© Nekoko, BroccoLee, Jaian, KODANSHA/“The Exiled Heavy Knight Knows How to Game the System” Production Committee
Global anime streaming giant, Crunchyroll, has significantly expanded its content offerings for audiences in India by rolling out Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu language dubs for the highly anticipated television anime adaptation of “The Exiled Heavy Knight Knows How to Game the System” (Tsuihō Sareta Tensei Jū Kishi wa Game Chishiki de Musō Suru). This strategic move, which began on Thursday, caters to the diverse linguistic preferences across the Indian subcontinent, making the popular series more accessible to a broader demographic.
The anime is based on the light novel series by Nekoko, which was subsequently adapted into a manga by Brocco Lee. This fantastical tale centers on Elma, a protagonist from a prestigious lineage of Sword Saints. However, during his Divine Blessing Ceremony at the age of fifteen, he mysteriously manifests the “Heavy Knight” class – a designation widely scorned as defective. Consequently, Elma is stripped of his rightful position as the heir to the Edvan Household and banished. The Heavy Knight class is infamous for its unbalanced stats and seemingly useless skills, often associated with individuals perceived as cowardly and indolent. Yet, Elma possesses a secret advantage: he recognizes this world as the very game he once played in his past life. Crucially, he knows that the Heavy Knight class, despite its initial appearance, is, in fact, the most formidable class in existence. Armed with this invaluable knowledge from his previous life, Elma embarks on an efficient and strategic journey through his reincarnated world, exploiting its mechanics to his advantage.
The series is slated to air for two consecutive cours, each spanning a quarter of a year, on TBS and MBS’s dedicated Super Animeism TURBO programming block. It made its Japanese debut on July 2nd at 24:26 JST, which effectively translates to 12:26 a.m. on July 3rd. Beyond these new localized dubs, Crunchyroll is also actively streaming the anime in India simultaneously with its broadcast in Japan, ensuring that Indian fans can follow the story as it unfolds. Additionally, other platforms like Muse India (via YouTube) and Amazon Prime Video’s Anime Times are also providing streaming access to the anime in India, highlighting the growing demand for Japanese animation in the region.
Kodansha, a prominent Japanese publisher, is facilitating the English release of the manga through its K MANGA service, allowing international audiences to delve into Elma’s intriguing journey.
The production of this anime boasts an impressive team. Shingo Suzuki serves as the general director, with Katsumasa Yokomine, known for his work on “The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today” and “Momentary Lily,” directing the series at GoHands studio. Takayuki Uchida, who has contributed to character design for “The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses” and “The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again Today,” is responsible for character designs and acts as one of the chief animation directors alongside Keiji Tani and Makoto Furuta, both of whom also worked on “Momentary Lily.” Tetsuichi Yamagishi, recognized for his key animation in “Cowboy Bebop: The Movie,” is the chief director, while Hiroshi Ōkubo (“K,” “The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses”) is the main animator. Glovision handles the sound production, with Enji Nakajima and Tetsuya Gunji as the sound directors. The evocative musical score is composed by Ludvig Forssell, acclaimed for his work on the “BELLE” film.
For the initial quarter of the series, the opening theme song, “Awake,” is performed by the popular band SPYAIR.
The original light novel series by Nekoko first began its serialization on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō (Let’s Become Novelists) website in April 2021. Kodansha later published the first print volume, featuring illustrations by Jaian, in June 2022, with the fifth volume released on July 2nd. Brocco Lee launched the manga adaptation on Kodansha’s Yanmaga website in February 2022. The manga’s serialization then transitioned from Kodansha’s Yanmaga website to Kodansha’s Young Magazine in September 2024, reflecting its growing popularity. The 18th volume of the manga was shipped on July 6th.
Beyond “The Exiled Heavy Knight Knows How to Game the System,” Nekoko’s other light novel series, “Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling” and “Disciple of the Lich,” are also published in English by Seven Seas Entertainment, which additionally releases RIO’s manga adaptation of “Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling,” further demonstrating the author’s significant presence in the fantasy genre.
