A new trailer for the highly anticipated Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers anime has arrived, revealing key details about the series including the premiere date, additional cast and staff, and the opening theme song. The anime, inspired by the popular Guilty Gear fighting game series, is set to begin airing on April 5, 2025, with international streaming on Crunchyroll.
Premiere Date and Broadcast Details
The Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers anime will premiere in Japan on April 5, 2025, at 10:30 pm JST every Saturday. Additionally, the series will be broadcast on ABC TV every Thursday at 2:45 AM JST starting April 10, 2025. Digital distribution in Japan will be available on d Anime Store. Fans outside of Japan can catch the show on Crunchyroll, which will stream the anime worldwide, excluding Japan, China, and Korea.
Trailer Reveals Key Elements
The recently released trailer offers a sneak peek at the anime’s fast-paced action scenes and introduces the central conflict of the story. It also features the opening theme song, “AXCLUSION”, performed by the rock band ulma sound junction. The trailer also revealed the character Yunika, a mysterious girl who clashes with Sin Kiske due to his Gear heritage, adding a new layer of depth to the established lore. A key visual featuring main characters Sol Badguy, Sin Kiske, and Yunika was also released, further hyping the anime’s debut.
Cast and Staff Details
The voice cast for Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers includes several returning members from the games, alongside some new talent. The confirmed cast includes:
- Issei Miyazaki as Sin Kiske
- Joji Nakata as Sol Badguy
- Yui Ishikawa as Unika
- Takeshi Kusao as Ky Kiske
- Kazue Fujita as Dizzy
- Manaka Iwami as Bridget
- Megumi Han as Ramlethal Valentine
- Aya Suzaki as Elphelt Valentine
- Hiromi Igarashi as Jack-O’
- Mayumi Asano as Baiken
- Norio Wakamoto as Johnny
- Tetsu Inada as Leo Whitefang
- Junichi Endo as Vernon
- Yasuhiro Mamiya as Nerville Hammer
- Tomokazu Sugita as Narrator
- Keiichi Nanba as Axl Low
The anime is directed by Shigeru Morikawa, who previously worked on Argonavis Movie: Ryusei no Obligato and Argonavis Movie: Axia. Norimitsu Kaiho, known for his work on Akudama Drive, is handling series composition. Original character designer from the game series, Daisuke Ishiwatari, is also credited for the anime’s character designs, with Takuya Chanohara, Joseph Shin, and Yuka Hachimori taking on the roles of character designers for the anime adaptation. The music is composed by Ryo Takahashi. The anime production is being handled by Studio Sanzigen, known for its CG animation and having previously produced the promotional video for Sol Badguy’s theme song, “Find Your One Way”.
Additional Staff
- Assistant Directors: Shinpei Ishikawa, Hiroshi Morita
- Screenplay: Kou Shigenobu
- Art Director: Kazuhiro Arai
- Compositing Director: Daisuke Okumura
- Editor: Hatsumi Hidaka
- Color Coordination: Miyu Ishibashi
- Sound Director: Fumihiko Ootera
- Sound Production: Magic Capsule
Storyline and Setting
The official synopsis for the anime describes a world where magic has replaced science and technology as the primary energy source. In this era, humanity created powerful biological weapons known as Gears. These Gears eventually turned against their creators, leading to a major conflict called the Crusades. The series is set after the events of Guilty Gear Strive, focusing on the relationship between Sin Kiske, a half-human, half-Gear, and Yunika, who harbors animosity towards Gears. The wedding of Ky Kiske and Dizzy, a human and a Gear, sets the stage for the series, breaking a significant taboo within the world of Guilty Gear.
Opening Theme
The opening theme song, “AXCLUSION,” by ulma sound junction, has been described as an aggressive track that perfectly complements the anime’s narrative and the characters’ intense emotions. The band has also stated that the aggressive nature of the song matches the anime’s narrative and the characters’ emotions. This theme will add to the unique and high-energy atmosphere that the Guilty Gear series is known for.
Anticipation Builds
The anime adaptation of Guilty Gear Strive has been highly anticipated since its announcement in 2024. With the release of the new trailer, the premiere date, and further cast and staff announcements, the excitement among fans continues to grow. The series promises to deliver the fast-paced action and compelling storyline that the game is renowned for, enhanced by the animation work of Studio Sanzigen. The combination of the animation, music, and talented voice cast suggests that Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers is set to be a must-watch for both long-time fans and newcomers to the franchise. The series will also be available on Crunchyroll, making it accessible to a global audience.
