At the Anime Expo 2025, new trailers for upcoming series from Japan were revealed. Among them is a new announcement that hardly anyone expected. But one name is enough to stir up hype among fans.
What is this new announcement? At the event, a first teaser trailer for Daemons of the Shadow Realm was revealed. The anime is said to be based on the manga of the same name, created by author Hiromu Arakawa. Most people probably know her from her manga, Fullmetal Alchemist (FMA), the second-best anime after Frieren.
- As in Fullmetal Alchemist, it again revolves around a pair of siblings. This time, the twins Yuru and Asa are in the spotlight.
- The two live in the peaceful village of Higashi. However, the girl Asa is kept captive in a cage, while the boy Yuru earns his livelihood as a hunter.
- What the two still don’t know: They are descendants of a special bloodline that governs the Tsugai. These are powerful demons that always appear in pairs.
Through a fateful incident, Yuru realizes that the world around him is not as it seems. He discovers his powers and gets involved in an impending war.
The first teaser trailer doesn’t reveal much yet. However, Yuru’s character design already reminds of the protagonists from Fullmetal Alchemist:
Daemons of the Shadow Realm has many similarities with Fullmetal Alchemist
What does the story have to do with Fullmetal Alchemist? The story of Daemons of the Shadow Realm takes place in its own world and has no connection to Fullmetal Alchemist. Nevertheless, there are some similarities between the two stories:
- As in FMA, two siblings are also in the foreground in the upcoming anime.
- In Daemons of the Shadow Realm, there is again a complex world with political and military entanglements. Both mangas unveil greater mysteries and conspiracies that are only revealed over time.
- The often brutal and tragic fates are interspersed with light humor and lovable interactions between characters.
- There is no simple division between good and evil. Many characters act out of understandable motives – even if their actions are extreme.
However, unlike alchemy, this time the Tsugai are in the foreground. Moreover, there is another major difference that leaves fans somewhat skeptical.
What is the difference? The manga has been running since December 2021 and is still not finished. As some users on Reddit write, the story still feels too open. It seems as if one cannot completely understand what is happening. As a result, fans of Fullmetal Alchemist might quickly feel bored.
Nevertheless, many are excited about the new anime. User “DrPokemon2001” on YouTube comments, for example, “I didn’t expect this to get an anime, but I’m glad it’s coming”.
However, the majority of commentators are not bothered by this: they are delighted simply because the story is written by the author of Fullmetal Alchemist. Furthermore, Studio Bones is responsible for the animation – the animation studio that also adapted Fullmetal Alchemist.
You may have already heard of Fullmetal Alchemist, even if you have never seen the anime. The reason is a scene with a girl and a dog. There are other animes that precede their reputation: 5 Animes that are known for the wrong reasons
