BLADES OF WA Brings a Cinematic Japanese D&D Series to Kickstarter

BLADES OF WA: THE DRAGON THRONE is a new Japanese-fantasy D&D video series currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter.

Created in Japan, the series is set in Wa, in the eastern reaches of the Realms, and aims to combine the choices, dice rolls, and tactical combat of Dungeons & Dragons with a heavily produced visual presentation.

Rather than simply recording a tabletop session, BLADES OF WA takes the events that emerge through play and turns them into a fully edited fantasy video series.

The project aims to preserve what makes D&D feel like D&D—the player choices, dice rolls, and combat—while putting much greater emphasis on animation, editing, and visual direction.

D&D Beneath the Story

BLADES OF WA is not intended to replace the game with a predetermined animated story.

Player decisions, ability checks, dice rolls, initiative, combat rounds, tactical positioning, and other D&D mechanics still determine how scenes unfold.

The difference is in how those moments are presented.

Instead of watching players seated around a table, the resulting adventure is reconstructed through character animation, effects, editing, sound design, and visual direction.

The goal is to preserve the uncertainty and game-driven storytelling of D&D while presenting the result as a Japanese-fantasy video series.

A D&D Story Created in Japan

The story takes place in Wa, a land now ruled by the Dragon King Tokonagi.

Once sent to restore order, Tokonagi has remained in control of the country, restricting traditions, gatherings, and forms of worship in the name of maintaining peace.

The story follows Itsuna Tenkyo, a young samurai traveling to reclaim his homeland, alongside shrine maiden Amane Mikagura, energetic artificer Momoka Hifuki, and Momoka’s troublesome tanuki companion, Ponkichi.

The series draws on Japanese fantasy imagery while keeping the mechanics and structure of D&D at its core.

Built as a Fully Produced Video Series

Visual presentation is one of the main focuses of the project.

BLADES OF WA will use character animation, effects, cinematic editing, battle presentation, and environmental staging to turn individual D&D moments into complete scenes.

The series will also be fully voiced in Japanese by professional freelance voice actors, with English subtitles for international viewers.

A previous D&D series by the creator provides an example of the general animation and editing approach.

The footage below comes from an earlier production and has been newly re-edited into an approximately one-minute reference sample. Some parts of the original series used synthesized voices, so the clip is intended mainly to demonstrate the animation, editing, and visual presentation.

For BLADES OF WA, the production quality is planned to be significantly higher, with full professional Japanese voice acting as well as more polished animation and direction.

Approximately one minute of footage re-edited from an earlier D&D series as a reference for the animation and visual presentation. BLADES OF WA will feature a higher level of production and full Japanese voice acting.

More Than a Video Series

The Kickstarter campaign also includes a 5E / 5.5E-compatible adventure PDF based on the project.

The adventure is being developed so players can bring the experience to their own tables, rather than the world existing only as a video series.

Additional rewards include a digital world guide and opportunities for supporters to contribute ideas that may appear within the world of BLADES OF WA.

The campaign launched on September 8, 2026, and has already reached more than 500% of its original funding goal.

The Kickstarter runs through October 8, 2026.