YAIBA: How the Arrival of Onimaru's Four Heavenly Kings Was Animated

The final stretch of the first season of Shin Samurai-den YAIBA gave us one of those moments worth watching carefully. Episode 10, titled "Onimaru's Four Heavenly Kings Appear," marked the entrance of Onimaru Takeshi's new subordinates, and now we can revisit it with production materials from the studio.

Animate Times published a review of the episode as part of its series of articles dedicated to the show. What makes it interesting is that it's not a simple recap: it includes original sketches and animation documents that WIT STUDIO used to build the scene.

The episode starts right after Yaiba's training. After mastering the Kaminari Giri, his new technique, the protagonist finally charges toward Onimaru's castle. He cuts through the black Oni protecting the fortress, but just as he is about to reach his rival, a trap set by Kumo Otoko splits the group and sends them falling to the bottom of the castle.

There, a landscape awaits them that doesn't seem to belong inside a building: it is the stage Onimaru prepared for his new subordinates, the Four Heavenly Kings. The cliffhanger set everything up for the next episode.

A Series That Keeps Growing

The first season of Shin Samurai-den YAIBA aired in Japan between April and September 2025, with 24 episodes in total. The anime adapts the YAIBA manga by Gosho Aoyama, the same creator of Detective Conan.

Direction is handled by Takahiro Hasui, with Touko Machida on series composition. The main cast includes Minami Takayama as Kurogane Yaiba, Manaka Iwami as Mine Sayaka, and Yoshimasa Hosoya as Onimaru Takeshi.

The story follows Yaiba, a boy who trains in the jungle to become a true samurai. When he returns to Japan, he stays at the Mine family's house and meets Sayaka. His encounter with Onimaru, a kendo prodigy, awakens two legendary swords: the Raijin Ken and the Fuujin Ken.

What's Next for the Franchise

The news comes at a good time for fans. The second season, Kaguya-hen, already has a premiere date in Japan: January 9, 2027. Additionally, the first season began airing on new Japanese channels: Yomiuri TV since July 6, BS12 since July 3, and TOKYO MX since August 11.

The episode 10 retrospective is part of a series of articles that Animate Times has dedicated to WIT STUDIO's animation. Each installment reviews a different episode with production materials, from the birth of the Kaminari Giri to the battle of Ganryuujima.

For those waiting for the anime to arrive in Latin America, there is still no official announcement regarding licensing or a Spanish dub. The series remains without a confirmed platform for our region, so we'll have to keep an eye out for any news.

Have you already watched the first season of YAIBA? Tell us in the comments what you thought of the Four Heavenly Kings episode and whether you're looking forward to the Kaguya arc.