TV Anime Adaptation of Light Novel 'Katainaka no Ossan, Kensei ni Naru' Announced for Spring 2025

NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan opened an official website for a television anime adaptation of Shigeru Sagazaki’s Katainaka no Ossan, Kensei ni Naru: Tada no Inaka no Kenjutsu Shihan Datta noni, Taisei shita Deshi-tachi ga Ore wo Hottekurenai Ken (From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman: My Hotshot Disciples Are All Grown Up Now, and They Won’t Leave Me Alone) light novel on Thursday, revealing the main staff, teaser visual (pictured), and a teaser promotional video.

The anime is scheduled to air on Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. on TV Asahi’s IMAnimation’s programming block in 24 stations, followed by BS Asahi beginning in April 2025.

Staff
Director: Akio Kazumi (Souten no Ken: Regenesis)
Series Composition: Kunihiko Okada (Seiken Gakuin no Makentsukai)
Character Design, Chief Animation Director: Satsuki Hayasaka (Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki)
Music: Yasuharu Takanashi (Tsuki ga Michibiku Isekai Douchuu)
Studio: Passione, Hayabusa Film

Sagazaki began writing the fantasy adventure story on the Shousetsuka ni Narou website in November 2020. Square Enix began publishing the light novel under its SQEX Novel imprint in April 2021, with illustrations by Tetsuhiro Nabeshima (Inu to Hasami wa Tsukaiyou). The seventh volume was released in January 2024. The series has a cumulative 5.5 million copies of its volumes in circulation.

A manga adaptation by Kazuki Satou began in Young Champion magazine in August 2021. Akita Shoten shipped the fifth volume on January 26 and will release the sixth volume on August 6.

J-Novel Club licensed the light novel in English in October 2023 and released the third volume on May 15. The fourth volume is scheduled to go on sale on November 4. Yen Press licensed the manga on March 29 and will ship the first volume on September 17.

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 a 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?! (Source: J-Novel Club)

Teaser PV