The Fire Hunter

The Fire Hunter (火狩りの王) is a Japanese fantasy novel series written by Rieko Hinata and illustrated by Akihiro Yamada. Holp Shuppan have published four volumes between December 2018 and September 2020. An anime television series adaptation by Signal.MD aired from January to March 2023. A second season aired from January to March 2024.

Plot
In the distant future, a calamity has changed human physiology so that humans will instantly combust when in the presence of fire. As a result, human civilization collapsed until they discover an alternative fuel source derived from the blood of demonic Fire Fiends. As a result, the elite Fire Hunters are formed, whose sole purpose is to hunt down Fire Fiends and harvest their blood, fueling a new industrial revolution.

Touko, a young girl who lives in a remote village, wanders into the forest and stumbles into a battle between a Fire Hunter and a Fire Fiend. The Fire Hunter is mortally wounded saving Touko, with his last words telling her the name of his dog, Kanata. Due to being responsible for the Fire Hunter's death, Touko is tasked by her village to take Kanata and the slain Fire Hunter's belongings to the Capital and return them to his family. Feeling responsible as well, Touko embarks on the long and dangerous journey to the Capital to fulfill her duty.

Characters

 * Touko (灯子)


 * Koushi (煌四)


 * Akira (明楽)


 * Kira (綺羅)


 * Roroku (炉六)


 * Hinako (緋名子)


 * Kun (クン)


 * Shōzō (照三)


 * Kaho (火穂)


 * Yuoshichi (油百七)


 * Hibana (火華)


 * Takimi (焚三)


 * Haijū (灰十)


 * Benio (紅緒)


 * Hotaru (ほたる)


 * Sakuroku (炸六)


 * Enzen (炎千)


 * Hitō (火十)


 * Hibari (ひばり)


 * Yanagi (ヤナギ)


 * Kiri (キリ)


 * Narrator (ナレーション)


 * Yururuho (揺るる火) / Sennen Suisei (千年彗星)


 * Ruri Matsuri (瑠璃茉莉)

Anime
An anime television series adaptation produced by Signal.MD was announced on November 5, 2020. The anime is directed by Junji Nishimura, with Mamoru Oshii supervising and writing the scripts, Takuya Saito designing the characters, and Kenji Kawai composing the music. It aired from January 14 to March 18, 2023, on WOWOW. The opening theme song is "Usotsuki" (嘘つき, "Liar"), performed by Leo Ieiri, and the ending theme song is "Mada Tōku ni Iru" (まだ遠くにいる), performed by Maaya Sakamoto. Crunchyroll licensed the series outside of Asia.

After the tenth and final episode of the first season, a second season was announced, which aired from January 14 to March 17, 2024. The opening theme song is "Hikarakka", performed by Cocco, and the ending theme song is "Dakishimete" (抱きしめて), again performed by Maaya Sakamoto.