Fans waiting for the next adventure of Rimuru Tempest will have to hold on a little longer. The popular isekai series hit a sudden schedule change in late April 2026. Producers canceled the planned May 1st broadcast of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 Episode 5 due to unnamed scheduling reasons. Instead of a new episode, a special recap program took its place. The good news is that the show returns with fresh content on May 8, 2026.
Why Episode 5 Was Delayed
The production team behind the anime announced the schedule shift through the official TenSura website and social media channels. The episode originally set for May 1, 2026, on NTV and 28 affiliated stations across Japan got pulled. Official statements mentioned “scheduling reasons” without giving specific details about the cause.
In place of the regular episode, broadcasters aired a 30-minute special recap program on May 2 at 10 p.m. JST. This special featured Miho Okasaki, the voice actor for Rimuru Tempest, alongside presenter Haruka Mori. The duo looked back at the season’s story so far and gave viewers a refresher on key plot points before the show returns to its normal schedule.
This marks the first interruption in Season 4’s rollout since the show came back in April 2026. The series had been following a steady weekly release pattern until this unexpected break.
Official Release Date for Episode 5
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 Episode 5 now has a confirmed release date of Friday, May 8, 2026. The episode follows the show’s regular programming slot on NTV’s Friday Anime Night block.
Release times vary by region. Here is the complete schedule for global audiences:
- United States (PDT) – May 8, 2026, at 8:00 AM
- United States (EDT) – May 8, 2026, at 11:00 AM
- United Kingdom (BST) – May 8, 2026, at 4:00 PM
- Canada (EDT) – May 8, 2026, at 11:00 AM
- Australia (ACST) – May 9, 2026, at 1:30 AM
- India (IST) – May 8, 2026, at 8:30 PM
- Japan (JST) – May 9, 2026, at 12:00 AM
- Central Europe (CEST) – May 8, 2026, at 5:00 PM
Where to Watch the New Episode
Crunchyroll remains the primary streaming home for international viewers. The platform will release That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 Episode 5 simultaneously with the Japanese broadcast. Crunchyroll confirmed that streaming availability covers North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS, and Southeast Asia.
For viewers in Japan, the episode airs on NTV and BS11. Other Japanese streaming options include ABEMA, Disney+, Hulu, and d Anime Store.
What Happens in Episode 5
The upcoming episode focuses on Rimuru’s nation of Tempest and how the kingdom grows with its new dungeon system working properly. Season 4 continues adapting the light novel series by Fuse, with the story moving toward larger political conflicts and potential battles.
The episode will show how Rimuru manages his growing nation while dealing with outside powers. Studio 8bit continues handling the animation, keeping the same visual quality fans expect from the series.
Special Recap Episode Details
The recap program that aired on May 2 gave viewers a chance to revisit important moments from Season 4. Miho Okasaki (Rimuru’s voice) hosted the special alongside Haruka Mori. The program summarized the story so far and included hints about what comes next in the season.
This type of recap episode is common in long-running anime series. It gives new viewers a catch-up point and reminds regular audiences of smaller plot details they might have missed.
Season 4 Broadcast Plans
Season 4 of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime started on April 3, 2026. The production committee planned an unusual five-cour broadcast for this season. The first two cours are running consecutively, covering about six months of weekly episodes. The remaining three cours will come out later, though exact dates are not yet public.
This five-cour format makes Season 4 one of the largest single seasons in the franchise’s history. It shows the producers’ confidence in the series, which continues to perform well on Crunchyroll and Japanese television.
Main Cast Returning
The core voice cast returns for Season 4. Miho Okasaki leads as Rimuru Tempest. Other main cast members reprise their roles, keeping the character voices consistent for long-time viewers. The English dub also continues, though release dates for dubbed episodes typically follow the original Japanese broadcast by several weeks.
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What Viewers Can Expect
The delay pushed back Episode 5 by exactly one week. The special recap did not count as a regular episode, so fans did not miss any new story content. The production team confirmed that the regular schedule resumes with Episode 5 on May 8.
The episode title and specific plot details remain under wraps. Based on where Season 3 ended and how Season 4 started, the story likely continues exploring Rimuru’s political relationships with other nations. The dungeon system introduced earlier in the season will probably play a role in how Tempest grows as a power in the world.
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