Minamoto Hiromasa and Abe Seimei are about to grace the small screens as Netflix has adapted the classic novel series Onmyoji into an anime—an adaptation fans have longed to see. Thankfully, the streamer has already dropped its official trailer, seeing the duo going on a demon-slaying journey.
Based on the series of historical fantasy short stories and novels of the same name by Baku Yumemakura, the franchise has seen different iterations. But it’s the first time it has been adapted into anime. Originally published as individual short stories in 1986, it was later republished in collections, novels, and picture books. It was also adapted into a manga by Reiko Okano, several live-action TV series and movies, a video game, and stage plays. Now, it’s about to make its way to Netflix.
The new trailer features Seimei facing a demon “born of grudge and jealousy.” Confident of his demon-fighting skills, he effortlessly fights the monster with his barrier spell as it tries to jump on him. The scene then cuts to Hiromasa introducing himself to Seimei as he asks for help dealing with an “ox cart.”
As the two start their journey, Seimei lectures Hiromasa that fighting the demons isn’t as easy as just annihilating them. “Demons must be purified to their souls, then exorcised,” Seimei says. From there, he can be seen chanting and casting spells as they fight different demons together in this new action-packed Netflix anime series.
What is Onmyoji about?
Set in the fictional version of the Heian period onmyoji, a traditional Japanese cosmology based on Yin Yang, Onmyoji follows the story of Abe Seimei, an onmyodo master, and Hiromasa, a court musician. The two will go on a journey to face the demons who were once humans. Together, they will stop these monsters from spreading madness.
You can read the synopsis below:
In prosperous ancient Kyoto, court musician Minamoto Hiromasa, grandson of Emperor Daigo, visits the residence of the official onmyoji — the yin-yang diviners — in hopes of unraveling the mysteries of the demons that disturb the city. While there, he is introduced to a man perfectly suited for untangling these enigmas: the great onmyoji Abe Seimei, a man cloaked in an otherworldly aura. Hiromasa is vexed by Seimei’s lack of interest in the mundane world and his reluctance to help, but the two of them confront the demons at the cause of the incidents. They eventually find the onmyoji Ashiya Doman, who lurks in the shadows of the demons. Seimei and Hiromasa are joined by Hiromasa’s flute teacher Imperial Prince Atsumi, the emperor’s onmyoji Kamo Yasunori, and Lady Tsuyuko, who comes to accompany them as a result of a particular case. As their emotions intertwine like threads, will Seimei and Hiromasa be able to restore peace to the capital?
Onmyoji will be released on November 28 on Netflix. As this will be the first time it will be seen in an anime form, its loyal fans will surely look out for this.
