The popular light novel series “The Frontier Lord Begins with Zero Subjects” (Ryōmin 0-nin Start no Henkyō Ryōshu-sama) by Fuurou, which has sold over two million copies, is officially receiving a television anime adaptation. NBCUniversal recently unveiled a promotional video to announce the new series.
Key Staff and Cast Revealed for the Anime
The production team and primary voice cast for the upcoming anime have been confirmed. Kenichi Imaizumi, known for directing Kingdom seasons 3-6, is helming the project as director at animation studio42. Kunihiko Okada (The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy) is in charge of series composition, while Keiichi Tsuboyama (Fireworks, Should We See it from the Side or the Bottom? animation director) is designing the characters.
On the voice acting front, Kenichiro Matsuda, who played Marcella Nuvolari in Dahlia in Bloom: Crafting a Fresh Start with Magical Tools, will voice the protagonist, Dias. Shion Wakayama, recognized for her role as Ai Mie in The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses, is cast as the main heroine, Alna. Both voice actors have expressed excitement for the adaptation, with Matsuda noting the “idyllic, very warm” nature of the original work and Wakayama expressing her eagerness to see her character’s life with Dias animated.
What is “The Frontier Lord Begins with Zero Subjects”?
“The Frontier Lord Begins with Zero Subjects” is a “territory development slow-life fantasy” that originated as a web novel on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō service in January 2018. Earth Star Entertainment later acquired the series, publishing it under their Earth Star Novel imprint with illustrations by Kinta starting in October 2018. J-Novel Club publishes the light novel series and its manga adaptation in English. The manga adaptation, illustrated by Yumbo, began serialization in December 2018 on Comic Earth Star. The franchise has cumulatively sold over two million copies.
Plot Summary of the Original Story
The story centers on Dias, a hero who returns home after decades of war. As a reward for his service, he is granted his own domain. However, his new territory turns out to be nothing more than empty plains with a population of zero. Having only ever known battle, Dias finds himself at a loss on how to cultivate this barren land into a thriving and prosperous dominion.
His fortunes change with a fateful encounter with Alna, a blue-horned demon girl. She shows him the hidden potential of the plains, and together, they embark on a journey to build a new world from scratch. The narrative is described as a “heartwarming fantasy of hope, magic, and creation,” focusing on community building, facing dangers, navigating political intrigue, and forging new alliances in a land where anything is possible with loyal friends. The series blends fantasy, romance, and slice-of-life elements, often with a comedic and sweet tone as it follows Dias’s daily life with Alna and their two adoptive daughters.
