Exciting Update: Cast Announced for 'Sentenced to Be a Hero' Anime Premiering in January 2026

Kadokawa has revealed new details about the upcoming anime adaptation of Sentenced to Be a Hero: The Prison Records of Penal Hero Unit 9004, based on the popular light novel series by Rocket Shokai. Originally scheduled to premiere this October, the show has now been delayed to January 2026, with a special 60-minute first episode.

Meet the Cast

Several talented voice actors have been announced for the series:

• Yōji Ueda as Noragalle Senridge
• Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as Tatsuya
• Jun Fukushima as Tsav

Additionally, the series features a talented lineup of voice actors including Yōhei Azakami, Mayu Iizuka, Shizuka Ishigami, Shun Horie, and Shunichi Toki.

Production Details

The anime is directed by Hiroyuki Takashima at Studio KAI, known for his work on Mushoku Tensei and The IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls U149. The script is supervised by Kenta Ihara, with character designs by Takeshi Noda. The music is composed by Shunsuke Takizawa, and Nobutaka Ike handles worldbuilding.

Story and Source

The story revolves around heroism as a punishment for the worst criminals, who are forced to fight against the demon king’s army. If they die, they are revived to continue the battle. The plot thickens when their leader, convicted of killing a goddess, encounters another goddess, potentially changing the world.

Yen Press is releasing the series in English, with the seventh volume published in January 2024. The manga adaptation by Natsumi Inoue is also available, with digital releases in English through BookWalker Global.

First Episode Preview & Premiere

A livestream showcased the first few minutes of the episode, which you can watch here. The Japanese premiere will be held in Tokyo on September 6.

Stay tuned for more updates on this highly anticipated anime!

Source: Official press release

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