The upcoming Though I Am an Inept Villainess TV anime adaptation will stream on Crunchyroll in July 2026, as part of the streaming service’s Summer 2026 simulcast lineup. The series was originally scheduled to debut in Japan in April 2026, but a broadcast delay was announced earlier this February.
Crunchyroll also shared an English-subtitled version of the anime’s first trailer on its YouTube channel. The anime will be streamed in the following territories: North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS, and Indian Subcontinent.
In addition, the anime’s official Twitter/X account posted a new seasonal visual for the month of April, highlighting Kou and Shu picking strawberries.
© 中村颯希・一迅社／「ふつつかな悪女」製作委員会
Mitsue Yamazaki (Zenshu, Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle) is directing the anime series, with Yoshiko Nakamura (RPG Real Estate) as series composer and Ai Kikuchi (Shikimori’s Not Just A Cutie) as character designer. Doga Kobo is in charge of the animation production.
Meanwhile, the anime’s voice cast includes:
- • Manaka Iwami as Kou Reirin
- • Natsumi Kawaida as Shu Keigetsu
- • Makoto Furukawa as Ei Gyoumei
- • Yuichiro Umehara as Shin-u
- • Hana Hishikawa as Leelee
- • Nikray Farahnaz as Kou Tousetsu
The fantasy romance light novel series (known in Japanese as Futsutsuka na Akujo dewa Gozaimasuga ~ Sugu Choso Torikae den~) is written by Satsuki Nakamura and illustrated by Kana Yuki. It was first published by Ichijinsha on December 28, 2020 and has released 12 volumes in Japan as of March 2026.
A manga adaptation by Ei Ohitsuji was launched in December 2020. The series began as a web novel on Shosetsuka ni Naro in July 2020. Ohitsuji is given the original character design credit for the anime adaptation alongside Yuki.
Seven Seas Entertainment licensed the light novels and manga series for English release under the title Though I am an Inept Villainess: Tale of the Butterfly-Rat Body Swap in the Maiden Court.
© 中村颯希・一迅社／「ふつつかな悪女」製作委員会
Crunchyroll describes the main synopsis of Though I Am an Inept Villainess as:
As maidens from the Five Clans battle for the Crown Prince’s heart, jealous Keigetsu uses forbidden magic to swap bodies with the beloved Reirin. Switching places does not guarantee happiness for Keigetsu with her new body’s ill health leaving her hanging on the verge of death. Meanwhile, Reirin, now wearing the face of a scorned outcast, must answer for Keigetsu’s crimes in a dangerous trial.
The unlikely pair become increasingly entangled in each other’s lives and they will need to work together to survive after discovering the dark conspiracies brewing beneath the palace’s genial surface. To confront the deadly threats lurking in the shadows, Reirin must embrace her new identity and defy their expectations of the court’s inept villainess.
Sources: Crunchyroll YouTube Channel, Crunchyroll News, Though I Am an Inept Villainess Official Twitter (via Anime News by AIR)
