News
Phantom Busters Anime Reveals Director and Character Designers at TOHO Animation
Phantom Busters’ TV anime adaptation has its first staff confirmed. A new report reveals TOHO Animation is officially producing the series, with Chika Nagaoka directing and Takahiro Kishida and Rina Iwamoto handling character designs, building on the project’s initial announcement back on September 24, 2026.
The anime remains set for a 2027 premiere, with no more specific date, cast, or additional staff confirmed yet beyond this latest reveal.
A Manga That’s Been Building Momentum
Neoshoco’s Phantom Busters manga launched in Shueisha’s Jump SQ. in August 2023, following a previous one-shot debut, and has steadily grown its readership since. The series ranked fourth in AnimeJapan’s 2025 “Manga We Want to See Animated” poll, a strong signal of fan demand well before the anime was officially confirmed.
That momentum has continued through 2026. The manga crossed 1,400,000 copies in circulation as of October 1, with its eighth compiled volume releasing in Japan the following day, and a spin-off novel, Phantom Busters: After School!, also released around the same time. The series joined Shueisha’s Shonen Jump simulpub lineup internationally on September 3, 2026, expanding its reach to readers following along digitally outside Japan.
The Story Behind the Club
Phantom Busters follows Mogari Shishikuno, Eugene Korekishi, and Kaoru Kanzaki, members of their school’s Paranormal Research Club, who take an unconventional approach to dealing with spirits: rather than fighting or exorcising them in any traditional sense, they eat them. Searching for a fourth member to round out the club, the trio sets their sights on classmate Kotaro Tamon, who appears to have a rare ability to communicate with ghosts. The catch is that Kotaro struggles badly with talking to actual living people, setting up the series’ central comedic tension between his supernatural gift and his social anxiety.
Viz Media publishes the manga in English both physically and digitally, alongside Shueisha’s MANGA Plus service, with the fifth English volume releasing October 6, 2026.
What’s Still Unknown
Beyond the director and character designers, TOHO Animation hasn’t released a full staff list, cast announcement, key visual, or trailer for Phantom Busters yet. No specific premiere month within 2027 has been confirmed either, so further details are expected to roll out gradually as production continues. Neoshoco, the manga’s creator, previously expressed excitement about the adaptation directly, writing: “I think Phantom Busters is the kind of series whose fun will stand out even more when animated, so as the author, I’m truly happy that it has become a reality.”
FAQ
Who is directing the Phantom Busters anime?
Chika Nagaoka is directing the series at TOHO Animation, with Takahiro Kishida and Rina Iwamoto handling character designs.
When does the Phantom Busters anime release?
The anime is confirmed for a 2027 premiere, though no specific month or exact date has been announced yet.
What is Phantom Busters about?
It follows members of a school’s Paranormal Research Club who eat spirits rather than fight them, as they try to recruit a new member, Kotaro Tamon, who can talk to ghosts but struggles to communicate with people.
How many volumes of the Phantom Busters manga are there?
The manga had reached eight compiled volumes in Japan as of October 2, 2026, with more than 1,400,000 copies in circulation.
Where can I read Phantom Busters in English?
Viz Media publishes the manga in English both physically and digitally, alongside Shueisha’s MANGA Plus service.