A website opened on Thursday to reveal the television anime adaptation of Shigeru Sagazaki's From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman (Katainaka no Ossan, Kensei ni Naru: Tada no Inaka no Kenjutsu Shihan Datta noni, Taisei Shita Deshitachi ga Ore o Hōttekurenai Ken) light novel series, which will air in April 2025. The website also revealed the main staff, teaser visual, and promotional video.
The light novels' illustrator Tetsuhiro Nabeshima and the manga adaptation's artist Kazuki Satō also drew illustrations to celebrate the announcement:
Akio Kazumi (Loner Life in Another World, Fist of the Blue Sky Regenesis) is directing the anime at Passione and Hayabusa Film. Kunihiko Okada (The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy, By the Grace of the Gods season 2) is in charge of series scripts, Satsuki Hayasaka (The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy, Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki) is designing the characters, and is also the chief animation director, and Yasuharu Takanashi (Baki Hanma vs. Kengan Ashura, Fairy Tail) is composing the music.
The anime will air in April 2025 on the IMAnimation programming block of 24 TV Asahi affiliate channels, and on BS Asahi.
J-Novel Club licensed the novels and describes the story:
Beryl Gardinant, a self-proclaimed “humble old man,” is a sword instructor at his dojo in a rural, backwater village. In his younger years, he dreamed of glory as a master swordsman, but those days are long behind him. Out of the blue, he receives a visit from a famous former pupil who brings him world-shattering news—he's been appointed as special instructor for the knights of the Liberion Order! With his life now turned upside down, Beryl travels to the capital and reunites with some of his former students: elite knights, an ace wizard, and even an adventurer who's attained thehighest guild rank possible. But why do they all want his tutelage?! As far as he's concerned, they clearly don't need him anymore.Can Beryl live up to his new position? And will he ever get a moment's peace away from his adoring students?!
Satō launched the novels' manga adaptation in Akita Shoten's Dokodemo Young Champion magazine in August 2021. Akita Shoten published the manga's first compiled book volume in February 2022, and the sixth volume will also release on August 6. Yen Press licensed the manga and will release the first volume in September.
The original novels and manga have a cumulative total of 5.5 million copies in circulation.
Sources: From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman anime's website, Comic Natalie