First launched in 1998, the fighting game franchise Guilty Gear has long been celebrated for its uniquely gorgeous and high-octane combat. With its rich lighting, anime-inspired color palettes, dynamic camera work, and off-the-charts style, it has cultivated a fiercely loyal fanbase, even if it hasn't reached the same mainstream status as some of its peers.
Last June, fans got the news they've been waiting for: the series is finally getting its first-ever TV anime, titled Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers. Today (January 22), the hype train officially left the station with the release of a key visual, voice cast details, and a new trailer, confirming an April 2025 broadcast premiere.
While anime adaptations of fighting games were more common in the past, they've become rarer, especially for series with slower release cycles. This makes the announcement a huge deal for fans of Guilty Gear -Strive-, the latest installment from 2021, which has carved out its own dedicated niche in the fighting game community.
▼ The franchise is still going strong, with Guilty Gear -Strive- recently announcing its Season 4 character lineup. Dizzy has already joined the roster, with Venom and Unika on the way, plus a wild guest character: Lucy from the hit anime *Cyberpunk: Edgerunners*.
The newly announced voice cast will be very familiar to players, as most are reprising their roles from Guilty Gear -Strive-:
Sin Kiske (CV: Issei Miyazaki)
Sol Badguy (CV: Joji Nakata)
Unika (CV: Yui Ishikawa)
Ky Kiske (CV: Takeshi Kusao)
Dizzy (CV: Kazue Fujita)
Bridget (CV: Manaka Iwami)
Ramlethal Valentine (CV: Megumi Han)
Elphelt Valentine (CV: Aya Suzaki)
Jack-O' Valentine (CV: Hiromi Igarashi)
Baiken (CV: Mayumi Asano)
Johnny (CV: Norio Wakamoto)
Leo Whitefang (CV: Tetsu Inada)
Vernon (CV: Junichi Endo)
Nerville Hammer (CV: Yasuhiro Mamiya)
The animation is being handled by Sanzigen, the studio behind series like *Sakura Wars: The Animation*, *BanG Dream!*, and *D4DJ*. It will be exciting to see how their 3DCG expertise translates the game's iconic visual style. Series creator Daisuke Ishiwatari is in charge of character design, with Shigeru Morikawa directing. The script is penned by novelist Norimitsu Kaihō, who has previously written novels and drama CDs for the franchise.
With the April premiere locked in, fans of the games have every reason to be hyped. Keep an eye out for more official updates as we wait to see if the series' first-ever anime adaptation can deliver the explosive action everyone is hoping for.
▼ Check out the official promo video for the TV anime *Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers*!