The upcoming fantasy series based on the popular manga and light novel franchise has locked in its summer premiere. From Overshadowed to Overpowered will arrive in July 2026, bringing the story of a twice-reincarnated sage to television screens worldwide. Square Enix made the official announcement on February 20, 2026, confirming that the anime adaptation is moving forward with a solid production team and lead voice actors attached to the project .
The anime adapts Kentarou’s manga version of the story, which carries the full title From Overshadowed to Overpowered: Second Reincarnation of a Talentless Sage. This manga has been running on Square Enix’s Manga UP! website since September 2019, with eight compiled volumes released as of June 2025 . The source material originally began as a web novel written by Arata Shiraishi in 2018, later published as light novels by Kadokawa starting in October 2019 with illustrations by uodenim .
Production Team and Animation Studio Behind the Series
EMT Squared takes charge of animation production for From Overshadowed to Overpowered. The studio has worked on several fantasy and comedy series in recent years, including Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear, I’m Quitting Heroing, and The Unaware Atelier Master .
Hisashi Ishii directs the series, bringing experience from his work on those same shows. To mark the anime announcement, Ishii shared a celebratory illustration showing his excitement about the project .
Deko Akao handles series composition and script supervision. Akao has written for many well-known anime including Higehiro, Komi Can’t Communicate, Flying Witch, Noragami, and the recent May I Ask for One Final Thing? .
Hideki Furukawa designs the characters for the anime. Furukawa previously worked on WATAMOTE, Strike The Blood III and later installments, and Ayakashi Triangle .
Main Voice Cast Revealed for Ephtal, Anastasia, and Marin
The lead roles feature three voice actors who will bring the main characters to life.
Shūichirō Umeda voices the protagonist Ephtal. Umeda has gained recognition for his work in Vigilante: My Hero Academia Illegals and other recent anime productions .
Reo Osanai takes on the role of Anastasia, the heroine who joins Ephtal on his journey. Osanai’s casting adds to the growing list of talent attached to this summer release .
Haruka Shiraishi voices Marin, the headmaster of the magical academy who previously studied under Ephtal in his past life. Shiraishi brings experience from various anime roles to this character .
Kentarou, the manga artist, also drew an illustration celebrating the anime adaptation announcement, showing support for the project .
Story Premise: A Sage Reborn Twice Seeks Magic Mastery
The story follows Ephtal, a man who originally reincarnated from modern Earth into a world where magic exists. He dedicated his entire life to mastering magic, only to discover he had absolutely no talent for it. He died in despair, having failed to achieve his goal .
But death was not the end for Ephtal. He reincarnated again 400 years later, keeping the same name along with all the knowledge and magical power he accumulated in his previous life. He sets out once more to reach the peak of magical ability .
The world he enters this time has changed dramatically. Magic has declined over the centuries, and powerful spells have become rare. What made Ephtal talentless in his first life now makes him completely unmatched in this new era. His once-useless knowledge transforms him into an overpowered force at the magic academy .
Comikey, which publishes the English version of the manga, describes the premise as a story about a sage rising from the depths of powerlessness to the peak of power. Ephtal joins forces with Anastasia, a slave girl, and Marin, the academy headmaster who was once his disciple, as he begins to dominate the magical world around him .
Manga and Light Novel Background
Arata Shiraishi originally published the story as a web novel on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website in 2018. Kadokawa began publishing the light novel in print under their Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint in October 2019, with uodenim providing illustrations. The light novel series concluded in March 2022 after releasing eight volumes .
Kentarou launched the manga adaptation in Square Enix’s Manga UP! service in September 2019. Square Enix published the eighth compiled volume in June 2025, with the series continuing beyond the light novel’s conclusion .
English readers can access the manga through Comikey and Square Enix’s Manga UP! Global service, making the story available to international audiences ahead of the anime premiere.
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What to Expect From the July 2026 Premiere
The anime will begin broadcasting in Japan starting July 2026. A teaser visual accompanied the announcement, giving fans their first look at the character designs and art style for the series .
The production brings together experienced staff who have worked on multiple fantasy adaptations. Director Hisashi Ishii and writer Deko Akao have both contributed to successful series in similar genres, suggesting the anime will maintain the tone and pacing fans expect from the source material .
EMT Squared’s involvement means the animation quality will likely match their previous fantasy productions. The studio has built a reputation for delivering consistent work on shows with magical settings and adventure elements .
International streaming details have not been announced yet, but given the manga’s availability through English-language services, global distribution for the anime is expected. Fans outside Japan should receive updates about streaming platforms as July approaches .
The series joins a growing list of fantasy and isekai anime scheduled for 2026, offering viewers another story about a protagonist using past life knowledge to navigate a new world. What sets From Overshadowed to Overpowered apart is its double-reincarnation setup and the unique position of a character who failed in his first attempt but now finds himself overpowered through no extra effort of his own .
For more articles on anime adaptations, fantasy series announcements, and voice cast reveals, keep checking VvipTimes for the latest updates from the world of Japanese entertainment.
