What do you get when you combine ninjas, dinosaurs, and makeup? The answer is Jurassic Shadows, a new original anime from director Norihiro Naganuma, best known for his work on The Apothecary Diaries. The project was announced at Anime Expo 2026 alongside a project PV and concept visual, and it’s exactly as wild as it sounds.
The Premise
The story is set in Tokyo in the year 2029. The official synopsis reads:
Long believed to have vanished after the asteroid impact that caused their extinction, dinosaurs secretly survived by passing their DNA into humanity through interbreeding. Hidden among ordinary people, they now prey upon humans while living unnoticed within society.
Standing against them is a covert order of ninjas who wield Ryugesho, a special pigment infused with ancient memories. By applying this mysterious pigment, they awaken the powers of dinosaurs within themselves and fight back against the predators threatening humanity.
It’s a unique blend of prehistoric power and modern setting, with “makeup” serving as a surprisingly central element.
The Creative Team
The project brings together a highly talented team:
- Director: Norihiro Naganuma (The Apothecary Diaries)
- Screenplay: Kenta Ihara (Saga of Tanya the Evil)
- Original Character Design: Yoichi Amano (Weekly Shonen Jump‘s “AKABOSHI -Ibun Suikoden-“)
- Character Design: Yukiko Nakatani (The Apothecary Diaries)
- Color Design: Misato Aita (The Apothecary Diaries)
- Music: Shuhei Mutsuki (Lycoris Recoil)
- Animation Production: Cannon Code
A Manga Adaptation is Also Coming
In addition to the anime, a manga adaptation has been confirmed for serialization by Kodansha . This will allow fans to enjoy the story across both anime and manga formats. Details regarding the publication platform and launch date will be announced later.
A First Look
A project PV directed by Norihiro Naganuma himself has been released, offering a dynamic first look at the world of Jurassic Shadows. The trailer showcases dinosaurs rampaging through Tokyo and ninjas using their powers, despite this being Naganuma’s first venture into full-scale action.
Jurassic Shadows is an original anime project that blends classic tropes in a fresh and visually exciting way. With a strong creative team and a premise that has already generated significant buzz, it’s one to watch as more details emerge.
Source: qdopp
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