The Korean webtoon “The Boxer” is officially getting a TV anime adaptation. The announcement was made on October 8, 2026, during the Crunchyroll Showcase at New York Comic Con 2026. Along with the news, the main cast, key staff, and a teaser PV were revealed.
“The Boxer” is a full-color, vertical-scrolling webtoon created by JH. It was serialized on Naver Webtoon in Korea starting in 2019, and on LINE Manga in Japan from 2020 to 2022. The series has been distributed worldwide, and as of September 2026, its cumulative global views have surpassed 1.06 billion. In 2024, it won the main prize at the WORLD WEBTOON AWARDS. A single-volume version, rearranged for horizontal reading, is being published by Shueisha under its Jump Comics label, with six volumes currently available. Volume 1 is priced at 941 yen, and volume 6 at 1,411 yen.
The story begins with K, a legendary boxing trainer who has raised numerous world champions and is searching for his “last disciple.” He meets a boy named Yu, who is simply being beaten in an alley. Seeing no anger or fighting spirit in the boy, K discovers a boundless talent that surpasses genius. Guided by K, Yu steps into the ring and, with overwhelming strength that can only be described as monstrous, closes in on the top of the world. Standing against him are champions who pride themselves on their polished skills and men who have overcome the wall of talent through sheer effort. Each has an unyielding dream and a reason to keep fighting. The confrontations with the monster shake the lives they have built. And what does Yu himself seek beyond his fists? The lives of a “monster” and those who fight him intersect.
Anime Production
The TV anime is being animated by breccia, a new studio founded by Ogasawara Muneki, a founding member of Kinema Citrus, and STUDIO JEMI, a Korea-based animation studio that has co-produced Kinema Citrus and the “Cardfight!! Vanguard Divinez” series. The teaser PV showcases the powerful action from both studios and the contrast between stillness and movement that defines the original work.
Main Staff
The main staff has also been announced. The director is Kubota Yudai, known for “My Happy Marriage,” alongside KANG Wonyeong, who has worked on Korean productions as well as Japanese anime such as “Cardfight!! Vanguard overDress” and “Cardfight!! Vanguard will+Dress.” Character design is handled by Suwa Masahiro of the “The Rising of the Shield Hero” series, and series composition and script are by Ono Toshiya, known for “Suite PreCure♪” and “The Promised Neverland.”
Cast
The teaser PV also revealed the voices of the four main cast members for the first time. Uchiyama Kouki plays Yu, the protagonist who races up the path to become a champion with overwhelming talent beyond human limits. Ono Kensho voices Ryu, a boxer with natural talent who becomes Yu’s first opponent. Seki Tomokazu plays K, the legendary trainer who discovered Yu’s talent. Toyonaga Toshiyuki takes on the role of J, a retired legendary boxer. The story questions the meaning of “strength” beyond talent and effort, glory and setbacks—fans will have to wait to see how it is adapted into a TV anime. Production is currently underway, and further updates are awaited.
Staff & Cast
| Role | Staff |
|---|---|
| Original Work | JH (LINE Manga) |
| Director | Kubota Yudai, KANG Wonyeong |
| Character Design | Suwa Masahiro |
| Series Composition/Script | Ono Toshiya |
| Creative Producer | BLUE RIGHTS |
| Animation Production | breccia × STUDIO JEMI |
| Produced by | HAYATE |
| Copyright | ©「ザ・ボクサー」アニメーション製作委員会 |
| Character | Cast |
|---|---|
| Yu | Uchiyama Kouki |
| Ryu | Ono Kensho |
| K | Seki Tomokazu |
| J | Toyonaga Toshiyuki |
