Adult Swim’s new animated series Rooster Fighter premieres this Saturday March 14th at Midnight. It’s adapted from creator Shu Sakuratani’s manga about Keiji, a rooster defending the planet from evil Demons. Get ready for quite a ride! (This Animation Scoop Interview was conducted as an Email Q&A and was edited for length and clarity.)

Jackson Murphy: What excited you about turning your manga into an animated series?

Shu Sakuratani: The action scenes, above all. When I was creating the storyboards, I would visualize the scenes in my head, and I was very excited to see how those moments would actually be portrayed in the anime. After watching it, I felt it completely exceeded my imagination. I was especially thrilled by the high-speed camerawork used in the battle scenes, such as the showdown between the brothers Keiji and Keisuke, and the fight with Yuji after his Devil-form transformation. The direction was absolutely incredible and really got me fired up.

JM: Has the rooster always been a special animal for you, and why?

SS: Yes. I actually kept chickens when I was a child, so they were very familiar to me. At the time, I was the one responsible for feeding them, and I remember being nervous and a little scared every time I did it. In Japan, chickens have also long been regarded as “messengers of the gods.” In particular, they appear in the myth of Amaterasu as the long-crowing bird that announces the dawn. Because of that, I’ve always seen them as somewhat sacred creatures, and they’ve been an animal I’ve loved for a long time.

JM: What characteristics and qualities of a hero apply to Keiji?

SS: I think Keiji represents a kind of hero who is like a Japanese samurai — a man with a strong sense of justice who may be stubborn and a bit clumsy, but who stays true to the path he believes in.

JM: What’s most important to you about Keiji’s inner thoughts / narration?

SS: Keiji is a man of few words, so when portraying his inner thoughts, I focus on expressing his convictions with as few words as possible — the idea of quietly standing by what he believes in. That said, when the Lord of the Rut appears, all of that composure collapses instantly!

JM: What was fun about creating the unique designs of the Demons?

SS: First, I try to make their appearance extremely grotesque — something visually unsettling and unlike anything people have seen before. From there, when an unexpected ability or attack idea suddenly pops into my mind, I feel this rush of excitement, like “Yes!” The creation of the “Wallet Demon” that appears in Chapter Four was exactly that kind of moment.

JM: The action sequences are intense. What are challenging aspects of bringing them to life?

SS: As I mentioned before, I think the anime completely surpasses the action scenes in my original manga. Elements that can’t fully be expressed in the manga — such as the powerful performances from the voice actors, vivid colors, and explosive sound effects — are added, making the action many times more exciting. I truly feel nothing but gratitude toward Director Daisuke Suzuki and all the staff involved.

JM: What does it mean to you for Rooster Fighter to be part of the iconic Adult Swim brand and lineup?

SS: It’s a huge honor. Adult Swim is a famous late-night animation block overseas, and I always had the impression that it features many crazy and unique shows. The fact that Rooster Fighter can be part of that lineup makes me incredibly happy. I’m deeply grateful to everyone at VIZ Media, the Adult Swim staff, and the entire anime team including Director Suzuki. As the original creator, nothing would make me happier than for Rooster Fighter to be enjoyed by audiences all over the world.