The highly anticipated “light anime” adaptation of Tenma Asahi’s popular boys-love (BL) light novel series, Saioshi no Gikei o Mederu Tame, Nagaikishimasu! (In Order to Love My Most Beloved Step-Brother, I’ll Live a Long Life!), is officially slated to premiere in January 2026. This announcement, made by the anime’s official website, also included the revelation of key staff members, a recent screenshot, and a key visual.
This project marks the inaugural title from the newly formed “Balloon” label, an initiative by IMAGICA Infos, Dai Nippon Printing (DNP), CYBIRD, and Blue Rights, dedicated to producing BL content.
Understanding the “Light Anime” Format
The term “light anime” signifies a novel approach to animation production, spearheaded by Dai Nippon Printing (DNP). This concept aims to create animated content with a lower production cost and a more efficient, “timely” schedule compared to traditional animation workflows. The Balloon label itself plans to release four new titles within the 2026 fiscal year, with aspirations to expand to over ten projects annually by 2028.
Unraveling the Plot: A Reincarnated Love Story
The narrative of Saioshi no Gikei o Mederu Tame, Nagaikishimasu! delves into the fantastical world of Alba, a protagonist reincarnated into a poor noble family. In his previous life, Alba harbored a deep affection for a character named Orsis from an otome game. Through a twist of fate, Orsis becomes Alba’s new step-brother following his mother’s second marriage.
However, Alba’s joy quickly turns to determination when he recalls a crucial detail from the game: his own character’s death is the catalyst for Orsis losing his signature smile. Driven by an unwavering desire to protect his beloved step-brother’s happiness, Alba resolves to defy his destined short life and find a way to live longer.
This heartwarming fantasy romance follows Alba’s earnest efforts, which include seeking medicinal herbs to cure his illness, guiding his often-difficult father-in-law, and showering Orsis with praise to boost his self-esteem. As Alba dedicates himself to these tasks, Orsis, surprisingly, develops an increasingly doting affection for him. The series promises a blend of comedy, fantasy, isekai (another world), romance, shōnen-ai, and slice-of-life elements, exploring themes of reincarnation, family, and homosexuality.
The Creative Team Behind the Adaptation
The production of the Saioshi no Gikei o Mederu Tame, Nagaikishimasu! light anime involves a dedicated team. Yusuke Morishita is helming the project as the director, with Izumi Tezuka overseeing the series scripts. Kazuya Takahashi is serving as the production supervisor, while IMAGICA Infos and Imageworks Studio are credited as the animation producers. The overall project is being produced by DNP and Imagica Info’s Animation ID.
Origins in Light Novels and Manga
The anime is based on the light novel series by Tenma Asahi. The first volume of the light novel was originally published in September 2021 by AlphaPolis, with the fifth compiled book volume released in January 2025. Following the success of the novels, Aki Tsujimoto launched a manga adaptation of the series on the AlphaPolis platform under the Andarche label in January 2025.
Fans can look forward to more details and promotional materials as the January 2026 debut approaches.
