The acclaimed 2021 fighting game Guilty Gear Strive will receive an anime adaptation from Sanzigen Studios titled Dual Rulers. Because of the game’s massive fanbase, many will be excited by this news. Despite this, the history of anime adaptations for video games remains checkered.
Fortunately, the reputation of both developer Arc System Works and the Guilty Gear franchise gives fans hope that the game will work as an animated series proper. Here is a breakdown of everything to know for the upcoming Dual Rulers.
The Upcoming Anime
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According to Arc System Works themselves, they are producing an anime adaptation of their fighting game Guilty Gear Strive titled Dual Rulers. The anime has not been given a release window or an episode count. Furthermore, it is unknown whether the anime will adapt the original game’s story or be an original tale of its own. An official website was created to promote the anime.
The series will be produced by Sanzigen Studios, which is famous for Arpeggio of Blue Steel and Miss Monochrome and previously produced other content for ArcSys. The series specializes in 3D animation, meaning they are especially well-suited to adapting the game’s art style. Shigeru Morikawa will be the director. More information will be revealed at Anime Expo 2024 in Los Angeles on July 4.
What Is Guilty Gear Strive?
Strive is the latest entry in the Guilty Gear series. The story is a “final chapter” that ends hero Sol Badguy’s arc across the previous titles. As stated above, the game was a massive hit, with 2.5 million registered users worldwide. Players remember the game for its bombastic cast and metal soundtrack. As a fighting game, Guilty Gear is one of the most popular in the genre, having spawned a massive fanbase and a thriving esports scene.
Arc System Works is regarded by many as one of the predefinite fighting game developers. Their franchises include the long-running Guilty Gear and BlazBlue series, Granblue Fantasy, and adaptations of other properties such as Persona 4: Arena and Dragon Ball FighterZ. The company exists at the heart of the “anime fighting game” genre that unites both respective worlds.
Could An Anime Adaptation Work?
The history of Japanese video games being adapted into anime has been fairly hit or miss. The most obvious example would be the 1000+ episode Pokemon anime, though it succeeds largely through brand recognition. Successful examples include The World Ends With You: The Animation, while there have been failures such as Persona 5: The Animation and Dragon’s Dogma. Therefore, this latest anime could go either way.
This will not be the first time Arc System Works has adapted one of their games into an anime, such as with the 2013 series BlazBlue: Alter Memory. Many saw the anime itself as a decent adaptation. Additionally, they have done the opposite with the 2019 game Kill la Kill: IF. Overall, Arc System Works has proven all of its animation, art, and storytelling skills enough for them to have faith in this project.
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