The first trailer for the upcoming Shenmue anime series from Crunchyroll has dropped and it’s looking very faithful indeed.
Shenmue is a beloved action/adventure RPG that was first released for the SEGA Dreamcast way back in 1999. Shenmue also received a bigger and arguably better sequel in 2001. However, 18 years would pass until Shenmue 3 finally arrived in 2019.
It is fair to say that the Shenmue series has not aged well, at least in terms of gameplay (and that includes Shenmue 3). Yet despite its discrepancies, Shenmue is a series that is looked upon very fondly by fans.
It is said that series creator Yu Suzuki would like to make more Shenmue games to follow on from the third instalment. That said, there are no signs of any further follow-ups happening anytime soon.
Thankfully, until a 4th, 5th or even 6th Shenmue game may or may not arrive, we can at least take comfort in knowing that an anime series is on the way.
The series looks to be a faithful adaptation
The animated series is co-produced by Crunchyroll and Adult Swim, with the animations being created by Telecom Animation Film. Judging by the first trailer for the Shenmue anime, it will closely follow the video game series. It will star protagonist Ryo Hazuki on his quest for revenge. Oh, and the trailer even includes a tease for the epic 70-man battle.
Shenmue the Animation will stream on Crunchyroll (or FUNimation in the UK). The first season will include 13 episodes which will premiere in 2022.
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Featured Image Credit: Crunchyroll