Record Of Ragnarok - What We Know So Far

With the worldwide success of "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba," it's no wonder that Netflix is investing more in original anime series. According to Variety, Netflix intends to release at least 40 new anime shows in 2021 alone, which is almost twice the number released in 2020. Some of the exciting projects on the horizon include "Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness," "Eden," and an adaptation of a manga series titled "Record of Ragnarok."

"Record of Ragnarok" is a popular seinen manga thanks to its fast-paced fight sequences and inventive story. However, it did cause some controversy due to its depiction of Shiva, the Hindu god. Since Shiva appears in the trailer, it doesn't look like the showrunners took the manga's complaints too much to heart — though we'll have to wait a few more months before we can actually see how the anime portrays the religious figure. Here's everything we know so far about the release date, cast, and plot of "Record of Ragnarok."

"Record of Ragnarok" began as a popular manga in 2017, created by Shinya Umemura, Takumi Fukui, and Ajichika. In December 2020, Warner Bros. Japan announced the anime adaptation is in the works and would be streamed exclusively on Netflix (via Anime News Network). Though there has been an official announcement that "Record of Ragnarok" will debut in June 2021, no specific date has been made public. We also don't know how many episodes will be in Season 1, so stay tuned for updates with more details.

Aside from the teaser trailer, Netflix has dropped an official trailer along with an official poster, so you can get a look at the main characters in the action-packed show. Though we still have to wait a while to watch "Record of Ragnarok," fans of the beloved manga are already expressing their excitement on social media. A YouTube commenter named uvne let Netflix know just how much they're anticipating the show, writing "I hope y'all understand how high expectations we have for this animation production." Judging by the trailers, it looks like it's going to be a great adaptation.

"Record of Ragnarok" features one-on-one battles between 13 historic gods and 13 notable humans. While the English cast has yet to be announced, we do know some of the Japanese voice actors (via Anime News Network). Two of the main characters are sisters and valkyries named Brunhilde (Miyuki Sawashiro) and Göll (Tomoyo Kurosawa). 

The fighters on the human side include military general Lü Bu (Tomokazu Seki), Adam (the first human male), voiced by Soma Saito, and the famous swordsman Kojiro Sasaki (Kazuhiro Yamaji). While the entire cast list hasn't been made public, we're excited to see who will voice more eccentric characters like the serial killer Jack the Ripper and inventor Nikola Tesla.

The gods fighting in "Record of Ragnarok" include Thor (Hikaru Midorikawa), Zeus (Wataru Takagi), Poseidon (Takahiro Sakurai), Hermes (Junichi Suwabe), Aphrodite (Rie Tanaka), Ares (Hinata Tadakoro), Shiva (Tatsuhisa Suzuki), Odin (Show Hayami), and Loki (Yoshitsugu Matsuoka). The wide range of religious and mythological figures makes for an intriguing cast list, and their different powers will surely be a thrill to witness.

Since "Record of Ragnarok" is based on an existing text, fans who are familiar with the books know what to expect from the series. For those who haven't read the books, "Record of Ragnarok" starts with a "Conference of Mankind Survival" that consists of deities from around the world and across cultures. Every 1,000 years, the gods meet to decide if humanity is worth all the trouble, or if they should be left to go extinct. After the gods decide to rid themselves of humans, the eldest of the valkyries, Brunhilde, suggests that the gods should give humans a chance to prove their worth. She proposes that 13 of the gods duke it out with 13 prolific humans, and the first group to win seven battles is the victor.

Of course, the egotistical beings can't deny the challenge, and thus Ragnarok is born. In Norse mythology, the word Ragnarok refers to the destruction of the world by way of humanity's final battle with the gods. Considering the intense plot of the show, "Record of Ragnarok" seems to be a fitting title. We're excited to see whether humanity's fighters have what it takes to beat some of history's most powerful divine beings — not to mention the epic battle sequences.