Receiving various awards from contests such as the “2020 Kakuyomu Awards”, “The 2021 Tsugirano Awards for up-and-coming light novel series” and “This Light Novel is Amazing! 2023”, Dengeki no Shin Bungei’s hugely popular light novel is the base of the TV anime “Sentenced to Be a Hero”, and is scheduled to start airing from January 3rd (Sat).
The newly released promotional video features the characters’ voices, including the new characters revealed today, Rhyno (VA. Yuichi Nakamura) and Frenci (VA. Saori Onishi), and also premieres the theme song “Kill the Noise”, by SPYAIR!
Additionally, the location visual depicting the area featured in the anime has also been released. In the first installment of the <Couveunge Forest Arc>, the scene of Xylo, Teoritta and Dotta illuminated by the sunset in the forest where The Demon Blight lurks is portrayed, creating a visual that hints at the beginning of the story.
The theme song is confirmed to be SPYAIR’s “Kill the Noise”! Part of it can be heard in the main promotional video, so be sure to catch it. In addition, special comments from the members of SPYAIR have also arrived.
Comment from SPYAIR
We created this song with a fast-paced beat that shines during the battle scenes, a deep solid sound that resonates with the feelings of those burdened by their crimes, and the theme of “crime and punishment”, including lyrics that aligned with the anime’s world view.
Despite it being a heavy and serious song, it’s become a track that’s uniquely ours, one that encourages its listeners by giving them a push forward.
The title carries the meaning of severing the “interference” from one’s surroundings, as well as the “doubts” that arise from within oneself.
Combined with the high-quality visuals, “Kill the Noise” is cooler than ever, so please look forward to it!
SPYAIR
A rock band comprising of 4 members: YOSUKE (Vocal) / UZ (Guitar & Programming) / MOMIKEN (Bass) / KENTA (Drums).
2005: Formed with the original members. Had their major debut in 2010.
April 2023: New vocalist YOSUKE joined, forming their current band.
“Orange”, the theme song of the movie “Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle” released in February 2024 was SPYAIR’s first song that surpassed 200 million streams in total.
Their latest song, used as the 2025 Boat Race CM song, is “Chase the Shine”. Their annual solo outdoor concert “JUST LIKE THIS 2025”, held over two days in September at Kawaguchiko Stellar Theater in Yamanashi Prefecture, was a huge success.
SPYAIR currently performs not only within Japan, but at numerous large-scale events overseas, including in the United States, Canada, and Asia.
After their rescheduled concert “SPYAIR TOUR 2025 – BUDDY” in January 2026, in Sendai and Tokyo, from February onwards, their solo tour “SPYAIR TOUR 2026” featuring their new song “Kill the Noise” will be held in 13 cities nationwide across Japan.
Two new characters and cast members have been revealed: Rhyno will be voiced by Yuichi Nakamura, and Frenci Mastibolt will be voiced by Saori Onishi. Below are their special comments.
Rhyno（VA. Yuichi Nakamura）
Affiliation: Penal Hero Unit 9004
Criminal charge: None
An oddball who volunteered to be a Penal Hero, Rhyno is a talented artilleryman. Having a polite demeanour, he speaks with the air of a saintly person, but always has a suspicious smile on his face. The strange armor that covers his whole body is engraved with sacred seals, and his enlarged right arm functions as a cannon barrel.
Comment from Yuichi Nakamura
Hello, I’m Yuichi Nakamura, the voice of Rhyno.
Previously in the promotional video for the light novel, I voiced Xylo, so being able to voice Rhyno this time has allowed me to have twice the fun! (LOL)
Azakami-kun fits perfectly as Xylo, so I aim to be able to fully express Rhyno as a character. I hope that you’ll look forward to seeing how he will be involved in this drama! Please wait for it!
Frenci Mastibolt（VA. Saori Onishi）
Affiliation: Night-Gaunt
The young lady of the House of Mastibolt, leader of the clan known as the Southern Night-Gaunts. Xylo’s ex-fiancée; their engagement was annulled when he was sentenced to be a Penal Hero, but she refuses to acknowledge the annulment. Mostly expressionless, she has a scathing way of speaking.
Comment from Saori Onishi
Hello, I’m Saori Onishi and I voice Frenci Mastibolt.
Frenci is part of the Night-Gaunt clan, and Xylo’s… ex-fiancée.
It’s like having a bento box filled only with deep-fried chicken – all the characters are wonderful, richly flavoured “Penal Heroes”! But rest assured, Frenci is no slouch either.
She just simply and calmly unleashes her sharp tongue – it’s the Night-Gaunts’ custom after all (having a sharp tongue, that is…).
I think she’s a character that will resonate with some people, but regardless of that, she’s a cool woman who acts solely out of devotion to Xylo. Please look forward to her appearance and how she will be involved in the story!
The “location visual” depicting the area featured in the anime has also been released. The first installment of the <Couveunge Forest Arc>, is drawn according to the punishment imposed, portrays the scene of Xylo, Dotta and Teoritta illuminated by the sunset in the forest where The Demon Blight lurks, creating a visual that hints at the beginning of the story. It will be available for viewing throughout the broadcast period, so please look forward to it.
Introduction
The “Sentenced to Be a Hero” novel series by Rocket Shokai is a dark fantasy where Heroes—criminals sentenced to heroism service in a penal military unit—must wage war against a demon king’s army.
The series began in October 2020 on the self-publishing site kakuyomu.jp, and by September 2021 it had received an official release with illustrations by MEPHISTO under Kadokawa’s Dengeki no Shin Bungei imprint.
After winning a string of accolades, including first place in the User Recommendations category in the 2020 Kakuyomu Awards and second place overall in the Tsugirano Awards for up-and-coming light novel series, “Sentenced to Be a Hero” is soon to become an anime!
The curtain is about to rise on these compulsory Heroes’ fierce battle against despair…
Story
“Hero” is the worst punishment in the world.
For those convicted of heinous crimes, they are sentenced to become a “Hero” and forced to enter the mandatory military service in the war against the Demon Lords.
These convicts are not even allowed to die—if killed, they will be resurrected to fight another day.
Hero Xylo Forbartz, former head of the Order of the Holy Knights, leads a penal unit of deplorables fighting on the front lines. It’s in these direst of circumstances that he meets Teoritta, one of the world’s the strongest weapons.”When every last enemy has been defeated, you are to shower me with praise and pat my head.”In order to survive and to take revenge on those who wronged him, he makes a pact with the goddess and launches headfirst into a maelstrom of war and intrigue.
Cast
Xylo Forbartz: Yohei Azakami
Teoritta: Mayu Iizuka
Patausche Kivia: Shizuka Ishigami
Dotta Luzulas: Shun Horie
Venetim Leopool: Shunichi Toki
Norgalle Senridge: Yoji Ueda
Tatsuya: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
Tsav: Jun Fukushima
Jayce Partiract: Shoya Chiba
Neely: Yoko Hikasa
Rhyno: Yuichi Nakamura
Frenci Mastibolt: Saori Onishi
Staff
Original Author: Rocket Shokai(Dengeki no Shin Bungei/KADOKAWA)
Original Illustration: MEPHISTO
Director: Hiroyuki Takashima
Series Composition/ Story Editor: Kenta Ihara
Assistant Director / Creature Design: Yoshiki Nakakoji
Character Design: Takeru Noda
World Concept: Nobutaka Ike
Prop Design: Kota Sugawa
Effect Design: Fumiaki Kota
Main Animator: Kota Sugawa, Koki Shikiji, Hayato Kurosaki, Wataru Hirabayashi, Ryoken Toida
Art Director: Yusuke Watanabe
Color Director: Hiroko Umezaki
Director of Photography: Yoshihiro Sekiya
3DCG: ENGI
2D Graphic: Marina Tosaka (GA-CREW)
Editing: Rina Oguchi
Sound Director: Yuichi Morita
Sound Production: Bit grooove promotion Inc.
Music: Shunsuke Takizawa (TRYTONELABO)
Animation Producer: Masashi Masuo
Animation Production: Studio KAI
Production: Project Sentenced to Be a Hero
Official Website: https://yushakei-pj.com/
X: https://x.com/yushakei_PJ
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