Fullmetal Alchemist author's new anime reveals release date

Demons of the Shadow Realm has a release date along with a new trailer

Hiromu Arakawa may have risen to fame thanks to her smash hit manga Fullmetal Alchemist, but the Japanese author hasn't been idle after the end of Edward and Alphonse's adventure. After the realistic, slice-of-life Silver Spoon, set in the Japanese countryside, and the fantasy The Heroic Legend of Arslan, the author's latest work was Daemons of the Shadow Realm. The anime adaptation, announced in 2025, finally has a release date, set for April 4, 2026.

The date was announced with a new trailer that showcased some of the characters who will appear in this story that mixes battles, Japanese folklore, and some elements common to Arakawa's stories, such as the bond between siblings. Yuru and Asa were born in the remote Higashi Village, isolated from the rest of the modern world. After being separated, they will fight to find each other while mastering the power of Daemons, spiritual guardians that operate in pairs and obey the orders of their master.

The plot is actually more complex than that, as Yuru soon finds himself navigating the treachery and machinations of powerful clans of Daemon users. The boy grew up in a place stuck in the past, developing survival skills that, while useful in battle, make him feel out of place in the modern world, which adds an element of humor to the series. Interestingly, Daemons of the Shadow Realm will be animated by Bones, the same studio that produced Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, often celebrated as one of the best anime of all time.

If Bones' skills and aptitude for adapting Arakawa's work are still intact, Daemons of the Shadow Realm could be one of the biggest anime surprises of 2026. The series will air for two consecutive hours, so fans can expect to see a big chunk of the manga, which is still ongoing, adapted.