May 30
Crunchyroll and Toho Global released the first trailer for the anime adaptation of the light novel 'Though I Am an Inept Villainess' on April 16, 2026. The series is set to debut in July 2026. Mitsue Yamasaki directs the adaptation at Doga Kobo, with series composition by Yoshiko Nakamura, character designs by Ai Kikuchi, and music by Yukari Hashimoto. The story follows Kou Reirin, a noblewoman who wakes up in the body of a disgraced villainess inside an imperial court where rival clans compete to produce the next empress. The light novel by Satsuki Nakamura won top honors in the light novel category at the 2023 Everyone's Choice Electronic Comic Awards and has ranked highly in BookLive's annual listings. Combined sales of the novels and manga exceed four million copies. Newly announced voice cast members include Makoto Furukawa and Yuichiro Umehara, joining previously announced leads Manaka Iwami and Natsumi Kawaida.
May 25
The television anime adaptation of Satsuki Nakamura's light novel series "Though I Am an Inept Villainess" will premiere on July 12 at 11:45 p.m. JST on TV Tokyo and its affiliates, the staff announced on Monday. A new key visual was also released. The series was originally scheduled for an April debut but was delayed due to production delays. Studio Dōga Kōbō is producing the anime, with Mitsue Yamazaki directing. Manaka Iwami voices the protagonist Kou Reirin, and Natsumi Kawaida voices Shu Keigetsu. Crunchyroll will stream the series in multiple regions including North America, Europe, and Oceania. The light novel series, which began in December 2020 under Ichijinsha's imprint, has 12 volumes as of March 2026. A manga adaptation by Ei Ohitsuji runs concurrently in Monthly Comic Zero-Sum. Seven Seas Entertainment publishes both the novels and manga in English under the full title "Though I Am an Inept Villainess: Tale of the Butterfly-Rat Body Swap in the Maiden Court." The story follows Kou Reirin, a frail imperial consort candidate who is body-swapped by a rival and must navigate court intrigue in a new, stronger body.
May 17
ASMIK Ace revealed the main cast, opening song artist, and July premiere for the original television anime Mebius Dust on Thursday. The anime is based on Hajime Shinagawa's story, which won the grand prize in the Kids/Game category of the Project Anima competition in 2019. Yuto Takenaka voices Araki, a high school student in a downtown neighborhood. Nene Hieda plays his younger sister and classmate Stella. Haruka Sato voices Olga, their childhood friend. Singer Leo Ieiri performs the opening theme song "Mebius." The first episode preview was also released. Tarou Iwasaki directs the anime at studio Doga Kobo, with Yoriko Tomita handling series scripts. The anime will run for one cour, or quarter of a year. Mebius Dust is the third anime produced from Project Anima winners. Previous adaptations include Sakugan, which aired in 2021, and The Story of the Girl Who Couldn't Become a Wizard, which premiered in October 2024. The story follows Araki, Stella, and Olga in a cozy neighborhood, but a meteorite shower in 2000 introduced a substance called Mebius Dust that can replace lost limbs.