The series was directed by Hiroshi Hamasaki, written by Seishi Minakami, and produced by Madhouse.

The anime was licensed in North America by Funimation under the fully translated title Shigurui: Death Frenzy.

The licensing was announced in May 2008 and the full series was released in March 2009, on Blu-ray and DVD.

The story revolves around the first match between the one-armed swordsman Fujiki Gennosuke and the blind samurai Irako Seigen and deals with the circumstances that led the two to participate in Tokugawa's tournament.

[6] The series ranked fifth and fourth on Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi!