It has been announced that the popular manga series "Failed Sage's Academy Unrivaled: Second Reincarnation, S-Rank Cheat Magician's Adventure Record," which has sold over 1.8 million copies in total, will be adapted into a TV anime series in July. Hisashi Ishii will serve as director, Deko Akao as series composer, and Hideki Furukawa as character designer and chief animation director. The series will be produced by EMT Squared.
Umeda Shuichiro will play Ephthal, who has now undergone his second reincarnation, Koyamauchi Reo will play Anastasia, who was saved by Ephthal after being mistreated as a slave and who ends up working alongside him, and Shiraishi Haruka will play Merlin, Ephthal's former pupil.
The story is about the great sage Ephthal, who is reincarnated from the present day and devotes his life to the study of magic, but realizes the limits of his talent and dies in despair, only to be reincarnated 400 years later. Ephthal is reincarnated for the second time, bringing with him the knowledge and magic of his previous life, but finds himself in a world where magical civilization has declined. Together with the slave girl Anastasia and his former student Merlin, the principal of the prestigious academy, he becomes unrivaled at the magic academy.
◇Comment from original author Arata Shiraishi
It must have been quite a while ago now. Editor: "Do you have some time to discuss this?" Me: "Would a phone call or email be fine? I've been a bit busy lately..." Editor: "Well, there's something I absolutely have to discuss in person this time." Me: "If it's about an anime adaptation or something, I'd be happy to meet with you, but I'm really busy." Editor: "We're talking about the anime adaptation." Me: "Um, I'm free on this day!!!" It's a bit of a loose translation, but that's basically how I heard about the anime adaptation, and it made me really happy.
From there, various tasks progressed, and various data arrived, and I was like, "Whoaaaaa!", and then I went to the dubbing studio. It goes without saying, but there were animation staff, voice actors, and people with various other roles, all professionals and experts... Honestly, my impression was that it was simply amazing. It was like watching my work take shape in a place I didn't know, beyond my imagination. And also, I simply thought professionals were amazing. Between you and me, I'm actually supposed to be a professional myself, but the uncompromising attitude of the animation staff and the voice actors' performances... it made me reflect on myself and think, "I need to do my best, too." Changing the subject, when I think about it, this was originally a story I started all by myself. I was working alone when the editor in charge of the comics reached out to me. From there, I gradually got more and more people involved, and each of them assisted me with their professional work in their own areas, and I was able to get to this point. I couldn't have done it alone, so I'm overwhelmed with emotion. I'm truly grateful to everyone involved. And above all, I would like to express my cosmic gratitude to all of you who have supported me. Thank you everyone!
◇Comment from character designer Uodenim
Congratulations to the original author, Shiraishi Arata, the comic artist Kentaro, and all the readers who have loved this work. A dream that would never have come true without any of the pieces being missing has become a reality, and I am overwhelmed with emotion. Before the series began, I drew Ephthal and the other characters in my sketchbook, racking my brain over how to draw them, and now I can't believe they're flying and bouncing around on screen (laughs). Once again, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Shiraishi and everyone involved, who have allowed me to have a seat on this ship! As a fan of Rakudai Sage, I look forward to enjoying the anime adaptation!
◇Comment from Director Hisashi Ishii
We've created this with the same indomitable spirit as our main character, Ephthal. Look forward to seeing Ephthal unintentionally become invincible!
◇Comment from Umeda Shuichiro, who plays Ephthal
I'm Umeda Shuuichirou, and I've been entrusted with the role of Ephthal. The great sage, Thunder Emperor Ephthal, is reincarnated into a world 400 years in the future... and his desire remains the same: to pursue magic! I believe it's this mentality that allowed Ephthal to become a great sage despite his lack of aptitude for magic. I'm looking forward to seeing Ephthal's spectacular battle scenes and his days with the heroines. Thank you very much!
◇Comment from Reo Koyamauchi, who plays Anastasia
I'm Koyamauchi Reo, and I'll be playing the role of Anastasia. One of Anastasia's charms is how she gradually grows throughout the story, so during the dubbing I tried to focus on Anastasia's inner self and the changes in her emotions. I also love how she sometimes crunches her sentences, and how she bites back when she gets flustered. Another highlight is the lively atmosphere between Ephthal, Anastasia, and Merlin, so I hope you'll enjoy that in the anime as well!
◇Comment from Haruka Shiraishi, who plays Merlin
Congratulations on the TV anime adaptation of "Rakudai Sage's Academy Unrivaled"! I'm Shiraishi Haruka, who will be playing the role of Merlin. I read the original work and was deeply moved by the idea that even if you're not the chosen one, you can change your destiny with hard work! The Merlin I'll be playing was saved by Ephthal, and she respects and adores him more than anyone else. She worked hard to become his number one disciple, and over time she became the principal of Altena Magic Academy. I'll be playing her from her childhood to adulthood, so I hope to portray the kind of life Merlin has led in detail. I'll do my best! I hope you'll support the series!
◇Staff (titles omitted)
Director: Hisashi Ishii ▽ Series composition: Deko Akao ▽ Character design: Hideki Furukawa ▽ Animation production: EMT Squared
◇Cast (titles omitted)
Ephthal: Shuichiro Umeda ▽ Anastasia: Reo Oyamauchi ▽ Merlin: Haruka Shiraishi
