Platinum End - What We Know So Far

If you loved the classic supernatural mystery anime "Death Note," then get excited for the upcoming release of "Platinum End." On top of sharing a dark aesthetic and some supernatural themes, both manga series sprouted from the mind-melding of author Tsugumi Ohba and artist Takeshi Obata. Now, "Platinum End" is receiving the same treatment as its predecessor in the form of an anime adaptation by Signal MD.

The original "Platinum End" has been running since 2015, and wrapped up early in 2021. In Japan, the manga was published in Shueisha's Jump SQ magazine and released concurrently with English translations done by VIZ Media. However, while the "Platinum End" manga seemed to give equal love to its Japanese and Western fanbases, it does not yet look like the same can be said for the anime. Even so, the "Platinum End" anime is bound to air soon. So, with that in mind, here is what we know so far about the adaptation.

If only somebody had a "Release Note" where they could scrawl the names of upcoming shows to spur on their release schedule. Then maybe the release date for "Platinum End" wouldn't be such a mystery. While the anime itself has been in the works for a while. News about the upcoming show has been circulating since at least December 2020 (via Platinum End Website). Unfortunately, that hasn't exactly guaranteed a swift release.

So far, all we do know is that the show is slated for a Fall 2021 debut on the Tokyo Broadcasting System. This is good and bad news. It's good because, hey, "Platinum End" will be out sooner, rather than later. It's bad (at least in the west) because there is no official announcement regarding an international release. The original manga's English translation never fell far behind its original counterpart, though that might not be the case with the anime. So far, no streaming network has picked the show up, so fans might find themselves waiting substantially longer to see the show in a language other than Japanese.

In the six months since the show's announcement, there has been a cavalcade of cast reveals. On top of the voice actor for the protagonist, the identities of many central and supporting voice actors have been announced. It all begins with voice actor Miyu Irino, set to star as protagonist Mirai Kakehashi. Joining him is Yui Ogura, who will portray Mirai's first ally, an angel named Nasse.

Joining the two with in other supporting roles are Kaito Ishikawa, Kikuko Inoue, Tomoaki Maeno, Hikaru Midorikawa, Natsuki Hanae, M.A.O, Toshiyuki Morikawa, and Ai Kayano (via Anime News Network). To avoid spoiling the anime's entire cast, we'll avoid revealing who plays who. The big takeaway here is that "Platinum End" has a beefy cast with plenty of talent. Fans of the original manga can sit tight knowing that their favorite characters are likely in good hands.

Like the previous works of Obata and Ohba, "Platinum End" is rife with death and places everyday teenagers in supernatural situations a bit beyond their comprehension (at least at first). Fans can expect some twists and turns along the way, but all signs point towards something unique and compelling with "Platinum End."

The story follows Mirai Kakehashi, a junior high student who is left to live with his abusive relatives after the death of his birth parents. Unbelievably depressed and lonely, the boy throws himself off of a building on the day of his junior high graduation. However, he is saved from death by an angel named Nasse. Sympathetic towards Mirai's plight, Nasse gives him special powers and enrolls him (non-consensually of course) in a contest against 12 other people to become the next God. With 999 to survive before God retires, Mirai must do his best to beat out the rest of the pack.