Jurassic Shadows made a striking debut at Anime Expo 2026, introducing an original shounen action anime where dinosaurs, ninjas, and makeup-inspired abilities collide in a near-future Tokyo. Directed by Norihiro Naganuma, the director of The Apothecary Diaries, the project is shaping up as a visually ambitious battle series with a very unusual power system.
Set in Tokyo in 2029, the story follows people who awaken dinosaur abilities through their DNA. More than ten dinosaur species are expected to appear across the series, but the Anime Expo panel made it clear that Jurassic Shadows is not simply a “dinosaurs versus ninjas” concept stretched across multiple episodes.
The bigger surprise is how heavily makeup and color influence the world. During the panel, Iizumi explained that dinosaurs, ninjas, and makeup are all central pillars of the anime, with each theme contributing to the series’ setting, character designs, and combat mechanics.
A dinosaur battle story with a makeup-based power system
The official premise adds another layer to the project’s setup. In Jurassic Shadows, dinosaurs believed to have vanished after an asteroid impact secretly survived by passing their DNA into humanity. Hidden within ordinary society, they eventually begin hunting humans, forcing a covert ninja organization to fight back.
That organization uses a special pigment known as Ryugesho, a makeup-like substance infused with ancient memories. When applied, it allows its users to awaken dinosaur-like abilities, turning the series’ cosmetic concept into the foundation of its action scenes.
It is an unusual combination, but the ideas are more closely connected than they might initially seem. Makeup becomes a visible expression of power, while the dinosaur abilities give each fighter a connection to a specific prehistoric creature. The panel also indicated that the anime will feature a wide range of dinosaur species rather than relying on a single familiar mascot such as a Tyrannosaurus rex.
The Apothecary Diaries team reunites
For longtime fans of The Apothecary Diaries, one of Jurassic Shadows’ most notable details is the return of several members of that anime’s creative team. Naganuma is directing the new project, while Yukiko Nakatani is credited with character design and Misato Aita is handling color design.
The broader staff includes original character designs by manga creator Yoichi Amano and a screenplay by Kenta Ihara. The project is being developed and produced by SlowCurve and Avex Pictures, with animation production handled by cannoncode, LLC.
That reunion is especially significant because Jurassic Shadows represents a move into full-scale battle action for Naganuma. The visual sensibility seen in his previous work is being redirected toward a darker, more kinetic setting filled with prehistoric creatures, secret organizations, and close-quarters combat.
Color and expressive eyes are key to the look
Color was one of the panel’s most detailed discussion points. The staff described it as a major artistic challenge, particularly because every dinosaur needs a palette that feels convincing for the creature while also serving the story. According to the panel, the team went through countless color tests before settling on designs that matched both the animals and the anime’s overall atmosphere.
This emphasis could help Jurassic Shadows stand apart from more conventional monster-action series. Rather than treating dinosaur markings and pigmentation as surface-level decoration, the production appears to be using color as part of the storytelling language and the power system itself.
The staff also highlighted expressive eyes as another important visual tool. Several key creators who worked on The Apothecary Diaries are carrying over that focus, using large, highly expressive eyes to communicate emotion and character intent. In a series built around secret identities and transformations, those small facial details may prove just as important as the larger action set pieces.
The Anime Expo audience also took part in a lively question-and-answer session, giving the creative team an opportunity to expand on the project’s artistic philosophy. While many details remain under wraps, the discussion confirmed that Jurassic Shadows is being designed around more than its headline premise.
A project promotional video and concept visuals have been released, offering the first look at the anime’s modern Tokyo setting and its dinosaur-powered ninja conflict. A manga serialization is also reportedly in production, although no cast, release date, or streaming platform has been announced yet.
For now, the most important things to watch are further character reveals, additional information about Ryugesho, and the way the anime assigns dinosaur abilities to its fighters. If the production can make its color-driven world and makeup-based combat system work as well in motion as it does on paper, Jurassic Shadows could become one of the most distinctive original anime projects to emerge from Anime Expo 2026.
Sources
ryugesho.com
crunchyroll.com
comicbook.com
