Muteking the Dancing Hero (stylized in all caps) is an anime television series produced by Tatsunoko Production and Tezuka Productions, serving as a reboot to Tatsunoko's 1980–1981 television series Muteking, The Dashing Warrior and aired from October to December 2021 on TV Osaka and other channels.
The series was announced on June 1, 2019. Tatsunoko Production and Horipro held the audition for the titular character who will also get a contract with the latter as well as perform original songs for the show. Applications lasted until July 19th with the final round taking place by September 8th.[1]
Co-produced by Tatsunoko and Tezuka Productions, the series was directed by Yūzō Satō, with Ryōsuke Takahashi as chief director with series composition by Yūji Kondō, original character designs by Utomaru, main character designs by Yuichi Takahashi, character designs and chief animation direction by Shinji Seya, Masafumi Satō serving as assistant director and battle dance director, Takamitsu Shimazaki and Takeshi Masuda composing the series' music and Hiroshi Sasagawa serving as executive director.[2]
The opening theme is titled, "Labyrinth", performed by Orange Range, while the ending theme is titled, "Kibō no Uta" (Song of Hope), performed by Kalma (band). It aired from October 3 to December 19, 2021, on TV Osaka and other channels.[3] Funimation streamed the anime.[4]
Caitlin Moore of Anime News Network praised most of the show's key point such as its heavy themes of "gentrification and tech-driven homogenization" of society alongside the show's music while concluding that the show "failed to wrap up the story in a satisfying way and would be a bit judgemental".[7]
