In less than a short time, Bones Film adapted Kodansha Kei Urana’s manga, Hachiakutahas risen in the rankings as an up-and-coming anime, and every fan is waiting to see how its second season will further cement its legacy as the next big thing. For now, we still have to wait a bit before we see how to do it Love and the crew will exceed expectations even more as a stylish new action anime on the block, we have the inside scoop with the Japanese creatives who were instrumental in making its first season a smash. And we’re giving (get it?) you a look at how the peak was made, too.
At Anime Expo, io9 spoke with Hachiakuta director Fumihiko Suganuma and voice actor Rudo Aoi Ichikawa on what sparked their interest in bringing the series to life as an anime, their creative approach to handling complex, delicate scenes, and their thoughts on growing fandom.
Isaiah Colbert, io9: What initially resonated with you both in the world and the themes Hachiakuta did it make you want to be a part of anime?
Aoi Ichikawa: I have to say it resonates a bit with Rudo’s character because he’s just the epitome of anger. That’s what makes it him. All of this emotional explosiveness kind of fuels his life, and I feel like I’m resonating with those very passionate emotions.
Fumihiko Suganuma: It’s likely that the strength of the original manga drew me to it because it’s a bit different from popular art styles in Japan. It’s very original, and it doesn’t really bow to fit the current trend of manga art. I really feel that art has such a power that I was drawn to it.
io9: During production, was there a particular scene or moment that was particularly challenging, so it was even more fun to see it come to life?
Ichikawa: The first episode was really challenging because of how (Rudo) lost his cuteness… without that, you can’t really show his anger and the motivation of Rudo’s character. Therefore, this was the peak of his anger. And expressing it was very, very difficult. But without being able to express this falling scene, Rudo cannot exist for the rest of the series because that was his original point.
As I sat and watched the footage taken during the broadcast the first episode, I really felt that it was where Hachiakuta vwith finally begins. And I really felt accomplished looking at that, because it really touched me. It was a very touching moment, like, “This is where it all starts.”
Suganuma: The last half of anime fixes is always a race against time. I was a little hesitant, but I made a lot of very tough requests of my staff, including a lot of corrections, and the staff worked really, really hard and helped me out a lot. So the fact that every episode aired on time was very fulfilling. And I am very grateful to all my employees that we managed to do this.
io9: One point that resonated strongly with viewers was Amo’s storyline, especially how the anime portrays her suffering and her heart-to-heart conversation with Rudo about their conflicting ideals. From your perspective, what went into approaching this scene with the necessary sensitivity, and how did each of you make sure it was treated with the proper care?
Ichikawa: I noticed an emotional flow while reading the script and reading the manga. But I feel that Rudo and Amo’s hearts are not quite connected. They have one sided emotions and this is not a proper dialogue. So I really felt like I didn’t have to react to that situation because I feel like I had to get rid of my emotions and resonance towards the scene as me, the human actor, because Rudo is not going to go through that.
Suganuma: The whole Amo arc was pretty sensitive stuff. It’s my style – my policy – to keep it a little straight and not make it too sensational, because the dialogue in these scenes really needs to be heard by the audience. Because what they say is very important. I didn’t want the visuals to get in the way of what they were saying, so I made sure that the staging was done in such a way that the dialogue was first and foremost.
io9: Hachiakuta has a very specific tone and energy within the shonen space, due in no small part to the series’ combination of graffiti art and a hip-hop-influenced soundtrack, which has led to the show being celebrated online as a cultural exchange between Japan and Black culture in America through memes, fan art and cosplay. What does that mean for you as the artists who helped bring this adaptation to life?
Ichikawa: I am very happy about it because we are enjoying the series together. And it’s inside the love of Hachiakuta– let it be cosplay or fanart, whatever – everyone is expressing their love and trying to build the community as a whole. So I’m really excited about that.
Suganuma: First of all, the same thing. I am very happy to see the reception. I wasn’t too into graffiti and hip-hop. The fact that it was so widely recognized made me feel like I really needed to learn more about these cultures so I could do even better.
io9: Since then HachiakutaThe magic system explores the emotional charge that objects can carry. What everyday thing from your life would make the most suitable object for you in the world of anime?
Ichikawa: my Hachiakuta the object will be my script. Because without it, I wouldn’t be Rudo. This is my world, so it must be my subject.
Suganuma: I would say manga because I really like reading manga. It even makes me think, “Imagine if I became a manga artist.” Probably because I love manga so much, I wanted to take a step back and have a job that has something to do with it, but I can still enjoy it as a reader.
Hachiakuta Season 2 is in production.
io9 is at Anime Expo 2026. We’ll be bringing you news on all the biggest panels, screenings and announcements, as well as exclusive one-on-one interviews with the people behind some of the best and most popular anime. You can check out all of io9’s Anime Expo coverage here.
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