Rooster Fighter

Rooster Fighter (Japanese: ニワトリ・ファイター, Hepburn: Niwatori Faitā) is a Japanese web manga series written and illustrated by Shū Sakuratani. It has been serialized on Hero's Inc.'s Comiplex manga website since December 2020. An anime television series adaptation produced by Sanzigen and Sola Entertainment has been announced.

Rooster Fighter
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Keiji
ニワトリ・ファイター (Niwatori Faitā)
Genre	Action[1] Comedy[2] Parody[2]
Manga
Written by	Shū Sakuratani
Published by	Hero's Inc.
English publisher	NA: Viz Media
Magazine	Comiplex
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	December 18, 2020 – present
Volumes	9
Anime television series
Directed by	Daisuke Suzuki
Produced by	Joseph Chou
Written by	Hiroshi Seko
Studio	Sanzigen (animation) Sola Entertainment (production)
Licensed by	Viz Media
English network	US: Adult Swim

Plot

Three years ago, mutant demons began appearing in Japan. While some are harmless or helpful towards humans, others are troublesome. Created from humans suffering from extreme emotional distress or unresolved trauma, these mutant demons began to wreak havoc as they began to evolve to be more intelligent and dangerous.

A lone rooster named Keiji wanders around various cities of Japan while defeating mutant demons he encounters. His ultimate goal is to find and kill the mutant dubbed "The White Demon" who killed his sister in order to avenge her death.

Characters

Main characters

Keiji (ケイジ)

Voiced by: Kenta Miyake^[3]

A self-described "migratory bird" who vows to defeat the demon that killed his sister. He wanders around Japan and has a policy to never stay longer than necessary. Keiji has a strict code of conduct that he follows regarding respect and appreciation. Despite despising children or any youngsters that he deemed disrespectful or annoying, he has a soft spot for some of them, like Piyoko. His abilities include resonance and having great aim when throwing items with his beak.

Piyoko (ピヨコ)

Voiced by: Shiori Izawa^[3]

Raised by a yakuza to initially be sold with other chicks, Piyoko became a beloved pet instead before witnessing her owner turn into a mutant demon. Witnessing Keiji defeat and save her owner, she decides to follow him on his journey to defeat the White Demon and Keiji reluctantly let her join him after she helped nurse him back to health. She is attached to him, believing that she will marry him once she is older, and was given the name Piyoko by him after asking for a name. She has the word "Duty" (仁義, Jingi) written on her back after asking her former owner to give her a tattoo similar to his.

Elizabeth (エリザベス, Erizabesu)

Voiced by: Mariko Honda^[3]

Adopted into a wealthy family shortly after her birth, Elizabeth lived a luxurious yet dissatisfying life when she witnessed a demon wreak havoc on her city and nearly killed her and her family. It was Keiji that rescued them and she immediately fell in love with him, only to be abandoned right after their short affair. She ended up resenting Keiji for abandoning her and initially trained herself to get revenge against him; however, as she witnessed more mutant demons kill off her loved ones after Keiji's departure, she began training to defeat them for the next six months. After reuniting with Keiji, she decides to join his efforts in fighting against the White Demon. Elizabeth fights with a lightning staff and is shown to be tech savvy.

Other characters

One-Eyed Silver (片目の銀, Katame no Gin)

A one-eyed turtle with a personal vendetta against birds after witnessing them eat his siblings after hatching, he is initially hostile towards Keiji. However, he helps him defeat a demon at sea after realizing that Keiji was not like the seagulls he despised. He lets Keiji off to go avenge his sister but makes him promise that they will have a proper battle once he returns.

Zena (ゼナ)

An elderly toucan taken from his home in Brazil and now overseeing the Southern Birds exhibit in the zoo, he took Keiji into the exhibit after finding him unconscious in the rain. He was a beloved member of the community and protected his bird family from a demon attack before succumbing to his injuries. Keiji took one of his feathers, hoping to return it to Zena's sisters one day.

Lisa (リサ, Risa) and Sara (サラ)

Lisa and Sara are both sisters of Keiji. It is Lisa's death that led Keiji to avenge her; however, Keiji noted that the bird used by the White Demon resembles Sara, who was missing prior to Lisa's death.

The White Demon

A white-skinned and four-horned demon. The mutant is responsible for killing Keiji's sister Lisa. The White Demon is a giant that also has a fire-like bird that it uses to burn what it wants. It also has a circular mark on its neck, which Keiji uses to identify it.

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Shū Sakuratani, Rooster Fighter started on Hero's Inc.'s Comiplex manga website on December 18, 2020.^[4][1] The series' first tankōbon volume was released on May 1, 2021.^[5] As of January 6, 2025, nine volumes have been released.^[6]

The manga is licensed in North America by Viz Media, with the first volume released on August 16, 2022.^[7][8]

Volumes

No.	Original release date	Original ISBN	English release date	English ISBN
1	May 1, 2021[9]	978-4-86468-801-7	August 16, 2022[8]	978-1-9747-2984-5
1. "The Bird Who Fights Demons" (獣聚鳥散, Yūshūchōsan) 2. "Death From a Bird" (雲散鳥没, Unsanchōbotsu) 3. "The Homesick Bird" (越鳥南枝, Enchōnanshin) 4. "The Bird and the Sea Turtle" (窮鳥入懐, Kyūchōnyūkai) 5. "A Bird Leaves the Nest" (四鳥別離, Shichōbetsuri)
2	October 5, 2021[10]	978-4-86468-835-2	November 15, 2022[11]	978-1-9747-3388-0
6. "As Thin as a Bird" (鵠面鳥形, Kokumenchōkei) 7. "The Caged Bird" (籠鳥檻猿, Rōchōkanen) 8. "Birds in Spring" (鳥語花香, Chōgōkakō) 9. "Bird Breath, Bird Vision" (禽息鳥視, Kinsokuchōshi) 10. "The Wounded Bird" (傷弓之鳥, Shōkyūnotori)
3	March 4, 2022[12]	978-4-86468-872-7	February 21, 2023[13]	978-1-9747-3651-5
11. "To Hunt a Bird" (鳥尽弓蔵, Chōjinkyūzō) 12. "Big Bird in a Small Pond" (池魚籠鳥, Chigyorōchō) 13. "Nature's Songbird" (花鳥諷詠, Kachōfūei) 14. "Brave as a Bird" (鳥革翬飛, Chōkakukihi) 15. "The Mountain Bird's Song" (落花啼鳥, Rakkateichō)
4	August 5, 2022[14]	978-4-86468-119-3	August 15, 2023[15]	978-1-9747-3891-5
16. "A Rooster Among Cranes" (群鶏一鶴, Gunkeinoistukaku) 17. "One-Trick Rooster" (鶏鳴狗盗, Keimeikutō) 18. "Scaredy-Bird" (鶏犬不寧, Keikenfunei) 19. "Deadbeat Rooster" (家鶏野鶩, Kakeiyaboku) 20. "My Only Bird" (鶏皮鶴髪, Keihikakuhatu)
5	January 26, 2023[16]	978-4-86468-146-9	December 19, 2023[17]	978-1-9747-4112-0
21. "More Than One Way to Skin a Bird" (割鶏牛刀, Katsukeigyūtō) 22. "Long Live the Hen" (牝鶏牡鳴, Hinkeibomei) 23. "Behind Every Rooster" (鶏鳴之助, Keimeinojyō) 24. "Birds of a Feather Fight Together" (鶏尸牛従, Keishigyōsyō)
6	August 29, 2023[18]	978-4-86468-193-3	June 18, 2024[19]	978-1-9747-4687-3
25. "The View from the Bird Cage" (甕裡醯鶏, Ourikeikei) 26. "The Unfinished Bird" (陶犬瓦鶏, Toukengakei) 27. "To Back a Bird into a Corner" (禽困覆車, Kinkonfukusha) 28. "The Egg Doesn't Fall Far from the Three" (良禽択木, Ryoukintakuboku)
7	January 29, 2024[20]	978-4-86468-229-9	February 18, 2025[21]	978-1-9747-5226-3
29. Kinjūsōmoku (禽獣草木) 30. Ikankinjū (衣冠禽獣) 31. Tatsukomahōsū (竜駒鳳雛) 32. Linkohōsū (麟子鳳雛)
8	August 5, 2024[22]	978-4-86468-274-9	—	—
33. Rinkakuhōsu (麟角鳳嘴) 34. Kawatō sanpō (河東三鳳) 35. Fukuryū hōchū (伏竜鳳雛) 36. Keisei hōō (景星鳳凰)
9	January 6, 2025[6]	978-4-86805-028-5	—	—
37. Hōō kan sho (鳳凰銜書) 38. Uiyoku issei (羽翼已成) 39. Kōgan ainmei (鴻雁哀鳴) 40. Eibi tochū (曳尾塗中) 41. Koshō nanmei (孤掌難鳴)

Anime

In July 2024 at San Diego Comic-Con, it was announced that the manga would receive an anime television series adaptation in collaboration with Hero's Inc. The series will be produced by Sanzigen and Sola Entertainment, with Daisuke Suzuki directing and Hiroshi Seko handling series composition. Sola Entertainment CEO Joseph Chou will serve as producer. The anime is licensed by Viz Media and confirmed to be broadcasting in the United States on Adult Swim.^[23]

Reception

Since its premiere, Rooster Fighter has been popular abroad, especially in Spanish-speaking countries such as Mexico, Spain and Argentina. The manga has received translation publication offers from more than 12 countries and regions.^[5]

References

1. Morrissy, Kim (December 20, 2020). "New Battle Action Manga Follows Rooster Who Saves the World". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
2. Xavi (April 29, 2021). "¡Ivrea publicará Rooster Fighter!". ¡Veremos a futuro! El blog de Ivrea España (in Spanish). Editorial Ivrea. Archived from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
3. Tai, Anita (October 19, 2024). "Rooster Fighter Anime Announces Cast Members". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 1, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
4. 1羽のニワトリが地球を救うバトルアクション、「T-DRAGON」の桜谷シュウ新連載. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 18, 2020. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
5. 「ニワトリ・ファイター」1巻、これは1羽のニワトリが人類を救う物語. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. May 3, 2021. Archived from the original on May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
6. 【1月6日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 6, 2025. Archived from the original on January 6, 2025. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
7. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (October 10, 2021). "Viz Announces Summer 2022 Book Releases Including Junji Ito's The Liminal Zone, Takashi Shiina's Yashahime Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
8. Mateo, Alex (August 16, 2022). "North American Anime, Manga Releases, August 14–20". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
9. 【5月1日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. May 1, 2021. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
10. 【10月5日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. October 5, 2021. Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
11. Mateo, Alex (November 15, 2022). "North American Anime, Manga Releases, November 13–19". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
12. 【3月4日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. March 4, 2022. Archived from the original on March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
13. Mateo, Alex (February 23, 2023). "North American Anime, Manga Releases, February 19–25". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
14. 【8月5日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 5, 2022. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
15. Mateo, Alex (August 15, 2023). "North American Anime, Manga Releases, August 13–19". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
16. 【1月26日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. February 17, 2023. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
17. Mateo, Alex (December 20, 2023). "North American Anime, Manga Releases, December 17–23". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
18. 【8月29日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 29, 2023. Archived from the original on August 30, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
19. Mateo, Alex (June 21, 2024). "North American Anime, Manga Releases, June 16–22". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
20. 【1月29日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 29, 2024. Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
21. "Rooster Fighter, Vol. 7". Viz Media. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
22. 【8月5日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 5, 2024. Archived from the original on August 4, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
23. Mateo, Alex (July 25, 2024). "Rooster Fighter Manga Gets Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 25, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2024.

External links

• Official manga website at Comiplex (in Japanese)
• Official manga website at Viz Media (in English)
• Official anime website (in Japanese)
• Official anime website (in English)
• Rooster Fighter (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia