Crunchyroll has officially announced its acquisition of the streaming rights for The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess anime, set to premiere on the platform in October 2025. The news follows the anime’s United States premiere at Otakon in Washington, D.C.
The Anime Arrives on Crunchyroll
Fans across numerous regions will be able to watch The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess on Crunchyroll, with confirmed territories including North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, and CIS. The highly anticipated isekai fantasy series is slated to begin streaming on October 8, 2025.
Delving into the “Dark History”
The narrative centers on Konoha Satou, a young woman who finds herself reincarnated into the world of a fantasy romance novel she penned during her teenage years. However, instead of embodying the heroic protagonist she originally envisioned, Konoha awakens as Lady Iana, the story’s “most despicable villainess.” Armed with her intimate knowledge of the original plot—her “dark history”—Konoha must navigate a treacherous world to avoid the numerous “death flags” and ensure her survival. Her goal is not only self-preservation but also to protect the characters she created from the hardships she originally wrote for them. A new element in her reincarnated life is the mysterious stranger, Yomi, a character she does not recall writing, whose allegiance becomes a central question.
Key Creative Team and Cast
Studio DEEN is producing The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess, with Hiroaki Sakurai (known for The Demon Girl Next Door) directing the series. Mitsutaka Hirota is overseeing the series composition, while Tomoyo Sawada is responsible for character designs. The music for the anime is composed by Ryuichi Takada.
The confirmed main cast members include:
- Yoshino Aoyama as Iana Magnolia
- M.A.O as Konoha Magnolia
- Shōhei Komatsu as Sol Nemophyra
- Makoto Furukawa as Ginoford Dandelion
- Shunichi Toki as Yomi Blacksarana
- Arthur Lounsbery as Cheneau Clematis
- Atsushi Tamaru as Mika
- Tomoaki Maeno as Yamato Hydrangea
The opening theme song, “Black Flame,” is performed by KID PHENOMENON from EXILE TRIBE, and the ending theme, “Regene,” is by Zerofrom.
Manga Origins and Anticipation
The anime adaptation is based on the popular shōjo manga series The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess (Tensei Akujo no Kuro Rekishi), written and illustrated by Akiharu Tōka. The manga first began serialization in Hakusensha’s LaLa magazine in August 2018 and has since released 16 volumes. Yen Press publishes the English-language version of the series in the West.
This new addition to Crunchyroll’s catalog further solidifies the platform’s extensive collection of isekai and “villainess” themed anime, a subgenre that has seen a significant rise in popularity.
