AnimeJapan 2022’s AJ Blue stage received a sneak peek look of Fall 2022’s The Eminence in Shadow — also known as Shadow Garden. The series is set to air in October, and after the event’s day one announcement, fans now have a new PV along with a confirmation of additional voice actors.
Darwin Game’s Nexus Animations along with director Kazuya Nakanishi will be the studio producing Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! More actors have been added to the growing cast list. The currently confirmed voices are as follows:
- Seiichirou Yamashita as Cid Kagenou
- Kana Hanazawa as Alexia Midgar
- Youko Hikasa as Iris Midgar
- Asami Seto as Alpha
- Inori Minase as Beta
- Suzuko Mimori as Gamma
- Fairouz Ai as Delta
- Hisako Kanemoto as Epsilon
- Ayaka Asai as Zeta
- Reina Kondou as Eta
Those lucky enough to attend the AnimeJapan 2022 event were able to purchase the Shadow Garden manga or light novel to be signed by the voice cast provided they won the lottery event. Among the actresses present at the panel were Asami Seto (known for her roles as Ralphtalia in The Rising of the Shield Hero), Inori Minase (the voice of Re:Zero’s Rem), Hisako Kanemoto (notably as Erina Nakiri of Food Wars!), and more!
What is the premise of the Shadow Garden anime?
As of now, it’s unknown how closely the anime will stick to the light novel and manga’s storyline. But seeing as the PV trailer features scenes from both, it’s likely the story will largely be the same.
Cid Kagenou dreams of becoming an ‘eminence in shadow’ — an all-powerful person who shifts the fate of the world outside of public perception. This leads him to train his physical and mental fortitude. But when Cid considers what obstacles stand in the way of his goals, he decides that magic is the only way forward.
In pursuit of magic, Cid manages to reincarnate into a fantasy world where he hides his true power while training under the cover of night. Armed with his slime sword and armor, Cid takes on a camp of bandits with ease. After looting their stolen goods, however, he stumbles upon an elf suffering from a fatal illness.
Using his magic, he’s able to cure her. But desiring allies, he lies to her about his true goals and gets her to believe that he’s part of a secret organization known as Shadow Garden tasked with taking down the evil Diabolos cult.
Where can I buy the Shadow Garden manga or light novel?
To purchase The Eminence in Shadow light novel, fans can head to Kadokawa’s website for the original Japanese version or Yen Press for the English translation. Retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble carry the novels both in hardcover and ebook editions. In order to purchase the full set, English-speaking fans will need to wait until May 17th for Vol.4’s release.
Similarly, all seven manga volumes are available for Japanese readers on Kadokawa’s website. For English readers, only the first three volumes are currently available from Yen Press. Pick them up at your favorite book stores such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble in either paperback or electronic formats. The English translation of the fourth volume is set to release on June 21st of this year.
There’s also the spin-off manga Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute!: Shadow Gaiden — or Chibikage. The first three volumes are available in Japanese on Kadokawa’s website. As of now, there is no official English translation for this spin-off series. The manga is also serialized in the Japanese magazine Comp Ace.