Yūsuke Murata Directs Special Anime Short to Mark Eyeshield 21 Manga's 21st Anniversary

(Last Updated On: June 6, 2023)

To celebrate the 21st anniversary of Eyeshield 21 manga, Yūsuke Murata, the renowned artist behind One-Punch Man and Eyeshield 21, launched an exclusive 43-second anime short on his official Twitter account. Directed by Murata himself and animated by Village Studio, this special video serves as a silent teaser. However, Murata has exciting plans in store, promising a finalized version of the short along with a one-shot announcement for the anniversary.

In July 2002, Murata and Inagaki joined forces to launch the captivating Eyeshield 21 manga. Published by Viz Media, all 37 volumes of this North American release delve into the story of Sena Kobayakawa, a timid individual perpetually fleeing from bullies. However, when he dons football gear, Sena’s incredible speed and elusive maneuvers grant him the potential to emerge as a remarkable high school football hero.

This manga adaptation served as the catalyst for a 145-episode anime series aired from 2005 to 2008, which Sentai Filmworks subsequently released on home video between 2010 and 2011. The anime is currently available for streaming on Crunchyroll.

Demonstrating his diverse talents, Murata also directed and animated a dynamic 107-second One-Punch Man anime short in September 2021 through Village Studio. Presently, Murata is actively involved in the Zaiyuki anime project alongside Village Studio, concurrently engaged in the development of an original animated work.