The Kept Man of the Princess Knight (Himekishi-sama no Himo) is officially getting a TV anime starring Junichi Suwabe and Mikako Komatsu. Suwabe will voice as Matthew, with Komatsu as Arwin, both reprising their roles from the novel’s original promotional videos (PV).
As part of the announcement, a new illustration and a special trailer were revealed, along with details on the main production team.
A Prize-Winning Light Novel with a Familiar Premise
Originally the Grand Prize winner of the 28th Dengeki Novel Awards, The Kept Man of the Princess Knight is a Japanese light novel series written by Toru Shirogane and illustrated by Saki Mashima. The series began publication under ASCII Media Works’ Dengeki Bunko imprint on February 10, 2022, and has released 5 volumes as of September 2023.
There is also a manga adaptation by Keyyang, began serialization on Kadokawa’s ComicWalker manga website in September 2022.
At Anime Expo 2023, Yen Press announced the English license for The Kept Man of the Princess Knight. It features a “cowardly weakling” protagonist who is really capable of more than everyone thinks. Their official synopsis for Volume 1 reads:
The Dungeon City is a wicked place filled with crime, debauchery, and death. Its one shining light is Arwin, the beautiful Crimson Princess Knight. She and her brave party of adventurers descend into the dungeon at the city’s center, seeking a legendary treasure with the power to rebuild the princess’s fallen kingdom. Many yearn to be by her side, but that spot is already taken by Matthew, a man despised by all in town as a cowardly weakling. Everyone thinks he is scum who just spends her hard-earned money on booze, women, and gambling. No one in the city—not even the princess knight— knows what Matthew is truly capable of.
Since its debut, The Kept Man of the Princess Knight has surpassed 200,000 copies in total circulation, leading to today’s anime announcement.
Main Staff for The Kept Man of the Princess Knight Anime
The Kept Man of the Princess Knight anime will be animated by studio BLADE (I Have a Crush at Work), with the following key staff:
- Director: Chihiro Kumano
- Series Composition: Deko Akao
- Character Design: Hisao Ishii
To celebrate the announcement, character designer Hisao Ishii has drawn a special anime adaptation commemorative illustration.
Cast Comments on Their Roles
Both Junichi Suwabe and Mikako Komatsu, who previously voiced the characters in promotional materials, expressed their excitement about returning for the anime.
Junichi Suwabe (Matthew):
The long-awaited anime adaptation of The Kept Man of the Princess Knight is here! I am honored to continue voicing Matthew, following my work in the previously released PVs. I will do my best to bring out his full charm, so please look forward to it!
Mikako Komatsu (Arwin)
Congratulations on the anime adaptation of The Kept Man of the Princess Knight! I am truly happy to continue playing Arwin after voicing her in the PV. In addition to that, I also had the opportunity to record ASMR content, which included some heart-racing scenarios. I’m very excited to see how Matthew and Arwin’s intriguing relationship will be depicted in the anime. Please support the TV anime as well!
Special Trailer for The Kept Man of the Princess Knight Released
To celebrate the anime adaptation, a special promotional trailer featuring newly recorded voice lines from Junichi Suwabe (Matthew) and Mikako Komatsu (Arwin) has been released.
You can also check out some of their previous promotional trailers below.
With an award-winning light novel and a growing fanbase, The Kept Man of the Princess Knight is definitely a series to keep an eye on. Stay tuned for more updates as the release approaches!
Source: Dengeki Bunko Official Website, Comic Natalie
©Toru Shirogane, KADOKAWA / The Kept Man of the Princess Knight Production Committee
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