The anime series “The Villainess Is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom” officially starts today. The first episode of the new fantasy romance is available for viewers around the world. The show adapts a popular light novel and manga series about a woman reincarnated as a villainess in her favorite game.
Fans of the series can watch Episode 1 now. The anime is part of the Winter 2026 season. It will air weekly on Japanese television and stream globally on major platforms. The story follows Tiararose Lapis Clementille, who discovers she is living inside an otome game. Just as her original story seems destined for a bad ending, a prince from a neighboring kingdom changes her fate.
Where to Watch Episode 1 Online
For international audiences, the anime is available on Crunchyroll. The streaming service holds the official license. This means fans in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, and other regions can watch the episode with subtitles shortly after it airs in Japan.
In Japan, the show broadcasts on channels like Tokyo MX, KBS Kyoto, Sun TV, and BS NTV. New episodes are scheduled for Sundays at 23:00 Japan Standard Time (JST). For viewers in other time zones, this means the episode will be available on streaming services on Sunday morning or afternoon.
The Story and Characters of the New Anime
The plot centers on Tiararose. In her past life, she was a fan of an otome game called “Lapis Lazuli Ring.” After dying in an accident, she wakes up reincarnated as the game’s villainess. She remembers the game’s story, knowing her character is fated to have her engagement broken and be exiled by her fiancรฉ, Prince Hartknights.
“At their graduation ceremony, without blinking an eye, Hartknights condemns Tiararose for alleged crimes, breaks off his engagement, and proclaims the heroine Akari as his new bride-to-be.”
Just as this doomed scene plays out, a new character intervenes. Aquasteed Marineforest, the crown prince of the neighboring Marinforest Kingdom, steps in. He announces his intention to marry Tiararose, creating a new story path that did not exist in the original game. This unexpected proposal changes everything for Tiararose and sets the stage for her new life.
The main voice cast brings these characters to life. Mai Fuchigami voices the protagonist, Tiararose. Yลซichirล Umehara provides the voice for Prince Aquasteed. Takuya Satล voices the original fiancรฉ, Prince Hartknights, and Yumiri Hanamori voices the game’s heroine, Akari.
Behind the Scenes: Anime Production and Source Material
The anime is produced by Studio Deen, a studio with a long history in anime production. The director is Takayuki Hamana, and the series composition is handled by Yoshimi Narita. The character designs are by Majiro.
The series is based on a light novel written by Puni-chan and illustrated by Akeno Naruse. The story was first posted online in March 2016 and later published in print. As of late 2023, 14 volumes of the light novel have been released. A manga adaptation, illustrated by Hoshina, also began in December 2017. The manga has been compiled into 16 volumes as of late 2025.
The property has seen other adaptations. A visual novel game for the Nintendo Switch and Steam was released in March 2024 by developer Operahouse. The anime is the latest and most significant adaptation of the story for a wide audience.
Music and Theme Songs for the Anime
The opening and ending themes for the anime have been announced. The opening song is titled “Ai no Fanfare” (Love’s Fanfare). The ending song is “Mahล no Oto” (The Magical Sound). Both songs are performed by Ayahi Takagaki and Yu Shirota.
The music for the series is composed by Satoshi Hono and Nakano Karin. The combination of a fantasy story with romantic themes is complemented by this musical score.
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What to Expect From the First Episode
The first episode will likely introduce viewers to Tiararose’s world. It will show her realization that she is living inside the game and her growing dread as she approaches the graduation ceremony where her fate is sealed. The climax of the episode will be the dramatic scene where Hartknights publicly rejects her, only for Aquasteed to make his surprise proposal.
This moment is the key turning point of the entire series. It shifts the story from a tragic ending to a new beginning filled with romance and uncertainty. The episode will set up the central relationship between Tiararose and Aquasteed as they navigate this new, unscripted path together.
The first season of the anime is confirmed to have 12 episodes. This provides enough time to adapt a significant portion of the early light novel volumes. The show is classified under the Fantasy and Romance genres and is aimed primarily at a Shoujo demographic, though its isekai and villainess themes have broad appeal.
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