The TV anime Magical★Explorer is set to begin broadcasting and streaming in Japan on October 3, 2026, and the pre-broadcast support illustration countdown has reached its fourth entry. The latest artwork comes from Watanabe Akio, known for character design and original art on the Grisaia series, and it features Nanami and Clarice.
Watanabe Akio Joins the Countdown
Ahead of the anime’s October 3 debut, a countdown project is bringing support illustrations from prominent illustrators connected to bishoujo games. For the fourth illustration, Watanabe Akio contributed an artwork depicting Nanami and Clarice.
More support illustrations are expected before the broadcast begins.
About the Anime
Magical★Explorer is a reincarnation magic academy tale from Sneaker Bunko (KADOKAWA), written by Irisu and illustrated by Kannazuki Noboru. The story has surpassed 120 million cumulative PV on the posting site Shousetsuka ni Narou, and the books have topped 950,000 copies in cumulative series circulation as of April 2026.
The story centers on the legendary bishoujo game Magical★Explorer. The protagonist reincarnates not as the cheat-powered hero surrounded by heroines, but as Takine Kousuke, the unremarkable friend character who smiles along beside him. In the original game, Kousuke is a side character who never stands out, receives no reward, and remains a supporting figure until the end. However, he has knowledge from a previous life in which he played the game thoroughly. The friend character also has a hidden setting: the world’s highest magical power, giving him the potential to surpass even the protagonist. To lead the heroines he admires to happy endings, Kousuke struggles forward in this world.
Broadcast and Streaming
The anime will begin airing on October 3, 2026 (Saturday) at 24:00 on the following stations:
- TOKYO MX: October 3 onward, every Saturday at 24:00
- Tochigi TV: October 3 onward, every Saturday at 24:00
- Gunma TV: October 3 onward, every Saturday at 24:00
- BS11: October 3 onward, every Saturday at 24:00
- Tohoku Housou: October 3 onward, every Saturday at 25:48
- TV Aichi: October 3 onward, every Saturday at 26:25
- Yomiuri TV: October 5 onward, every Monday at 25:59
Broadcast times may change due to scheduling circumstances.
For streaming, d Anime Store and ABEMA will offer the fastest unlimited streaming from October 3 at 24:00, one week ahead of terrestrial broadcasting. Other streaming services will also begin sequential distribution from October 3 at 24:00.
Staff
| Role | Staff |
|---|---|
| Original Work | Irisu (KADOKAWA, Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko) |
| Character Drafts | Kannazuki Noboru |
| Comic | Higa Yukari (KADOKAWA, Young Ace UP serialization) |
| Director | Oohashi Kazuki |
| Series Composition | Sekine Satoko |
| Character Design | Kimiya Ryousuke |
| Prop Design | Watanabe Yaeko, Yamada Yuukei |
| Monster Design | Hosoda Naoto |
| Effect Design | Yakou Hiroshi |
| Art Director | Yokoyama Isao |
| Color Design | Murata Eriko |
| Director of Photography | Kuwabara Shinya |
| 3D Director | Sakaguchi Haruka |
| Special Effects / 2D Works | Oonishi Keiko |
| Editing | Gotou Masahiro |
| Sound Director | Aketagawa Jin |
| Music | Suehiro Kenichirou |
| Production Supervision | Iwasa Gaku |
| Animation Producer | Katou Shinichirou |
| Animation Production | WHITE FOX |
Cast
| Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Takine Kousuke | Shimazaki Nobunaga |
| Ludie | Kakuma Ai |
| Mizumori Yukine | Oonishi Saori |
| Nanami | M・A・O |
| Hanamura Marino | Fuchigami Mai |
| Hanamura Hatsumi | Tsuda Minami |
| Clarice | Tsumugi Risa |
| Hijiri Iori | Yuikawa Asaki |
| Katou Rina | Toono Hikaru |
Novels and Manga
The original novel series Magical★Explorer: Eroge no Yuujin Character ni Tensei shita kedo, Game Chishiki Tsukatte Jiyuu ni Ikiru is written by Irisu with illustrations by Kannazuki Noboru. Volumes 1 through 13 are on sale.
The manga adaptation, with art by Higa Yukari, original story by Irisu, and character drafts by Kannazuki Noboru, has volumes 1 through 3 on sale.
Magical★Explorer: Eroge no Yuujin Character ni Tensei shita kedo, Game Chishiki Tsukatte Jiyuu ni Ikiru 14 [Electronic Special Edition] Magical Explorer (Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko)
￥880
(Prices and availability are as of the article’s publication.)
Magical★Explorer: Eroge no Yuujin Character ni Tensei shita kedo, Game Chishiki Tsukatte Jiyuu ni Ikiru (1) (Kadokawa Comics Ace)
￥644
(Prices and availability are as of the article’s publication.)
(C) Irisu・Kannazuki Noboru/KADOKAWA/「Magical★Explorer」Production Committee
