

23 minSeason 1 • Episode 11
LatestBiwa witnesses the final clash between the Heike and the Genji. In the aftermath, Biwa sets out to tell the Heike's story.
A young orphan named Biwa is taken in by the powerful Taira Clan—also known as the Heike—after their leader witnesses her extraordinary psychic abilities. Unfortunately, what she predicts is a future of bloodshed, violence, and civil war. Inspired by the 12th-century epic tale Heike Monogatari.
Direction
Naoko Yamada's delicate touch makes doom feel breathtaking.
Score
Traditional biwa music that literally narrates the tragedy.
Cinematography
Watercolor backgrounds that bleed like memories fading.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The original Heike Monogatari was performed by blind biwa minstrels—the anime literally makes Biwa one, collapsing 800 years of oral tradition into her character.
Science SARU used actual watercolor paintings for backgrounds, then animated over them—each frame took roughly 5x longer than typical digital anime.
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