The Chinese fantasy manhua Shang Shan is officially getting a Japanese anime adaptation. The new series will be called Shozen and is scheduled to air on Fuji TV in 2027.
Fuji TV made the announcement on March 17, 2026, and opened the official website and social media accounts for the project. A teaser trailer and promotional visual were also released to give fans a first look at the upcoming show.
The anime will premiere on Fuji TV’s B8station programming block, which regularly features Chinese-originated content dubbed in Japanese for local audiences. This move highlights the growing connection between the Chinese and Japanese animation industries.
What Is Shang Shan? A Look at the Original Manhua
The original Shang Shan manhua comes from Chinese creator Jiang Jia Meizi. It began serialization on the u17 website, which later became bilibili Comic, back in 2013. The series falls under the adventure fantasy genre and draws heavily from Chinese mythology and Taoist elements.
The story follows a Taoist priest who discovers a young girl raised by supernatural beings. Because the girl consumed demon cores from childhood, her body changed significantly. When the demon who raised her could no longer care for her due to a heavenly tribulation, the priest decides to take her as his disciple. He gives her the Taoist name Shang Shan, and together they travel through the human world fighting demons and evil spirits.
CITIC Press published the first compiled volume of the manhua in January 2025, showing the series’ continued popularity in China.
Shozen Anime Production Team and Studios
The anime adaptation brings together experienced industry professionals. Itsurou Kawasaki takes on multiple roles as director, scriptwriter, and sound director. Kawasaki previously worked on series like The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting and The Foolish Angel Dances with the Devil.
Eri Osada serves as character designer and chief animation director. Her previous credits include The World’s Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat.
For action sequences, Yoshihiro Kanno handles action direction. Kanno worked on the hugely popular Solo Leveling Season 2, which should give fans confidence in the quality of fight scenes.
The animation production is a collaboration between two studios: Dangan Pictures and Cannon Code. Both studios bring their resources together for this project.
Other key staff members include:
- Tomohiro Matsukawa as assistant director
- Kenji Yamazaki and Yuuichi Karasawa for monster and prop design
- Takurou Iga for music composition – Iga previously worked on Oshi no Ko
- Takamasa Nakakuki as art director
- Aoni Production handling sound production
Japanese Voice Cast Announced
The Japanese dub cast features well-known voice actors in the anime industry. Rina Kawaguchi voices the main character Shouzen. Kawaguchi currently plays Nico Wakatsuki in Witch Watch, showing her range as a voice actress.
Playing opposite her as the Taoist priest Douzen is Hiroshi Kamiya, one of the most recognized names in anime. Kamiya’s extensive resume includes roles in Attack on Titan (Levi), Mononoke (Kusuriuri), and many other major series.
The supporting cast includes:
- Daisuke Sakuma as Ryojin
- Aoi Yuuki as Kensei – Yuuki is known for The Apothecary Diaries (Maomao)
- Ayumu Murase as Chiro – Murase voices Iruma in Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun
Storyline: A Taoist Priest and a Girl Raised by Monsters
The plot centers on the relationship between Douzen and the girl he names Shouzen. When Douzen meets her, she has lived her entire life with supernatural creatures and knows nothing about human society or emotions.
Douzen takes her as his disciple and begins teaching her about human feelings, including the concept of love. Their journey together involves facing various supernatural threats while Shouzen learns what it means to be human.
The story blends Chinese mythology, Taoist philosophy, and fantasy elements. The original manhua explores themes of family, identity, and connection through the unique mentor-student relationship at its core.
“The Taoist priest Dōzen meets a girl raised by supernatural beings on his travels. He names her Shōzen, takes her as his disciple, and teaches her about human emotions and the meaning of love.”
What to Expect from the 2027 Release
With the announcement coming in March 2026, fans have plenty of time to prepare for the Shozen anime release. The series will air on Japanese television through Fuji TV, with international streaming details yet to be announced.
Given the trend for similar adaptations, global audiences can likely expect the show to appear on major streaming platforms after its Japanese broadcast. The involvement of bilibili, the original manhua platform, suggests possible simulcast options for international viewers.
The teaser trailer gives a glimpse of the animation style and character designs. The promotional visual shows the two main characters together, with Shouzen looking curious and Douzen appearing protective.
Director Itsurou Kawasaki mentioned that while the original work was not initially available in an official Japanese edition, the compelling characters and unique plot structure made it ideal for adaptation. This explains why the production team chose to bring this Chinese manhua to Japanese audiences.
Also Read:
Rising Popularity of Chinese Manhua in Japan
The Shang Shan adaptation follows other Chinese works that have crossed over to the Japanese market. Series like Heaven Official’s Blessing and The Daily Life of the Immortal King found audiences in Japan and beyond, paving the way for more adaptations.
Fuji TV’s B8station block specifically focuses on Chinese content dubbed for Japanese viewers, showing the network’s commitment to bringing these stories across borders. This programming strategy recognizes the quality of Chinese manhua and the appetite Japanese audiences have for fantasy stories with different cultural foundations.
The involvement of top-tier Japanese talent, from voice actors to production staff, shows that the industry takes these adaptations seriously. Rather than treating them as niche products, studios invest real resources to ensure the final product meets the high standards of anime fans.
For more entertainment news and updates, stay tuned to VvipTimes for the latest coverage on anime, K-dramas, and global pop culture.
