Sekiro Fans Waiting for Crunchyroll’s Anime Shouldn’t Miss This Modern MAPPA Classic

FromSoftware’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is considered one of the studio’s finest works, earning the prestigious Game of the Year award for its brilliance as well. Earlier this year, reports surfaced about a trademark filing for a Sekiro anime, and on Gamescom Opening Night, August 19, 2025, the adaptation was finally confirmed under the title Sekiro: No Defeat. The announcement also revealed the studios behind the project, Studio Arch and Qzil.la. Alongside the reveal, a short teaser showcased the animation style, offering fans an exciting first glimpse at its potential, especially as a ninja-focused anime exclusive to Crunchyroll.

While the game is widely praised for its exceptional sword-fighting mechanics, its story is equally compelling and, compared to other FromSoftware titles, also the most linear. Set in feudal Japan with the nation of Ashina on the brink of collapse, the narrative follows Wolf on his mission to protect his young master, Kuro, from those who seek Kuro’s mysterious powers. For fans curious about how a Sekiro anime could work, there is a MAPPA classic anime with a somewhat similar premise. Featuring a protagonist with prosthetic tools and a young boy as a companion, Dororo remains the perfect anime for fans eagerly awaiting Sekiro’s adaptation.

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MAPPA’s Dororo Anime Is Perfect for Sekiro Fans Awaiting the Anime

Dororo is an anime based on the 1968 manga of the same name. While a first adaptation was released in 1969, it’s the 2019 version that stands out thanks to its modern animation style. Much like Sekiro, the story is set in feudal Japan and follows a boy named Hyakkimaru. His father sacrifices Hyakkimaru’s limbs and organs to demons at birth in exchange for prosperity, abandoning him in the process. Rescued by a doctor who equips him with prosthetic limbs, Hyakkimaru grows up and embarks on a journey to hunt down demons and reclaim his stolen body parts.

On this perilous quest, Hyakkimaru is joined by a young boy named Dororo, who becomes both a companion and a moral anchor, helping him retain his sanity after countless battles, even those against humans. The similarities with Sekiro are striking. While Hyakkimaru is a samurai, his combat style, enhanced by prosthetic tools, mirrors Wolf’s shinobi techniques. Both narratives unfold in a feudal Japan infused with supernatural forces, where Wolf and Hyakkimaru lose pieces of their humanity the more they face demons and men alike. For Hyakkimaru, this irony is especially poignant, as his very journey is about reclaiming his humanity.

The strongest reason Sekiro fans should give Dororo a try lies in how it demonstrates what a Sekiro anime could achieve. In the game, the focus is primarily on Wolf’s battles against humans and demons, but an anime adaptation promises to expand the narrative, exploring the bond between Wolf and Kuro. In the same way, Dororo blends brutal action with a heartfelt story, making it the ideal anime for fans awaiting the Sekiro adaptation, not only for its similar action style but also for its equally compelling narrative.

What other anime do you think resembles FromSoftware’s Sekiro? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!