The newest seasonal visual has been unveiled for the Though I am an Inept Villainess: Tale of the Butterfly-Rat Body Swap in the Maiden Court TV anime series, showcasing the blossoming cherry blossom trees and the show’s lead heroines. The upcoming anime was previously scheduled to begin broadcasting in April 2026, but was delayed to July 2026.
© 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 main voice cast will star Manaka Iwami as Kou Reirin and Natsumi Kawaida as Shu Keigetsu.
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 11 volumes in Japan under the Ichijinsha Novels imprint, as of September 2025.
A manga adaptation by Ei Ohitsuji was launched in December 2020. The series began as a web novel on Shosetsuka ni Naro on July 15, 2020.
© 中村颯希・一迅社／「ふつつかな悪女」製作委員会
Seven Seas Entertainment licensed the Though I Am an Inept Villainess light novels and manga series for English release, describing the main premise of the former as:
In the Kingdom of Ei, five clans put forth their maidens as imperial consorts—but only one will be crowned empress. Just when frail and beautiful “court butterfly” Kou Reirin seems poised to marry the crown prince, jealous “court rat” Shu Keigetsu steals her body! Reirin wakes up in the dungeons as the conspirator, and things look dire…or do they? Now that she’s got a robust new body, not even the looming threat of execution can stop her!
Sources: Though I am an Inept Villainess Official Twitter, Crunchyroll News
