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From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman Anime Gets 2nd Season in 2026

The television anime of 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 ended its 12th episode on Sunday with a video announcing a second season which will air next year. The video features previously unseen footage.

Lead voice actor Hiroaki Hirata also celebrated the news with a video:

The Blu-ray Disc volume with the first season's first six episodes will ship on December 3, and the final volume with the last six episodes will ship on January 9, 2026. Each will have a cover sleeve with an exclusive illustration by character designer Satsuki Hayasaka, a booklet with an exclusive text story by Sagazaki, and an original soundtrack CD.

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

Akio Kazumi (Loner Life in Another World, Fist of the Blue Sky Regenesis) directed the first anime season at Passione and Hayabusa Film. Kunihiko Okada (The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy, By the Grace of the Gods season 2) was in charge of series scripts, Satsuki Hayasaka (The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy, Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki) designed the characters, and was also the chief animation director, and Yasuharu Takanashi (Baki Hanma vs. Kengan Ashura, Fairy Tail) composed the music.

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 on November 29. 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 on February 7, 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: Comic Natalie