Imagine dinosaurs never went extinct — they just learned to hide. That’s the chilling premise behind Jurassic Shadows (竜化粧の忍 / Ryugesho no Shinobi), a brand-new original anime unveiled at Anime Expo 2026 by the director of the beloved The Apothecary Diaries.
A Tokyo Overrun by Ancient Predators
Set in Tokyo, 2029, Jurassic Shadows imagines a world where dinosaurs survived the mass-extinction event not by thundering across open plains, but by interbreeding with humans over millions of years, embedding ancient predator DNA deep into the population. Today, they walk among us — and when they choose to feed, they prey on humanity from within.
Standing against them is a covert order of ninjas who wield Ryugesho (「竜化粧」, literally “dragon makeup”) — a special pigment infused with ancient memories that awakens dormant dinosaur power inside its wielder. Part paint, part ancestor ritual, and entirely unlike any power system anime has tried before.
The teaser key visual says it all: a lone ninja, back turned to the viewer, faces off against a colossal T-rex in a rain-drenched street with Tokyo Tower looming overhead. “Reclaim your power” reads the tagline. Expectations are already sky-high.
Watch the Project PV
The 90-second Project PV showcases animation studio Cannon Code’s fluid action style — explosive transformation sequences, ink-like energy trails, and a modern Tokyo setting that grounds the fantastical premise with gritty urban detail. Even from this brief first look, the visual ambition is clear: this is a series aiming to stand apart in a crowded action anime landscape.
The Creative Team Behind the Series
Jurassic Shadows marks director Norihiro Naganuma‘s first full-scale action project. He made his name leading both cours of The Apothecary Diaries, the period mystery-drama that dominated Crunchyroll charts globally (and in Singapore) across 2023 and 2024. Several of his Apothecary Diaries collaborators return here:
- Director: Norihiro Naganuma (The Apothecary Diaries)
- Screenplay: Kenta Ihara
- Character Design: Yōichi Amano
- Animation Design Adapter: Yukiko Nakatani
- Art Director: Yusuke Takeda
- Music: Shūhei Mutsuki
- Animation Production: Cannon Code, LLC
- Producers: Slow Curve / Avex Pictures
- Original Work: SANB
A manga adaptation by Kodansha was also announced alongside the anime — a media-mix rollout that mirrors the launch strategy behind franchises like Jujutsu Kaisen.
What Singapore Fans Need to Know
The Apothecary Diaries was a genuine phenomenon among Singapore anime fans — it topped local Crunchyroll streaming charts for months and generated some of the most passionate online discussion in the SG anime community since Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2. Naganuma directing a high-concept action anime with a core production team reassembled from that hit is exactly the kind of announcement worth tracking.
Crunchyroll covered the Jurassic Shadows announcement directly on their news platform, alongside the full AX 2026 staff reveal, suggesting international streaming discussions are already in progress. No streaming partner or release window has been officially confirmed yet — we will update as details emerge.
For more anime news and streaming updates relevant to Singapore, check the Manga & Anime section.