Kadokawa announced on Tuesday that Kureha’s popular romantic fantasy light novel series, Bride of the Barrier Master (Kekkaishi no Ichirinka), will receive a television anime adaptation. The announcement confirms that animation studio Troyca will produce the series, with key staff details also revealed.
Production Details and Key Staff
The upcoming TV anime adaptation of Bride of the Barrier Master will be helmed by director Toru Kitahata, known for his work on Hinako Note and Haganai NEXT. Minami Murayama is confirmed as the character designer for the series. Scriptwriting and series composition will be handled by Yuki Kakihara, who previously worked on The Apothecary Diaries. A teaser visual for the anime has also been released.
The World of Bride of the Barrier Master
The Bride of the Barrier Master light novel series, written by Kureha with illustrations by Bodax (from Volume 2), is a romantic fantasy set in a version of Japan protected for millennia by five clans wielding powerful barrier-weaving magic. The story centers on Hana Ichise, an eighteen-year-old born into a branch family of one of these clans.
Plot Synopsis
Hana has always lived in the shadow of her more talented twin sister, but a formidable power awakens within her. Desiring a quiet life away from the spotlight, she chooses to conceal her newfound abilities. However, her plans are disrupted when Saku Ichinomiya takes over as the new head of the Ichinomiya clan. Saku, seeking a bride strong enough to stand by his side and maintain the crucial barriers, discovers Hana’s hidden power. This leads to a contract marriage between the two, which ultimately derails Hana’s dreams of a peaceful future as genuine feelings begin to develop and she becomes entangled in larger conflicts.
Light Novel and Manga Background
The Bride of the Barrier Master light novel series began publication under the KADOKAWA Bunko imprint in December 2021. The sixth volume of the series is scheduled for release on August 25, 2025 JST. Yen Press has licensed the light novels for North American release.
Beyond the light novels, the franchise also includes a manga adaptation. Illustrated by Odayaka, the manga has been serialized in Enterbrain’s B’s Log Comic online magazine since March 2022. The series has garnered significant readership, with over 1.7 million copies in circulation by December 2024. Yen Press noted the novel as one of their top 5 best-selling light novel debuts in 2023.
