The production team behind the television anime adaptation of Shigeru Sagazaki’s light novel series, From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman (Katainaka no Ossan, Kensei ni Naru: Tada no Inaka no Kenjutsu Shihan Datta noni, Taisei Shita Deshitachi ga Ore o Hōttekurenai Ken), announced on Wednesday that the series will be available for streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video worldwide.
The anime is set to debut on April 6 at midnight in Japan (equivalent to April 5 at 11:00 a.m. EDT). Additionally, the staff revealed two more cast members alongside the official key visual.
The newly confirmed voice cast includes:
- Arisa Nakada as Myui Flare
- Ryōta Ōsaka as Spur
Furthermore, a world premiere screening of the anime’s first two episodes is scheduled for March 30 at the Kabukicho Tower Stage, located in Kabukicho Cine City Square in Tokyo.
The anime is set to air on April 5 as part of the IMAnimation programming block on 24 TV Asahi affiliate channels, as well as on BS Asahi.
The main cast includes:
- Hiroaki Hirata as Beryl Gardinant (note: while J-Novel Club and Yen Press both spell the character’s last name as Gardinant, the anime’s website lists it as Gardenant)
- Nao Tōyama as Allucia Citrus
- Hitomi Ueda as Surena Lysandra
- Yūki Hirose as Curuni Crueciel
- Hinaki Yano as Ficelle Harbeller
- Chiwa Saitō as Lucy Diamond
- Kaito Ishikawa as Henblitz Drout
Akio Kazumi (Loner Life in Another World, Fist of the Blue Sky Regenesis) is directing the series at Passione and Hayabusa Film.
Kunihiko Okada (The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy, By the Grace of the Gods season 2) is handling series composition, while Satsuki Hayasaka (The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy, Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki) is both the character designer and chief animation director.
From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman Anime
The music is composed by Yasuharu Takanashi (Baki Hanma vs. Kengan Ashura, Fairy Tail). Rock band FLOW is performing the anime’s ending theme song, “Alright!!!.”
Shigeru Sagazaki originally launched the story on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website in November 2020. Square Enix published the first volume of the novel, featuring illustrations by Tetsuhiro Nabeshima, in April 2021, with the ninth volume scheduled for release on March 27.
J-Novel Club licensed the novel series and provides the following synopsis:
Beryl Gardinant, a self-proclaimed “humble old man,” is a sword instructor at his dojo in a rural, backwater village. In his younger years, he dreamed of glory as a master swordsman, but those days are long behind him.
Out of the blue, he receives a visit from a famous former pupil who brings him world-shattering news—he’s been appointed as special instructor for the knights of the Liberion Order!
With his life now turned upside down, Beryl travels to the capital and reunites with some of his former students: elite knights, an ace wizard, and even an adventurer who’s attained the highest guild rank possible. But why do they all want his tutelage?! As far as he’s concerned, they clearly don’t need him anymore.
Can Beryl live up to his new position? And will he ever get a moment’s peace away from his adoring students?!
Kazuki Satō began serializing the manga adaptation of the novels in Akita Shoten’s Dokodemo Young Champion magazine in August 2021. Yen Press is releasing the manga in English.
A spinoff manga titled Katainaka no Ossan, Kensei ni Naru Gaiden: Hajimari no Mahō Kenshi (From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman Spinoff: The Beginning of a Magic Swordsman) debuted on Square Enix’s Manga UP! service on November 29.
The original work is credited to Shigeru Sagazaki and Tetsuhiro Nabeshima, with Itsuki Watanabe handling composition and Megumu Soramichi (YoRHa: Pearl Harbor Descent Record) illustrating the manga.
Another spinoff manga, Katainaka no Ossan, Kensei ni Naru Gaiden: Ryūsōken no Kiseki, premiered in Square Enix’s Young Gangan magazine on February 7.
Sasami Hazama is responsible for the artwork, while Zenji Yotsuya is credited for composition. This series follows the character Surena Lysandra as she embarks on her journey to become a Black Rank adventurer.
