NBC Universal started streaming the 30-second commercial for the second anime season based on Shigeru Sagazaki‘s From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman (Katainaka no Ossan, Kensei ni Naru: Tada no Inaka no Kenjutsu Shihan Datta noni, Taisei Shita Deshitachi ga Ore o Hōttekurenai Ken) light novel series on Wednesday. The commercial announces and previews the ending theme song “Mikansei” (Unfinished) by the band BLUE ENCOUNT, and it also announces that Amazon Prime Video will start exclusively streaming the anime worldwide on July 9 at 12:15 a.m (July 8 at 11:15 a.m. EDT).
NBC Universal also presented the anime’s key visual in horizontal format:
©佐賀崎しげる・鍋島テツヒロ／SQUARE ENIX・「片田舎のおっさん、剣聖になるII」製作委員会
©佐賀崎しげる・鍋島テツヒロ／SQUARE ENIX・「片田舎のおっさん、剣聖になる」製作委員会
The new season will premiere in the “IMAnimation W” programming block on TV Asahi and its affiliated channels throughout Japan on July 8 at 11:45 p.m. (10:45 a.m. EDT). It will also run on AT-X and BS Asahi.
The anime stars:
- Hiroaki Hirata as Beryl Gardinant (note: while J-Novel Club and Yen Press both spell the character’s last name as Gardinant, the anime’s website lists it as Gardenant)
- Nao Tōyama as Allucia Citrus
- Hitomi Ueda as Surena Lysandra
- Yūki Hirose as Curuni Crueciel
- Hinaki Yano as Ficelle Harbeller
- Chiwa Saitō as Lucy Diamond
- Kaito Ishikawa as Henblitz Drout
- Arisa Nakada as Myui Flare
- Ryōta Ōsaka as Spur
- Ai Kayano as Rose Marblehart
- Hidenobu Kiuchi as Gatoga Lazorne
The anime’s returning staff include Akio Kazumi (Loner Life in Another World, Fist of the Blue Sky Regenesis), who is again directing the series at Passione and Hayabusa Film. Kunihiko Okada (The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy, By the Grace of the Gods season 2) is back in charge of series scripts, Satsuki Hayasaka (The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy, Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki) is returning to design the characters, and also returning as chief animation director. Yasuharu Takanashi (Baki Hanma vs. Kengan Ashura, Fairy Tail) is again composing the music.
Additional returning staff members include:
- Assistant Directors: Nozomu Koga (1st season art director), Masaru Kawashima
- Conceptual Design: Suzume Shima, Ley Yumeno
- Color Key Artist: Sakie Suzuki
- Art Director: Taiki Yamashita
- Compositing Director of Photography: Kenichi Ikeda
- 3D Animation Production: YAMATO WORKS
- Editing: Ayako Tan
- Sound Director: Hisayoshi Hirasawa
Rock band Unicorn performs the opening theme song “Kurenai no Ha” (Crimson Leaf).
The anime’s first season premiered in April 2025, and is streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video worldwide.
Sagazaki launched the story on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website in November 2020. Square Enix is publishing the novel volumes with illustration by Tetsuhiro Nabeshima.
J-Novel Club licensed the novel series and describes the story:
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 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?!
Kazuki Satō launched the novels’ manga adaptation in Akita Shoten‘s Dokodemo Young Champion magazine in August 2021. Yen Press releases the manga in English.
A spinoff manga titled Katainaka no Ossan, Kensei ni Naru Gaiden: Hajimari no Mahō Kenshi (From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman Spinoff: The Beginning of a Magic Swordsman) launched on Square Enix‘s Manga UP! service in November 2024. Shigeru Sagazaki and Tetsuhiro Nabeshima are credited with the original work, Itsuki Watanabe is credited for composition, and Megumu Soramichi (YoRHa: Pearl Harbor Descent Record) is drawing the manga.
A separate spinoff manga titled Katainaka no Ossan, Kensei ni Naru Gaiden: Ryūsōken no Kiseki debuted in Square Enix‘s Young Gangan magazine in February 2025, with Sasami Hazama drawing the art, and Zenji Yotsuya credited for composition. The manga follows the character Surena Lysandra in her journey to become a Black Rank adventurer.
Source: Press release
