The new anime is called Ikkitousen: Western Wolves.
From Crunchyroll:
Tokyo-based anime planning/producing company Genco announced today that a new anime based on Yuji Shiozaki’s action manga series Ikki Tousen in now in the works. The new anime titled Ikki Tousen Western Wolves is a sequel to the two-episode OVA Ikki Tousen Extravaganza Epoch released in February 2015. How and when it will be distributed is currently unknown.
The first TV anime’s diretor Takashi Watanabe (Slayers, Senran Kagura) serves as general director, alongside director Mitsutoshi Sato (Shokugeki no Soma: The Third Plate assistant director), series composition writer Masaya Honda (Naruto Shippuden) and character designer Rinshin (Queen’s Blade, Wanna Be the Strongest in the World). The second and third TV anime, and the two OVAs’ Arms (ISUCA, VALKYRIE DRIVE -MERMAID-) again works on anime production.
The five main voice cast are confirmed to reprise their roles, while Ami Koshimizu is cast as a new character for the new anime, Takezou Shinmen.
You can follow further developments as they come at the Ikkitousen website or their twitter page.
A tweet from the twitter for Young King Ours magazine stated that the new animation project will be in OVA format. It’s being touted as a sequel to the Extravaganza Epoch OVAs from early 2015. The limited scope of the cast also seems to suggest that this won’t be a full TV series.
Interestingly, the OVA will be produced by ARMS, who apparently still exist. There are also several familiar names among the production crew, including head director Takashi Watanabe (Ikkitousen, Senran Kagura, FREEZING, Shakugan no Shana and Slayers).
While no release date has been mentioned, it should be noted that Extravaganza Epoch aired on AT-X only about four and a half months after it was initially announced. And was on blu-ray about six months after the announcement. That would suggest a potential air date in mid-February and a blu-ray release in April, if Western Wolves follows the same production schedule.
It’s pretty amazing that after 15 years the flame is still burning for this franchise, which says a lot about just how enduring the Ikkitousen brand is. Hopefully Western Wolves can continue to deliver on the high standards of its predecessors.
