The popular light novel series From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman: My Hotshot Disciples Are All Grown Up Now and They Won’t Leave Me Alone has just received an anime adaptation.
Along with the announcement via the anime’s newly-opened X account, it also released its first trailer, a key visual, and staff information.
The anime, which will be called From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman, also has an April, 2025 premiere date.
And yes, as a massive fan of fantasy anime, this is already at the top of my list to watch.
What we know about the From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman anime so far
The From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman trailer is only a 30-second teaser.
But it still gives us a nice idea of the art style and character designs — which look cool, by the way. (watch below)
Meanwhile, the first From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman visual released just shows protagonist Beryl Gardinant, who is a big, muscular man, holding a sword and looking stern.
His character design is interesting, however, as we don’t often get older protagonists who, it appears, are still able to kick some major ass.
Beryl also appears in two celebratory illustrations from light novel illustrator Tetsuhiro Nabeshima and mangaka Kazuki Saito.
The upcoming anime is based on the light novels written by Shigeru Sagasaki and illustrated by Tetsuhiro Nabeshima.
The series has seven volumes out in Japanese, and an eighth due in August.
J-Novel Club is publishing the novels in English, with three volumes out and Volume 4 due on November 4th, 2024.
The publisher describes the plot of the light novels like this:
Beryl Gardinant, a self-proclaimed “humble old man,” is a sword instructor at his dojo in a rural, backwater village. In his younger years, he dreamed of glory as a master swordsman, but those days are long behind him.
Out of the blue, he receives a visit from a famous former pupil who brings him world-shattering news—he’s been appointed as a special instructor for the knights of the Liberion Order!
With his life now turned upside down, Beryl travels to the capital and reunites with some of his former students: elite knights, an ace wizard, and even an adventurer who’s attained the highest guild rank possible. But why do they all want his tutelage?! As far as he’s concerned, they clearly don’t need him anymore.
Can Beryl live up to his new position? And will he ever get a moment’s peace away from his adoring students?!
Akio Kazumi (Fist of the Blue Sky: Regenesis) is directing the new fantasy anime series, with Kunihiko Okada (The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy) in charge of series composition, and Satsuki Hayasaki (The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy) acting as both character designer and chief animation director
Studios Passione (Loner Life in Another World) and Hayabusa Film (Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf) are in charge of anime production.
Check out the short From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman trailer below, and mark your calendars.
