Jonathan Tanigaki to Star as Akaza in Re:Anime Films' Live-Action Demon Slayer: Akaza vs. Rengoku, Premiering December 3
OFFICIAL TEASER TRAILER DEBUTS TODAY, OFFERING FANS A FIRST LOOK AT TANIGAKI IN THE ICONIC ROLE
LOS ANGELES (November 10, 2026) – Actor, voice artist and martial artist Jonathan Tanigaki stars as Akaza in Demon Slayer: Akaza vs. Rengoku, a live-action fan film from RE:Anime Films bringing one of the Demon Slayerfranchise's most celebrated confrontations to life. The film's official teaser trailer debuts today, giving fans their first look at Tanigaki in the iconic role ahead of its December 3 premiere. Watch the official teaser trailer HERE.
Set following the events of the Mugen Train disaster, Demon Slayer: Akaza vs. Rengoku centers on the climactic battle between Upper Rank Three demon Akaza and Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku. Akaza offers Rengoku immortality in exchange for limitless strength, but with Tanjiro and his companions at risk, Rengoku refuses to abandon his humanity. The confrontation unfolds as a battle of conviction, sacrifice and the determination to protect others. Osric Chau stars as Rengoku, with Rex Ahn as Tanjiro.
A Japanese-Taiwanese-American actor, singer and martial artist, Tanigaki brings his experience in voice performance, on-camera acting and martial arts to the role. He is widely recognized for voicing Eiji Okumura in the acclaimed anime series Banana Fish and Shigenori Ota in Call of Duty. His recent voice credits also include Shiro Yoshida (Sunfire) in Marvel's Wolverine. His on-camera credits include Grey's Anatomy, S.W.A.T., NCIS: Hawai'i and Hulu's Paradise.
Produced by Nik Shaw, Joseph Le, and Trishia Woo, and directed by Nik Shaw, Demon Slayer: Akaza vs. Rengokucombines live-action performances with AI-enhanced visual effects to bring the battle to the screen.
Following today's teaser debut, the rollout continues with a behind-the-scenes feature on November 19, the full trailer on November 24 and the film's premiere on December 3.
About Jonathan Tanigaki
Jonathan Tanigaki is a Japanese-Taiwanese-American actor, singer, voice artist and martial artist based in Los Angeles. A graduate of the American Musical & Dramatic Academy (AMDA) and bilingual in English and Japanese, Tanigaki has built a versatile career spanning film, television, gaming and animation. His voice credits include Eiji Okumura in Banana Fish, Shigenori Ota in Call of Duty and Sunfire in Marvel's Wolverine. His on-camera credits include Grey's Anatomy, S.W.A.T., NCIS: Hawai'i and Hulu's Paradise. He has also starred in three Oscar-qualifying short films, Nisei,Infinity! and The Lights Above, and earned Best Supporting Actor honors for Enemy No More. His upcoming projects include the indie horror-comedy Zombois, Hulu's Paradise Season 3, Netflix's Poser and the upcoming 2027 Baywatchreboot.
About RE:Anime Films
RE:Anime Films is a Los Angeles-based studio that adapts anime intellectual property into cinematic live-action productions. For more information, visit www.youtube.com/c/reanimefilms.
LOS ANGELES (November 10, 2026) – Actor, voice artist and martial artist Jonathan Tanigaki stars as Akaza in Demon Slayer: Akaza vs. Rengoku, a live-action fan film from RE:Anime Films bringing one of the Demon Slayerfranchise's most celebrated confrontations to life. The film's official teaser trailer debuts today, giving fans their first look at Tanigaki in the iconic role ahead of its December 3 premiere. Watch the official teaser trailer HERE.
Set following the events of the Mugen Train disaster, Demon Slayer: Akaza vs. Rengoku centers on the climactic battle between Upper Rank Three demon Akaza and Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku. Akaza offers Rengoku immortality in exchange for limitless strength, but with Tanjiro and his companions at risk, Rengoku refuses to abandon his humanity. The confrontation unfolds as a battle of conviction, sacrifice and the determination to protect others. Osric Chau stars as Rengoku, with Rex Ahn as Tanjiro.
A Japanese-Taiwanese-American actor, singer and martial artist, Tanigaki brings his experience in voice performance, on-camera acting and martial arts to the role. He is widely recognized for voicing Eiji Okumura in the acclaimed anime series Banana Fish and Shigenori Ota in Call of Duty. His recent voice credits also include Shiro Yoshida (Sunfire) in Marvel's Wolverine. His on-camera credits include Grey's Anatomy, S.W.A.T., NCIS: Hawai'i and Hulu's Paradise.
Produced by Nik Shaw, Joseph Le, and Trishia Woo, and directed by Nik Shaw, Demon Slayer: Akaza vs. Rengokucombines live-action performances with AI-enhanced visual effects to bring the battle to the screen.
Following today's teaser debut, the rollout continues with a behind-the-scenes feature on November 19, the full trailer on November 24 and the film's premiere on December 3.
About Jonathan Tanigaki
Jonathan Tanigaki is a Japanese-Taiwanese-American actor, singer, voice artist and martial artist based in Los Angeles. A graduate of the American Musical & Dramatic Academy (AMDA) and bilingual in English and Japanese, Tanigaki has built a versatile career spanning film, television, gaming and animation. His voice credits include Eiji Okumura in Banana Fish, Shigenori Ota in Call of Duty and Sunfire in Marvel's Wolverine. His on-camera credits include Grey's Anatomy, S.W.A.T., NCIS: Hawai'i and Hulu's Paradise. He has also starred in three Oscar-qualifying short films, Nisei,Infinity! and The Lights Above, and earned Best Supporting Actor honors for Enemy No More. His upcoming projects include the indie horror-comedy Zombois, Hulu's Paradise Season 3, Netflix's Poser and the upcoming 2027 Baywatchreboot.
About RE:Anime Films
RE:Anime Films is a Los Angeles-based studio that adapts anime intellectual property into cinematic live-action productions. For more information, visit www.youtube.com/c/reanimefilms.
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