The highly anticipated anime adaptation of “The Villainess Is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom” (Akuyaku Reijō wa Ringoku no Ōtaishi ni Dekiai Sareru) is set to premiere in January 2026, with a recent video revealing key details regarding its main cast and production staff. Fans can look forward to seeing the beloved light novel series come to life with a familiar vocal ensemble and an experienced animation team.
January 2026 Premiere and Animation Details
The television anime series is confirmed to debut in Japan in January 2026. Studio DEEN, known for its work on various animated productions, will be handling the animation, bringing the enchanting world and characters to the screen. Takayuki Hamana, recognized for directing series such as The Prince of Tennis and The Witch and the Beast, is at the helm as director. Yoshimi Narita is in charge of the series scripts, and Majiro is credited with designing the characters.
Main Cast Reprising Their Roles
The core voice cast for the anime will see several actors reprising their roles from the series’ popular otome game adaptation, ensuring continuity for fans familiar with the franchise.
The confirmed main cast includes:
- Mai Fuchigami as Tiararose Lapis Clementille, the titular villainess and daughter of a count from the Lapis Lazuli kingdom.
- Yuichiro Umehara as Aquasteed Marineforest, the crown prince of the neighboring Marine Forest kingdom.
- Takuya Sato as Hartknights Lapis-Lazuli Lactomuth, the crown prince of the Lapis Lazuli kingdom to whom Tiararose was initially engaged.
- Yumiri Hanamori as Akari, the heroine of the original otome game, “The Ring of Lapis Lazuli.”
Additional cast members from the visual novel game include Marina Yamada as Icilla Pearllant, Junichi Suwabe as Keith, Hikaru Midorikawa as Crail, Ai Furihata as Pearl, Minami Takahashi as Philine Sunfist, and Sho Karino as Elliot, though their specific roles in the anime’s latest announcement were not emphasized.
The Captivating Story of Tiararose
“The Villainess Is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom” originates from a light novel series written by Puni-chan and illustrated by Akeno Naruse, which began as a web novel in 2016. It has since expanded into a manga adaptation and an otome visual novel game.
The narrative centers on a protagonist who finds herself reincarnated into the world of her favorite otome game, “The Ring of Lapis Lazuli,” as the villainess, Tiararose. While she anticipates the tragic “judgment event” and her inevitable exile after her engagement to Prince Hartknights is broken, a surprising turn of events unfolds. Instead of exile, Aquasteed, the charming crown prince of the neighboring Marine Forest kingdom, appears with an unexpected marriage proposal, setting the stage for a unique twist on the villainess trope.
Fans eagerly await the anime’s debut to witness this romantic fantasy unfold in animation, with the confirmed cast and staff building anticipation for the January 2026 premiere.
