Welzard
Description
Welzard is the pseudonymous original creator behind the horror franchise Karada Sagashi, which began as a cell phone novel. The author first gained attention in Japan around 2013 when the original story was published on the Everystar website. This cell phone novel served as the foundation for a successful media franchise that expanded into manga, anime, and live-action film adaptations. According to biographical notes from a French publisher, Welzard is said to enjoy a wide variety of genres but has found particular success in horror, and has mentioned a hobby of searching for rare words in a dictionary.
Welzard’s most notable and defining work is Karada Sagashi. The original cell phone novel was adapted into a manga series illustrated by Katsutoshi Murase, which was serialized on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ platform from September 2014 to December 2017. This manga became the first series on the Shonen Jump+ service to surpass 100 million views, and its seventeen compiled volumes have collectively sold over three million copies. The success of this initial manga led to the creation of several sequel and spin-off manga series, all credited to Welzard as the original creator. These include Karada Sagashi Kai, serialized from January 2018 to January 2019, and Karada Sagashi I, which ran from September 2022 to March 2023. A new manga series titled Re/Member The Last Night, once again based on Welzard’s original work and illustrated by Murase, began serialization in July 2025, serving as an adaptation of a live-action sequel film.
The adaptation history of Welzard’s work is extensive. In 2017, the Karada Sagashi manga inspired a 10-episode original net animation that was released on Production I.G’s Tate Anime app. A live-action film adaptation, directed by Eiichirō Hasumi, premiered in Japan in October 2022. This was followed by a sequel, Karada Sagashi The Last Night, which was released in Japanese theaters in September 2025. Throughout these various adaptations, the core narrative remains consistent with Welzard’s original concept, focusing on a group of high school students trapped in a time loop who must collect the eight scattered body parts of a murdered classmate while being hunted by a terrifying entity known as the Red Person.
The artistic identity associated with Welzard’s work is firmly rooted in the horror genre, blending elements of urban legends, supernatural curses, and psychological suspense. The recurring theme of a time loop combined with a macabre treasure hunt forms the central mechanic of the narrative, creating a cycle of death and resurrection for the characters. This formula has been consistently applied across the various manga series, from the original Karada Sagashi to the latest Re/Member The Last Night, which shifts the setting to an amusement park.
Welzard’s significance in the industry is tied to the commercial and popular success of the Karada Sagashi franchise. The original manga’s status as the first title on Shonen Jump+ to reach over 100 million views marked it as an early milestone for the digital manga platform. The franchise’s expansion into anime and multiple live-action films demonstrates its enduring appeal and its status as a successful multi-media property originating from a cell phone novel, highlighting a path to publication and adaptation that has become more common in the digital age.
Welzard’s most notable and defining work is Karada Sagashi. The original cell phone novel was adapted into a manga series illustrated by Katsutoshi Murase, which was serialized on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ platform from September 2014 to December 2017. This manga became the first series on the Shonen Jump+ service to surpass 100 million views, and its seventeen compiled volumes have collectively sold over three million copies. The success of this initial manga led to the creation of several sequel and spin-off manga series, all credited to Welzard as the original creator. These include Karada Sagashi Kai, serialized from January 2018 to January 2019, and Karada Sagashi I, which ran from September 2022 to March 2023. A new manga series titled Re/Member The Last Night, once again based on Welzard’s original work and illustrated by Murase, began serialization in July 2025, serving as an adaptation of a live-action sequel film.
The adaptation history of Welzard’s work is extensive. In 2017, the Karada Sagashi manga inspired a 10-episode original net animation that was released on Production I.G’s Tate Anime app. A live-action film adaptation, directed by Eiichirō Hasumi, premiered in Japan in October 2022. This was followed by a sequel, Karada Sagashi The Last Night, which was released in Japanese theaters in September 2025. Throughout these various adaptations, the core narrative remains consistent with Welzard’s original concept, focusing on a group of high school students trapped in a time loop who must collect the eight scattered body parts of a murdered classmate while being hunted by a terrifying entity known as the Red Person.
The artistic identity associated with Welzard’s work is firmly rooted in the horror genre, blending elements of urban legends, supernatural curses, and psychological suspense. The recurring theme of a time loop combined with a macabre treasure hunt forms the central mechanic of the narrative, creating a cycle of death and resurrection for the characters. This formula has been consistently applied across the various manga series, from the original Karada Sagashi to the latest Re/Member The Last Night, which shifts the setting to an amusement park.
Welzard’s significance in the industry is tied to the commercial and popular success of the Karada Sagashi franchise. The original manga’s status as the first title on Shonen Jump+ to reach over 100 million views marked it as an early milestone for the digital manga platform. The franchise’s expansion into anime and multiple live-action films demonstrates its enduring appeal and its status as a successful multi-media property originating from a cell phone novel, highlighting a path to publication and adaptation that has become more common in the digital age.
Works
- Topics: Anime overview