice the dual role of Tenaga Ashinaga (Long Arms Long Legs), debuting in the anime's 10th episode on June 6. The anime premiered on April 4 on Tokyo MX, BS11, and other channels, and is set for two consecutive cours. Crunchyroll streams the series with a same-day English dub. Bones Film produces the anime, with Masahiro Andō directing, Noboru Takagi handling series scripts, and Nobuhiro Arai designing characters. Kenichiro Suehiro composes the music. Vaundy performs the opening theme "Tobu Toki" (Time to Fly), and singer yama performs the ending theme "Tobō yo" (Let's Fly). Arakawa launched the manga in Monthly Shonen Gangan in December 2021; the 13th volume ships July 10.
Anime Feminist reviewed the first episode of Daemons of the Shadow Realm, the new anime based on Hiromu Arakawa's manga. The review praises the premiere for its extreme violence, gore, and thrilling action, calling it a strong start that sets up intriguing world-building questions. The story follows Yuru, a young man in a seemingly peaceful mountain village, and his sister Asa, who is locked up as part of a community ritual tied to a prophecy about controlling Daemon forces. The review highlights the show's feminist themes, particularly the critique of patriarchal control and women's complicity in subjugation, embodied by the Granny character who forces Yuru's mother to delay childbirth. The episode tears apart the village's status quo, forcing Yuru to venture out into the world. The review notes the excellent execution from director Masahiro Ando and Studio Bones, with sublime character animation and action. The character designs follow Arakawa's style of broad-shouldered men and curvy women. The review avoids spoiling the twist but says the community hides a terrible secret revealed by episode's end.
The anime adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa's manga Daemons of the Shadow Realm (Yomi no Tsugai) has released its first preview for the 9th episode, which airs on May 30, 2026. The series debuted on April 4, 2026, and streams on Crunchyroll. The manga, which began in 2021, has over three million copies in circulation. The anime is directed by Masahiro Ando with scripts by Noboru Takagi, character designs by Nobuhiro Arai, and animation production by Bones Film. The Japanese cast includes Kensho Ono as Yuru, Yume Miyamoto as Asa, Yuichi Nakamura as Dera, and others. The opening theme is "Tobu Toki" by Vandy, and the ending theme is "Tobo Yo" by yama. In a separate interview, English dub voice actors Ben Stegmair (Yuru) and Molly Zhang (Asa) discussed their approaches to the roles, with Stegmair noting he plays three distinct versions of Yuru and Zhang describing how she used a different voice for the fake Asa.
The anime adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa's manga has added Shinichirō Miki to the cast as Ivan Yosano, a mysterious daemon user who debuted in episode 6. The series premiered on April 4 and is set for two consecutive cours on Crunchyroll.
Episode 5 of Daemons of the Shadow Realm brings Yuru and Asa together at last, avoiding a tease and instead advancing the layered mysteries of the series. The meeting adds complexity to the parents' disappearance and reveals more than two factions are after the siblings, leading to an action scene that forces Yuru to fight alongside the Kagemori clan.
The staff for the television anime of Hiromu Arakawa's Daemons of the Shadow Realm confirmed two new cast members on May 16. Kappei Yamaguchi voices Hikaru Kagemori, and Yoshiko Sakakibara voices Kai. Both characters debuted in the seventh episode, which aired in Japan on the same day. The anime premiered on April 4 on Tokyo MX, BS11, Gunma TV, and Tochigi TV, and is set to run for two consecutive cours. Crunchyroll streams the series with a same-day English dub. Masahiro Ando directs at Bones Film, with Noboru Takagi overseeing series scripts and Nobuhiro Arai handling character designs. Kenichiro Suehiro composes the music. Vaundy performs the opening theme "Tobu Toki," and yama performs the ending theme "Tobo yo." The manga, which Arakawa launched in Monthly Shonen Gangan in December 2021, has 12 compiled volumes as of March 2026. Square Enix Manga & Books publishes the English edition. The story follows twins Yuru and Asa, separated at a young age, who must reunite and claim their birthright over powerful entities called Daemons.