Arknights (Japanese: アークナイツ, Hepburn: Ākunaitsu) is a Japanese anime television series. Based on the video game of the same name, the series is produced by Yostar Pictures and directed by Yuki Watanabe. The first season, titled Arknights: Prelude to Dawn, aired from October to December 2022. A second season, titled Arknights: Perish in Frost, aired from October to November 2023. A third season, titled Arknights: Rise from Ember, aired from July to September 2025.
Contents
Characters
This list is limited only to major characters that have appeared in both the game and the television anime and does not include those that have appeared only in the game.
Doctor (博士; Bóshì)
Voiced by: Feng Junhua (anime only) (Chinese); Yuki Kaida (anime only) (Japanese)
The main character of Arknights whose real name and identity is largely unknown, only referred to as "Doctor." They are one of the leaders of Rhodes Island, an expert in neurology and Oripathy, and command the Operators of Rhodes Island like a tactical genius.
Amiya (阿米娅; Āmǐyà)
Voiced by: Tao Dian (Chinese); Emma Ballantine (English); Tomoyo Kurosawa (Japanese); Lee Ji-hyun (Korean)
The poster-girl of Arknights and the public face of Rhodes Island in-universe. An Infected bunny-girl able to use magical Arts both offensively and defensively.
Kal'tsit (凯尔希; Kǎi'ěrxī)
Voiced by: Liu Xue (game), Huang Ling (anime) (Chinese); Sura Siu (English); Yōko Hikasa (Japanese)
The real leader of Rhodes Island in the Doctor's absence, she is herself a doctor managing most of the organization's affairs. Though not a combatant, she does have a monster (named "Mon3tr") that she can summon from her spine to attack enemies.
Wei Yenwu (魏彦吾; Wèi Yànwú)
Voiced by: Hai Fan (anime only; Prelude to Dawn), Wang Wei (anime only; Perish in Frost) (Chinese); Kōichi Yamadera (anime only) (Japanese)
A Qilin and the ruler of Lungmen, a semi-autonomous Mobile City within the greater Yan territory. An incredibly skilled politician, Wei was able to elevate Lungmen to a major power, while keeping a tight grip on law and order within the city.
Dobermann (杜宾; Dùbīn)
Voiced by: Guiniang (Chinese); Lucy Montgomery (English); Atsumi Tanezaki (Japanese); Kim Hyun-ji (Korean)
A Perro drill instructor for Rhodes Island who looks like a humanoid version of her namesake.
Jessica Brynley (杰西卡·布莱恩利; Jiéxīkǎ Bùlái'ēnlì)
Voiced by: Hou Xiaofei (Chinese); Yuuki Luna (English); Ryō Hirohashi (Japanese); Kim Ha-young (Korean)
A timid Feline Operator from Blacksteel PMC, somehow able to afford to wield a pistol and ammo despite not being Sankta.
Franka (芙兰卡; Fúlánkǎ)
Voiced by: Vila (Chinese); Maya Aoki Tuttle (English); Ai Kakuma (Japanese); Park Ko-woon (Korean)
Vulpo Guard Operator who works for Blacksteel PMC, under contract with the Doctor at Rhodes Island
Liskarm (雷蛇; Léishé)
Voiced by: Ruoyu Zhang (Chinese); Megan Maczko (English); Yui Ishikawa (Japanese); Yi Sae-ah (Korean)
A Vouivre Defender Operator and Franka's partner in Blacksteel.
Ch'en Hui-chieh (陈晖洁; Chén Huījié)
Voiced by: Jen Zhang (Mandarin), Bao Shaoye (Cantonese) (Chinese); Amy Lennox (English); Shizuka Ishigami (Japanese); Chung Yu-joung (Korean)
Adopted daughter of Chief Wei and the head of the Lungmen Guard Department's Special Inspection Unit. She serves as the primary liaison between Rhodes Island and Lungmen.
Hoshiguma (星熊; Xīngxióng)
Voiced by: Cai Xinchun (Mandarin), Shi Xin (Cantonese) (Chinese); Meaghan Martin (English); Kiyono Yasuno (Japanese); Lee Sae-byeok (Korean)
A powerful Oni who works under Ch'en, wielding a large triangular shield with a Hannya on the front.
Swire (诗怀雅; Shīhuáiyǎ)
Voiced by: Ying Xie (Mandarin), Dong Dong (Cantonese) (Chinese); Emma Ballantine (English); Sora Tokui (Japanese); Kim Yul (Korean)
Senior Superintendent of the Lungmen Guard Department who often clashes with Ch'en.
Misha (米莎; Mǐshā)
Voiced by: Liang Shuang (anime only) (Chinese); Satsumi Matsuda (anime only) (Japanese)
An Ursus girl rescued by Rhodes Island Operators in Lungmen, but turns out to have ties to Skullshatterer of Reunion.
Blaze (煌; Huáng)
Voiced by: Zhou Tong (Chinese); Cristina Vee (English); Mai Nakahara (Japanese); Kim Yeon-woo (Korean)
Hot-blooded elite Operator for Rhodes Island who wields a superheated chainsaw in combat.
Exusiai (能天使; Néngtiānshǐ)
Voiced by: Cai Shujin (game), Muyaruilin (anime) (Chinese); Leonora Haig (later Shannon Tarbet) (English); Manaka Iwami (Japanese); Lee Ji-hyun (Korean)
Angelic Sankta and upbeat courier for Penguin Logistics in Lungmen, able to wield a submachinegun.
Cellinia Texas (切丽妮娜·德克萨斯; Sàilínnà Dékèsàsī)
Voiced by: Yang Menglu (Chinese); Jessica Preddy (English); Ilaria Silvestri (Italian); Azusa Tadokoro (Japanese); Kim Chae-ha (Korean)
Aloof-seeming Lupo courier for Penguin Logistics in Lungmen and Exusiai's partner.
Talulah Artorius (塔露拉·雅特利亚斯; Tǎlùlā Yǎtèlìyǎsī)
Voiced by: Zhou Shuai (anime only) (Chinese); Maaya Sakamoto (anime only) (Japanese)
The powerful leader of the Reunion movement who leads the group in their attacks on Chernobog and Lungmen, appears to have a history with Ch'en.
Ace (王牌; Wángpái)
Voiced by: Zhao Zihan (anime only) (Chinese); Takashi Matsuyama (anime only) (Japanese)
An elite Operator for Rhodes Island who sacrifices himself while fighting Talulah to help the Doctor and Amiya escape Chernobog.
Crownslayer (弑君者; Shìjūnzhě)
Voiced by: Chen Yanyi (Chinese); Evgeniya Vagan (English); Sayaka Senbongi (Japanese)
One of Reunion's elite troops, a Reproba able to perform quick and quiet assassinations.
Skullshatterer (碎骨; Suìgǔ)
Voiced by: Liang Shuang (anime only) (Chinese); Risae Matsuda (anime only) (Japanese)
One of Reunion's elite troops, an Ursus who wields a grenade launcher and boosts the morale of her comrades.
Faust (浮士德; Fúshìdé) / Sasha (萨沙; Sàshā)
Voiced by: Xu Xiang (anime only), Zhang Qi (anime only; Sasha) (Chinese); Shun Horie (anime only) (Japanese)
One of Reunion's elite troops, leading a unit of snipers while able to cloak himself.
Mephisto (梅菲斯特; Méifēisītè) / Eno (伊诺; Yīnuò)
Voiced by: Shen Dawei (anime only), Zhang Anqi (anime only; Eno) (Chinese); Kōhei Amasaki (anime only) (Japanese)
One of Reunion's elite troops, a sadistic boy who commands their forces in Chernobog, even though his actions sometimes come into conflict with other Reunion leaders.
Frostleaf (霜叶; Shuāngyè)
Voiced by: Ruan Congqing (Chinese); Ina Marie Smith (English); Ai Kakuma (Japanese); Jang Mi (Korean)
FrostNova (霜星; Shuāngxīng) / Yelena (叶莲娜; Yèliánnà)
Voiced by: KIYO (anime only) (Chinese); Ayahi Takagaki (anime only) (Japanese)
One of Reunions elite troops, a powerful Infected able to freeze the area around her in seconds, even though doing so subtracts her natural lifespan.
Lin Yühsia (林雨霞; Lín Yǔxiá)
Voiced by: Yan Meme (Mandarin), Xiantawutong (Cantonese) (Chinese); Artemis Snow (English); Kanae Itō (Japanese); Kang Eun-ae (Korean)
Margaret Nearl (玛嘉烈·临光; Mǎjiāliè Línguāng)
Voiced by: Mu Xueting (Chinese); Devora Wilde (English); Ayane Sakura (Japanese); Kim Ye-rim (Korean)
Wei Fumizuki (魏文月; Wèi Wényuè)
Voiced by: Huang Lei (anime only) (Chinese); Noriko Hidaka (anime only) (Japanese)
Chief Wei's wife, despite coming from outside of Yan. He often relies on her for moral support and advice.
Development
The anime is a television series directed by Yuki Watanabe, with Masaki Nishikawa serving as assistant director, and Yuki Hayashi composing the music.
In December 2020, Hypergryph released a nine-minute Arknights anime video, "Holy Knight Light", on the occasion of the game's first global anniversary. It was made by the global publisher's in-house studio, Yostar Pictures, which previously made anime trailers for in-game events for the global version of the game.
In October 2021, Hypergryph published a teaser trailer for the first season ("Prelude to Dawn") of an anime adaptation of Arknights, also made by Yostar Pictures.
Release
The first season aired from October 29 to December 17, 2022, on TV Tokyo in Japan. Crunchyroll streamed the series. The opening theme song is "Alive" by Reona, and the ending theme song is "BE ME" by Doul.
A second season, "Perish in Frost", was announced at the end of the eighth episode and features returning staff and cast. It aired from October 7 to November 25, 2023, on TV Tokyo. The opening theme song is "Ache in Pulse" by Myth & Roid, and the ending theme song is "R.I.P" by Reona.
A third season, "Rise from Ember", was announced on April 27, 2024. It aired from July 4 to September 5, 2025, on Tokyo MX and other channels. The opening theme song is "End of Days" by Reona, and the ending theme song is "Truth" by Hana Itoki.
A spin-off miniseries, Lee's Detective Agency, began airing on Crunchyroll on December 23, 2022.