Witch and Mercenary TV Anime Announced: Coming to Screens in 2027!
We have big news that will excite fans of fantasy literature and anime! The popular light novel series Witch and Mercenary (Majo to Youhei), written by Kaeru Chōhōkiteki and boasting a large fanbase, is officially being adapted into a TV anime. Scheduled to meet audiences in 2027, the production is being handled by the successful studio 8-bit, known for massive projects like That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime and Blue Lock. Along with the announcement, the first teaser visual and a short video for the series were also shared.
The series features two of the most popular names in the anime world in recent times for its lead roles. Taito Ban, who received great acclaim for his performance as Sung Jinwoo in the Solo Leveling anime, will bring the experienced and hardened mercenary Zig Crane to life. Accompanying him is the renowned voice actress Saori Hayami (Yor Forger from Spy x Family, Shinobu Kocho from Demon Slayer). Hayami will voice the mysterious witch Siaha, who is feared and ostracized by the world. The contrast between the two and the bond that will develop between them form the foundation of the story.
The origins of the Witch and Mercenary series, like many popular works, began as a web novel on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō platform. It was later published in print under Micro Magazine's GC Novels imprint, featuring illustrations by Mikage Nanaka. The story follows the intersection of the paths of a mercenary who has spent his life on the battlefield and lost his emotions, and a young woman who is persecuted by society for being a "witch." Blending dark fantasy elements with deep character development, the series also increased its popularity with a manga adaptation illustrated by Syuhei Miyashita.
Although we will have to wait until 2027, the involvement of studio 8-bit and the project's backing by a major network like Nippon TV (NTV) have raised expectations significantly. The studio's success, particularly in action sequences and world-building, gives fans hope for how this dark fantasy world will be reflected on screen. Details regarding who will sit in the director's chair and other technical staff are expected to be shared in the coming months. You can start marking your calendars for this epic journey now!
