Joran: The Princess of Snow and Blood
| Industry | Animation |
|---|---|
| Parent | Tatsunoko Production |
is an original Japanese anime series produced by Bakken Record. Drawing inspiration from the 1973 movie Lady Snowblood, which itself was adapted from the manga by Kazuo Koike and Kazuo Kamimura, the show was broadcast between April and June 2021.
Plot
The story unfolds in an alternate version of Japan in 1931, where Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu remains in control rather than transferring authority to a Prime Minister. The country utilizes the , a distinctive energy source that accelerates technological progress during the Edo era. Although experiencing prosperity, the regime faces opposition from Kuchinawa, a rebel faction resisting Tokugawa’s isolationist governance.
To suppress this threat, the Tokugawa administration established "Nue," a covert police unit tasked with eliminating Kuchinawa members. Sawa Yukimura, whose family was slain by Kuchinawa to obtain their blue blood—a rare trait capable of turning humans into demonic "Changelings"—is forced into becoming a Nue assassin driven by revenge.
Characters
- By day, Sawa is an 18-year-old bookstore proprietor caring for her adopted sister Asahi. Behind the scenes, she serves as a Nue executioner and is the final descendant of the Karasumori clan. Her blue blood grants her the ability to transform into a pureblood Changeling, bestowing enhanced physical capabilities. She wields a concealed blade within her parasol and is accompanied by a white crow named Nana.
- Elena operates as a Nue executioner who specializes in using allure and seduction. Publicly recognized as both a celebrated novelist and sex worker within the red-light district, she lives boldly and fights wielding a whip and crossbow hidden inside her parasol.
- Makoto is a Nue assassin dedicated to intelligence operations. Identifying as male, he masquerades as a bandoneon player. Independent and pragmatic, he carries a lighted sword concealed in his cane.
- A seven-year-old girl whom Sawa rescues during a Nue mission. Though initially torn over Sawa’s involvement in her parents’ demise, she ultimately opts for peace and rejects further violence.
- The leader of Nue and guardian of the shogun. He discovered Sawa and trained her as an executioner, holding deep respect for her despite her hesitations.
- A Nue operative with no recollection of her history. She has forty oronium metal bands surgically embedded in her body, enabling her to generate razor-sharp weapons. Despite heavy drinking, she remains functional and monitors Sawa under Jin’s command.
- The head of Kuchinawa, opposing Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu. Once a government scientist researching blue blood to engineer superhumans, he now targets those with blue blood while supporting anti-government groups.
Production and release
On February 9, 2021, Bushiroad revealed plans for this original anime series. The project was animated by Tatsunoko Production's Bakken Record division and directed by Susumu Kudou. Rika Nezu served as series composition writer alongside Kunihiko Okada who co-wrote scripts. Character designs were created by Kano Komiyama while Michiru composed the soundtrack. The series debuted on March 31, 2021 via streaming platforms and aired from April 7 through June 23, 2021 on NTV's AnichU block and additional channels. Raise A Suilen performed both the opening track "Exist" and closing theme "Embrace of Light". Crunchyroll streamed the show globally outside Asia; Medialink held licensing rights in Southeast and South Asia, with Aniplus distributing it in South Korea.
Episode list
{{Episode list
EpisodeNumber = 12 Title = Confidential File 707: The Land of Blessed Words TranslitTitle = Kimitsu Jikō Nana Maru Nana Kotodama no Sakihafu Kuni NativeTitle = 機密事項七〇七コトダマノサキハフクニ NativeTitleLangCode = ja DirectedBy = Susumu Kudō WrittenBy = Rika Nezu OriginalAirDate = ShortSummary = As Kuchinawa insurgents assault the palace, Sawa faces Jin to prevent him from assassinating Shogun Yoshinobu Tokugawa with a placebo elixir. After sustaining fatal injuries from Rinko's strike, Sawa passes away beside Asahi, who later carries on her mission alongside Elena’s daughter. LineColor = 00BFFF
}}