‘SSS-Class Hunter Who Must Die to Live’ Anime to Premiere in Japan in January 2027

'SSS-class Hunter Who Must Die to Live' (original work by Shin Noa, webtoon by Neida and Bill K) is being adapted into a global anime. Kakao Entertainment said Oct. 13 that the series will premiere on Japan's Fuji TV in January 2027 and stream worldwide simultaneously on Crunchyroll.

Ahead of the official release, on the 10th (local time) at New York Comic Con (NYCC) in the United States, episode one and a new promotional video (PV) were screened for the first time. The footage follows low-ranking hunter Kim Gong-ja as he awakens a special ability and begins scaling the tower, with the Sword Emperor and other key characters appearing in tense standoffs and action sequences.

'SSS-class Hunter Who Must Die to Live' is a fantasy that follows Kim Gong-ja, who, each time he dies, copies an opponent's ability and rewinds time by 24 hours, using ingenious methods to overcome the tower's trials. Combined across the web novel and webtoon, it has recorded approximately 210,000,000 cumulative domestic views, building a solid global fandom.

The project has assembled a prominent Japanese creative team and voice cast. Animation production is handled by STUDIO fu, and director Sakurai Hiroaki, who directed 〈The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.〉, teamed with screenwriter Oba Sayuri and character designer Yoshimatsu Takahiro. The lead role of Kim Gong-ja is voiced by Otsuka Takeo, and the Sword Emperor is voiced by Hino Satoshi.

The anime 〈SSS-class Hunter Who Must Die to Live〉 will air on Fuji TV in January 2027 and will be available in major territories such as North America, Europe and Southeast Asia on Crunchyroll; additional platforms, including releases in South Korea, will be confirmed later.