NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan has revealed the third official PV trailer for the upcoming From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman TV anime series, which features the main opening theme “HEROES” by Takanori Nishikawa. The anime will stream exclusively on Prime Video worldwide beginning April 6, 2025.
NBCUniversal Japan will also be hosting a From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman Special Stage panel featuring the anime’s five main cast members at AnimeJapan 2025. The event is scheduled to take place on March 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM JST.
A world premiere screening for the anime’s first two episodes will occur on March 30, 2025 at the Kabukicho Tower Stage at Kabukicho Cine City Square. The main voice cast members will also have special appearances there, along with the main ending theme artist FLOW. General admission will be lottery based for residents in Japan.
Akio Kazumi (Fist of the Blue Sky Re: Genesis) is directing the anime series, with Kunihiko Okada (The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy) as series screenwriter, and Satsuki Hayasaka (The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy co-character designer) as character designer and chief animation director. Passione and Hayabusa Film are handling the animation production, with YAMATOWORKS assisting with the 3D production.
Meanwhile, the anime’s main voice cast stars:
- • Hiroaki Hirata as Beryl Gardinant
- • Nao Toyama as Allusia
- • Hitomi Ueda as Selna Lysandra
- • Yuki Hirose as Curuni Crueciel
- • Hinaki Yano as Ficelle Harbeller
- • Chiwa Saito as Lucy Diamond
- • Kaito Ishikawa as Henblitz
- • Arisa Nakada as Mewi Freya
- • Ryota Osaka as Spur
The light novel series is written by Shigeru Sagazaki and illustrated by Tetsuhiro Nabeshima, and was first published by Square Enix’s SQUEX Novel label on April 7, 2021. Eight volumes have been released as of August 2024, with a ninth volume set for release on March 27, 2025. The series originally began as a Shosetsuka ni Naro web novel on November 17, 2020.
The series also inspired a manga adaptation by Kazuki Sato on August 24, 2021. Yen Press releases the manga series in English for North America.
J-Novel Club releases the From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman light novels in English, describing the main synopsis as:
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: From Old Country Bumpkin Official Japanese Twitter, press release
