The upcoming TV anime adaptation of Rocket Shokai and MEPHISTO’s Sentenced to Be a Hero light novel series has unveiled three additional cast members. The anime, originally slated for an October 2025 debut, has been delayed and is now set to premiere in January 2026.
New Additions to the Cast
The newly announced voice actors and their roles are:
- Yoji Ueda as Norgalle Senridge. Ueda is known for his role as Eisen in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.
- Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Tatsuya. Matsuoka has previously voiced Inosuke in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
- Jun Fukushima as Tsav. Fukushima is recognized for his role as Kazuma Satou in KONOSUBA -God’s blessing on this wonderful world!.
These voice actors join the previously announced main cast members, including Yohei Azakami as Xylo Forbartz and Mayu Iizuka as Teoritta. Other previously revealed cast members include Shizuka Ishigami as Patausche Kivia, Shun Horie as Dotta Luzulas, and Shunichi Toki as Venetim Leopool.
Anime Production and Storyline
Studio KAI, known for Skeleton Knight in Another World, is handling the animation production for Sentenced to be a Hero. Hiroyuki Takashima is directing the series, with Yoshitake Nakaoji as assistant director and creature designer. Kenta Ihara is responsible for the series composition and scripts, while Takeru Noda is the character designer. Shunsuke Takizawa is composing the music.
The anime is based on the dark fantasy light novel series Sentenced to Be a Hero: The Prison Records of Penal Hero Unit 9004, written by Rocket Shokai and illustrated by Mephisto. Yen Press publishes the official English version of the light novels and describes the premise as: “Heroism—a punishment for only the worst criminals.” Those condemned to be heroes are forced to battle on the front lines against “deadly centers of contagion” and “roving armies of violent beasts.” If a hero dies, they are resurrected to continue the fight. The story follows Xylo Forbartz, a member of Penal Hero Unit 9004 and a convicted goddess killer, whose encounter with a new goddess might change their world.
The light novel series originally launched as a web novel on Kadokawa’s Kakuyomu website in October 2020. Kadokawa began publishing the print version in September 2021, with seven volumes released as of January 2025. A manga adaptation by Natsumi Inoue began serialization on Dengeki Comic Regulus in March 2022.
