Touken Ranbu - Hanamaru

Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru was produced by studio Doga Kobo and premiered in 2016 as the first animated adaptation of the popular browser game by Nitroplus and DMM Games. The series was designed to translate the game's anthropomorphic sword characters, or sword boys, into a slice-of-life format, emphasizing their daily interactions at the citadel rather than focusing primarily on the battlefield. This approach allowed for a softer, more character-driven exploration of historical Japanese weaponry set within a domestic, peaceful context.

The character designs were handled by Junichiro Taniguchi, who sought to capture the distinct aesthetic of the original game illustrations while softening them for a television format. Upon its release, the series was well-received by fans of the franchise for its lighthearted tone and attention to detail regarding historical lore. It established a successful template for subsequent adaptations, ultimately leading to a multi-season franchise that expanded the appeal of the original source material to a broader audience.