The popular dark fantasy light novel series Witch and Mercenary is officially becoming a television anime. Bandai Namco Entertainment announced the adaptation on April 14, 2026. The show will air on Japan’s NTV channel in 2027. The news came with a teaser visual, a promotional video, and details about the main cast and animation team.
Fans of the light novels have been waiting for this moment. The story follows a powerful witch and a skilled mercenary who start as enemies but end up traveling together. The series has sold over 1.5 million copies. The manga version also won an award at the Next Manga Awards 2025 in the web manga category.
The Main Voice Cast Brings the Characters to Life
The production team selected two very well-known voice actors for the lead roles. Taito Ban will voice Zig Crane, the lone mercenary. Saori Hayami will voice Siasha (also written as Saoirse), the lonely witch.
Both actors shared their thoughts about joining the project.
My name is Taito Ban, and I will be voicing Zig Crane. Zig is a mercenary who has traveled across the world, learning to survive through rational means, while Saoirse has lived for many years in isolation, hiding away after being persecuted. The story of these two begins with a brutal battle to the death. Witch and Mercenary is not a tale of heroes, but of two outsiders. It is a dark, weighty story that is quiet yet carries a certain fragility.
Saori Hayami also talked about her connection to the character.
I will be voicing Saoirse. When I first encountered the original work, I was drawn in by its depth, its delicacy, and also its subtle sense of openness. During recording, we spend very intense and detailed time carefully layering each character’s expression.
Studio 8-Bit Leads the Animation Production
The animation studio behind this project is 8-Bit. This studio has worked on popular titles like Vivy -Fluorite Eye’s Song and Hanebad!. Shinpei Ezaki is directing the series. Taishirou Tanimura is in charge of the series scripts. Keita Matsumoto is designing the characters.
The music is a big part of any fantasy anime. Rei Ishizuka will compose the score at Lantis. Akiko Fujita will serve as the sound director. The production team includes experienced professionals who have worked on major shows like Jujutsu Kaisen and Dorohedoro.
What Is the Story About?
The original light novel is written by Kaeru Chōhōkiteki with illustrations by Bench Kanase. The English publisher Seven Seas Entertainment explains the setup.
Witches are the most dangerous beings in this world. People fear them because they can cause floods, create fireballs, or destroy entire countries. Everyone wants Siasha dead just because she is a witch. After a violent fight for her life, she joins forces with Zig, a mercenary who was sent to kill her. Together, they leave for unknown lands to find a place where she can live in peace. The pair must face lost magic and vicious monsters along the way.
The story started as a web novel on the Shosetsuka ni Naro website in June 2021. It ended in December 2022. The first printed volume came out in May 2023 through Micro Magazine’s GCN Bunko label. The seventh volume was published on January 20, 2026.
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Where to Read the Original Books and Manga
English readers can enjoy the light novel right now. Seven Seas Entertainment licenses the English version. The manga adaptation is drawn by Makoto Miyagi. It started in January 2024 on the Magazine Pocket service. Kodansha publishes the English digital manga on its K Manga app and website.
The manga has also received praise. It won the U-NEXT Award in the web manga category at the Next Manga Awards 2025. This shows the series has a strong following even before the anime airs.
Special Voice Drama Coming Soon
The production team is not waiting until 2027 to give fans content. A newly written voice drama will release regularly on YouTube. The Bandai Namco Filmworks Channel will host these dramas. The original author is supervising the scripts. The voice dramas will focus on dialogue scenes between Zig and Siasha. This is a good way for fans to hear the chemistry between Taito Ban and Saori Hayami before the full series airs.
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