Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai is returning for a 13th season that is set to begin broadcasting in Japan on July 14, 2024. The short anime’s 12th season aired from January 15, 2024 to April 8, 2024 for a total of 13 episodes.
A new main key visual has been released, and season 13 will revolve around the new theme of “nostalgia.”
The 13th season of Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai is once again directed by Akira Funada at ILCA, with scripts by Hiromu Kumamoto (Kowabon, Ninja Collection), Mitsuhiro Sasaki, Choji Yoshikawa (Pokémon anime producer), Saori Aoki, and Dan Osano.
Actor Kanji Tsuda reprises his role as the Storyteller for season 13, after playing the role in previous seasons. Other voice cast members cast in undisclosed roles include:
- • Kotomi Takahata
- • Toshimasa Niiro
- • Shinji Matsubayashi
- • Yutaka Shimizu
- • Takaya Yamaguchi
- • Yuta Hoshino
- • Risa Aizawa
- • Ringo Koishio
The first season premiered in July 2013, and has also inspired two spinoff series titled The World Yamizukan in April 2017 and Ninja Collection in July 2020. A live-action series adaptation premiered in Japan in September 2020.
Crunchyroll streamed all previous seasons of Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai, The World Yamizukan, and Ninja Collection as they aired in Japan. The company also streamed the live-action series.
Crunchyroll describes the anime’s synopsis as:
Akin to TV Tokyo’s Folktales from Japan, Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai takes a narrative format to explore the rich occult history from Japan, moreover, the storytelling techniques in this brand new series will mimic kamishibai – a traditional storytelling technique inspired by the artistic usage of paper figures and scrolls.
Yamishibai is a picture-story style of animation whose motif is surrounded and based off the rumors, and urban legends throughout the history of Japan.
