The popular light novel by Shigeru Sagazaki From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman is getting a full TV anime series from the people behind it High School DxD And Herb & Wolf.
Get ready for another insanely long title: Katainaka no Ossan, Kensei ni Naru: Tada no Inaka no Kenjutsu Shihan Datta noni, Taisei shita Deshi-tachi ga Ore wo Hottekurenai Ken (From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman: My Hotshot Disciples Are All Grown Up Now, and They Won’t Leave Me Alone) has announced (through Comical Natalie) the new anime series will air on TV Asahi and BS Asahi’s MAnimation network from April 2025.
Originally released by Sagazaki on the user-generated novel site Shōsetsuka ni Narō in November 2020 and promptly picked up by Square Enix, who began publishing it as a light novel, with art by Tetsuhiro Nabeshima. It has received seven volumes and has been licensed in English by J-Novel Club.
The first teaser trailer, teaser visual and main staff have been confirmed – the latter includes: Akio Kazumi (Lonely Life in Another World, Fist of the Blue Sky: Regenesis) direction by Passione and Hayabusa Film, script by Kunihiko Okada, character design and lead animation direction by Satsuki Hayasaka (Higurashi: When they cry – SOTSU), and the music is provided by Yasuharu Takanashi (Fairy tale, Baki Hanma vs. Kengan Ashura.
Artwork by original novel artist Nabeshima and manga adaptation artist Kazuki Satou were also shared, with comments from both of them and original author Sagazaki:
Comment from Shigeru Sagazaki:
“After I started posting online, I was immediately contacted by Square Enix and then by Akita Shoten, and before I knew it, I was here. My novel “An Old Country Man Becomes a Sword Saint” has finally been made into an anime.
I would like to thank everyone who has continued to support us and helped us get to this point. I would like to express my sincere gratitude. The director, the screenwriter and everyone else involved in the production patiently listened to me, a man with no knowledge of animation. I have high hopes for this project and I’m sure it will be a good one.
I have lived without a TV for the past ten years and I am thinking of taking this opportunity to buy another one. I hope the day will come when I can enjoy this anime together with all of you who have supported my work so far.”
Commentary from light novel artist Tetsuhiro Nabeshima:
“Congratulations on the animation! I now look forward to seeing the movements and conversations of Beryl and her friends that couldn’t be expressed in the illustrations. Thanks to all of you who picked up and read the original novel and manga. Thank you so much! As an old man, I hope that I can support Beryl’s activities together with you!”
Commentary from manga artist Kazuki Satou:
Congratulations on the anime adaptation of your novel “An old man from the countryside becomes a sword saint: I was just a sword master in the countryside, but my greatest disciples won’t leave me alone”. I’m really looking forward to seeing how Beryl’s sword works.
Here’s a synopsis of the series, plus the first trailer for the new anime:
Beryl Gardinant, a self-described “humble old man,” is a sword instructor at his dojo in a rural, remote village. In his younger years he dreamed of glory as a master swordsman, but those days are long behind him.
Out of nowhere, he receives a visit from a famous former student who brings him earth-shattering news: he has been appointed special instructor for the knights of the Liberion Order! With his life turned upside down, Beryl travels to the capital and is reunited with some of his former students: elite knights, a wizard, and even an adventurer who has reached the highest possible guild rank.
But why do they all want his custody?! As far as he’s concerned, they clearly don’t need him anymore.
Can Beryl fulfill his new position? And will he ever get a moment of peace without his adoring students?!