Kadokawa released the second teaser visual and team cast for Sentenced to Be a Hero. They also confirmed the anime’s 2025 premiere. Action-Packed Fantasy Based on Rocket Shokai’s light novel series (published by Kadokawa), this fast-paced tale follows convicts who serve as “heroes” on the front lines fighting against monstrous forces. If they die in battle, they’re revived and forced to keep fighting until their debt is paid.
Main Cast Revealed
The main cast will be Yhei Azakami, who will voice Xylo Forbartz, a former commander of the Holy Knights who was banished from them after killing a goddess. Mayu Iizuka will voice Teoritta, a mysterious sword goddess who enters into a contract with Xylo. Their unintended partnership may just be what the never-ending war needs.
Studio KAI at the Helm
Studio KAI will produce the anime, who recently worked on Skeleton Knight in Another World. The full team is still under wraps, but you can expect high-quality visuals and some very dynamic action with this studio involved. Brawls will be accompanied by deep storytelling based on the novel’s drama.
From Light Novel to Anime
Shokai launched the light novel in October 2020 on the Kakuyomu site and began publishing the print version in September 2021. Illustrated by Mephisto, the series will reach its seventh volume this January. A manga adaptation by Natsumi Inoue is also available in English via BookWalker Global.
A Dark Twist on Heroism
“The main draw is its horrific punishment system: The heroes are criminals, and the only thing they can be certain of is utter and unimaginable peril.” Yen Press, which publishes the novels in English, hints that when Xylo meets a new goddess, a rebellion begins against these unforgiving laws.
It’s a dynamic that gives a new sense of energy to fantasy by mixing up its morality and giving it epic sword-and-sorcery action.
said YenWhat to Expect Next
With a 2025 premiere on the horizon, fans can look forward to teasers, new visual art, and future casting announcements. The anime will explore whether this cursed path to redemption can lead to true heroism—or if it only tightens the chains that bind.
Source: Press release
