Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero
殺し屋１ THE ANIMATION EPISODE 0
“Anime at its most extreme.”
Synopsis
A masochistic mobster meets his match in the dark streets of Tokyo. His nemesis, Ichi, is a psychopathic killer with an unrelenting thirst for bloodshed. A horrifying secret burns in his mind, and his hands deal death without mercy. At last, the shrouds of mystery are parted to reveal the origin of the monster. The city will know its greatest fear at the unveiling of Ichi the Killer.
Part of the Ichi Collection
Stream the entire interconnected saga and experience every installment in chronological storyline order.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Chihiro Suzuki
Ichi (voice)
Shinpachi Tsuji
Jijii (voice)
Takashi Miike
Kakihara (voice)
Sayaka Ohara
Midori (voice)
Atsushi Imaruoka
Nobuo (voice)
Daisuke Sakaguchi
Hirose (voice)
Ema Kogure
Jiro (voice)
Eri Saito
Mother (voice)
Hajime Iijima
Assistant Instructor (voice)
Hiroaki Yoshida
Teacher (voice)
Isao Yamagishi
Kaneda (voice)
Keiko Tada
Waitress (voice)
Kouki Miyata
Hirano (voice)
Mitsuru Ogata
Financial Officer (voice)
Toshihiko Nakajima
Store Manager (voice)
Yasuhiro
Imamura (voice)
Yutaka Aoyama
Father (voice)
Release History & Theatrical Window
September 21, 2004
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Shinji Ishihira
- Screenplay & Story
- Sakichi Sato, Hideo Yamamoto
- Original Score
- Yui Takase
- Original Title
- 殺し屋１ THE ANIMATION EPISODE 0
- Country of Origin
- Japan
- Spoken Languages
- Japanese
- Runtime
- 47m
- Production Studios
- Anime International Company
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Shinji Ishihira
Sakichi Sato, Hideo Yamamoto
Yui Takase
Terumitsu Okada
Department Leadership Roster
Shinji Ishihira
Director
Sakichi Sato
Writer
Terumitsu Okada
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero.
HORROR COLLECTIONS, ANTHOLOGIES, SEQUALS. PREQUELS, REMAKES & SPIN-OFFS
list2
Anime
Anime feature films from Wikidata.
Anime - Dark Fantasy & Thriller Movies
Curated list of Most Popular on Anime (US). Updated frequently. Last updated August 28, 2026.
Top Animes - IMDb
Animated Movies
Imported from my library (Animated Movies).
Similar Titles to Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
6.6
6.7
7.8
6.8
5.7
8.0
7.1
Anime
Anime
Anime
Anime
Anime
6.7
10.0
6.0
7.3
More Like Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero about?
A masochistic mobster meets his match in the dark streets of Tokyo. His nemesis, Ichi, is a psychopathic killer with an unrelenting thirst for bloodshed. A horrifying secret burns in his mind, and his hands deal death without mercy. At last, the shrouds of mystery are parted to reveal the origin of the monster. The city will know its greatest fear at the unveiling of Ichi the Killer.
Who directed Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero?
Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero was directed by Shinji Ishihira.
Who stars in Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero?
The principal cast of Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero includes Chihiro Suzuki, Shinpachi Tsuji, Takashi Miike, Sayaka Ohara, Atsushi Imaruoka.
When was Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero released and how long is it?
Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero was released in 2002 with a total runtime of 47m.
Who composed the musical score for Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero was composed by Yui Takase.
Is Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero based on a book or true story?
Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero is adapted from the following source material: Comic Book: "Hideo Yamamoto".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero?
Ichi the Killer: Episode Zero holds official age classifications: AU: R 18+; GB: 18 (Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.).