Shadowverse is a Japanese anime television series adaptation of its namesake video game. The series is animated by Zexcs and directed by Keiichiro Kawaguchi, with Rintaro Isaki and Deko Akao handling series composition, Hiroki Harada designing the characters, and Yoshihiro Ike composing the series' music. The series aired from April 7, 2020, to March 23, 2021, on TV Tokyo and has been simulcast internationally on Crunchyroll. The band Penguin Research performed the first opening theme, "Kirifuda" (lit. Trump Card), while Yui Ogura performed the first ending theme, "Happiness Sensation". The second opening theme, "Shinsekai" (New World), was performed by FLOW, while the second ending theme, "Kokoro Darenimo" (Heart to Everyone), was performed by the Game Jikkyōsha Wakuwaku Band.
A second anime series, Shadowverse Flame, aired from April 2, 2022, to September 28, 2024. The main staff members return to reprise their roles. The first opening theme is "Shingan" (The Mind's Eye) by Lanndo featuring Keina Suda, while the 1st ending theme is "My Turn" by Yui Ogura. The second opening theme is "Tomoshibi" by Half time Old, while the 2nd ending theme is "Shekenale" by Ocha Norma. The third opening theme is "Do or Die" by Nano, while the third ending theme is "Heavy Gamer" by LIL LEAGUE.
Contents
Plot
Season 1
Hiro Ryūgasaki is an ordinary middle school student at Tensei Academy. Through a strange occurrence, Hiiro obtains a mysterious smartphone with the popular digital card game Shadowverse app installed. Through the game, Hiro meets rivals, meets new friends, participates in tournaments, and forms bonds with others. Later, Hiro and his friends discover that the true purpose of Shadowverse is to save the world from an impending doomsday event.
Season 2: Shadowverse Flame
Set three years after the events of the first season. Light Tenryu enrolls at Shadowverse College after receiving an invite and pre-loaded deck from the school's founder, Wolfram Zerga. Light has no idea how to even play Shadowverse at first but is told the college is the key to his destiny. He soon joins a soon to be disbanded club called "Seventh Flame." Meanwhile, the newly reformed Genesis Corp has started research into a new artifact called the Arc that has been mysteriously stolen.
Characters
Season 1
Hiro Ryugasaki (竜ヶ崎ヒイロ)
Voiced by: Gakuto Kajiwara
Hiro is a 2nd-year middle school student at Tensei Academy. He is extremely perseverant and has a strong genuine love for the game. He lives with his grandfather and had long believed that his parents died during an accident while he was young, however it was later revealed his parents are trapped inside the Tree of Woe, an invention developed by his father's company that backfired and was destined to destroy the world. He plays the Dragoncraft class. He returns in the second season as a member of the Seven Shadows, the top Shadowverse players in the world who hold a secret behind Light's Digifriend Draconir. He has also come to use the Portalcraft class.
Luca Yonazuki (夜那月ルシア)
Voiced by: Junya Enoki
Luca is a middle school student at a different school than Hiro's. At a young age, a truck killed his parents and badly injured his sister, Shiori, who lives in a rehabilitation hospital. Luca plays Shadowverse with the goal to raise enough money for Shiori to recover. He is rarely happy due to Shiori's condition, much to Shiori's chagrin who just wants to see her older brother smile. He plays the Bloodcraft class. He returns in the second season as a member of the Seven Shadows, the top Shadowverse players in the world who hold a secret behind Light's Digifriend Draconir.
Mimori Amamiya (天宮ミモリ)
Voiced by: Kaede Hondo
Mimori is Hiro's classmate and one of his best friends. She worries a lot about being too ordinary. She also is not a fan of ghosts and other scary things. She plays the Forestcraft class. She returns in the second season having continued her education and became a high schooler.
Kazuki Shindo (進藤カズキ)
Voiced by: Hayato Taya
Kazuki is Hiro's classmate and one of his best friends. He is great at sports, but still has room for improvement when it comes to Shadowverse. Due to having to take care of his six younger brothers and sisters, he is surprisingly responsible. He plays the Swordcraft class. He returns in the second season having become close friends with Kai and now runs his family's restaurant.
Season 2
Light Tenryu
Voiced by: Yūto Uemura
A brand new student at Shadowverse College. He has never played Shadowverse before the start of the season. He's bad with machines and bad at lying. He's very good though at keeping his promises. His Digifriend is the mysterious Draconir. He plays using the Dragoncraft class.
Draconir
Light's Digifriend that has the unusual ability to actually talk. He has lost his memories of an alleged life before his time with Light that may have something to do with the mysterious Arc artifact. Light is lead to believe that the Seven Shadows hold pieces of Draconir's missing memory.
Itsuki Mitsutagawa
President of the Seventh Flame club. He prefers cute and flowery things which alienated him from other kids growing up. His Digifriend is Slade. He plays using the Forestcraft class.
Subaru Makabe
Light's first friend at Shadowverse College. He prefers to be laid back and not take things seriously. He actually resents Shadowverse because of the pressure from his family to become a pro at it but becomes more serious and confident after joining Seventh Flame. His Digifriend is Baccherus. He plays using the Shadowcraft class.
Shion Otosaka
A solitary and reclusive person. She's incredibly smart but has a hard time connecting with others. This leads to her only interacting with others via her digital avatar, Lady & Gentleman. Originally the secret president of the Sixth Magic club, she joined Seventh Flame after losing to Light. Her Digifriend is Milady and she plays using the Runecraft class.
Ren Kazamatsuri
She's a very athletic and ditzy person with a love of heroes. This alienates her from others around her due to her not being girly enough. She was originally from the Fifth Sword club but joined Seventh Flame in hopes of getting to be who she truly is. Her Digifriend is Amyroth and she plays using the Swordcraft class. She wanted to make friends with Hina.