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From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman Season 2's 3rd Video Unveils Opening Song, July 8 Debut

NBCUniversal debuted the third full promotional video and the key visual 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 Friday. The video announces and previews the Unicorn rock band's opening theme song "Kurenai no Ha" (Crimson Leaf), and it also announces the season's July 8 premiere.

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.

NBCUniversal also presented information and visuals for five characters:

Hanoy Cressa
Leader of the Verdapis Mercenary Corps. While he honors the jobs he accepts, he will prioritize clients with the most lucrative rewards. He wields a great sword and excels in a fighting style utilizes his exceptional physical prowess. He also makes no effort to hide his combative attitude toward Beryl.

Kuriu Rybark
A dual-wielding swordsman in the Verdapis Mercenary Corps. Like his leader, Hanoy, he chose the mercenary life for the freedom it offers over chasing honor. He utilizes his rapid mobility to maneuver swiftly across the battlefield.

Prim
A mage in the Verdapis Mercenary Corps. She wields magic that manipulates nature, taking on a supportive role for Hanoy and the rest of the vanguard. Serving as a rearguard force in battle, she excels at adapting her magic for all types of situations.

White Maiden
A lone mercenary who operates alone. Unable to speak, she communicates mainly through writing. The upper part of her face is covered by a mask. In combat, she always exhibits a calm behavior.

Morris Pasyushka
He is the Pope of Sphenism, the state religion of Sphenedyardvania. Seated at the highest level of the church's authority, he is a highly revered individual. He has set the salvation of the people through faith in God as his sole and supreme purpose, without hesitation.

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 will again direct 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

Amazon's Prime Video will exclusively stream the anime worldwide.

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