That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Panel at Anime Expo 2026 Official Report

© Taiki Kawakami, Fuse, KODANSHA/“Ten-Sura” Project

Anime Expo 2026, one of the largest anime conventions in North America, took place from July 2 to July 5. On July 4, the third day of the convention, a special panel for That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 was held.

With Miho Okasaki, the voice of Rimuru, Megumi Toyoguchi, the voice of Raphael, and Shinichiro Narita, a producer from Bandai Namco Filmworks, making a guest appearance, the approximately 2,000-seat venue was filled. This report covers the panel event, which was met with great enthusiasm from North American fans.

At the start of the panel, the guests shared their impressions of Los Angeles.

Smiling as she addressed the audience, Okasaki remarked, “I rarely have opportunities to be surrounded by so many people overseas, so I’m having a wonderful time.” Toyoguchi added, “It makes me very happy to see how widely Japanese anime is loved around the world.” Shinichiro, who noted that it was his second time attending Anime Expo, commented, “While I’ve attended Anime Expo before, this is my first time here specifically for Slime. Seeing this 2,000-seat room filled all the way to the back is truly gratifying.” Looking over the packed venue, he expressed his delight at the enthusiastic turnout.

Okasaki reflected on the autograph session held earlier that day, saying, “It makes me happy that opportunities like these allow us to build more and more connections.” Toyoguchi echoed the sentiment with a smile. “I was able to experience everyone’s love for Slime firsthand. I’d like to take this enthusiasm back to Japan and share it with the rest of the cast.”

The panel then continued with a screening of the first trailer for Season 4, which was met with loud cheers and applause from the audience. The excitement in the venue continued as key visuals from the previous series were displayed on screen, as the MC introduced the highlights of Season 4.

The first segment centered around the appeal of Slime itself.

Okasaki explained, “The premise of a slime as the protagonist is certainly eye-catching, but the story itself is pretty serious. I think one of the series’ greatest strengths is how it balances approachability with a deep story.” Emphasizing what makes Slime so special, Toyoguchi commented, “The greatest charm of the series is the character Rimuru. Even when the story takes a serious turn, Rimuru keeps it from becoming too heavy. There’s a unique appeal that comes from having Rimuru at the very center of the story.”

When asked about the popularity of the series, Okasaki remarked, “Only a limited number of anime titles have opportunities to participate in overseas events, so seeing a 2,000-seat venue completely filled really makes me realize just how popular the series is. I’m also very happy that the show is enjoyed by such a wide range of viewers in Japan, regardless of age or gender.” Toyoguchi shared a similar perspective, adding, “I often hear from friends that their children watch the series, which has made me realize just how popular it is. Since Season 4, I’ve also had more opportunities to appear at events, and it has once again reminded me of how far the series has reached and how much it continues to grow.”

The conversation then moved on to memorable scenes from the series.

Toyoguchi selected the scene in which Maribel declares herself to Granville as “Maribel of Greed.”

Reflecting on the moment, she commented, “If you view Rimuru and his allies as an embodiment of justice, then the Rosso family may appear to be the villains. However, from their perspective, the situation looks very different. This is a theme captured in the series tagline, ‘Justice (Ideals) and Justice (Desires) Can Never Coexist.’ Knowing what lies ahead in the story gives Granville’s words even greater meaning.”

Okasaki also highlighted the scene, saying, “The atmosphere was somewhat dark and foreboding, but at the same time, Inori Minase’s charming performance as Maribel brought a unique contrast to the scene. It also carefully portrays how the enemy has their own motivations and circumstances. I hope fans will continue to follow Granville and his companions’ story as well.”

Okasaki then selected the scene in which Gaia is given a name. Explaining her choice, she said, “Milim’s tragic past has been explored throughout the series. Even so, Rimuru is someone who naturally stays by her side and supports her. It’s one of my favorite episodes because it reminds me that everything will be alright as long as Rimuru is there.”

Toyoguchi added, “Milim and the dragon’s story had been depicted before, but because this is such a long-running series, we were able to revisit and explore it in greater depth.” Narita agreed, smiling as he recalled the scene. “It’s one of my favorite moments as well. You can truly feel Rimuru’s heartfelt kindness and Milim’s genuine gratitude.”

The discussion also touched on the scale of Season 4, which will be produced over five split cours.

Okasaki explained, “Season 4 is where the story really begins to move on a larger scale. To tell that story properly, we needed the time that five cours provide. Some viewers may have felt that Season 3 featured a lot of meeting scenes, but I believe all that was groundwork leading into Season 4. There are many highlights beyond the battle against Maribel!”

Toyoguchi added, “Season 4 delves deeply not only into Rimuru, but also into many of the opposing characters. There were some recording sessions with relatively small casts, but that allowed us to focus more closely on each individual character.”

Midway through the event, Okasaki and Toyoguchi treated fans to a live reading performance.

Scenes included Rimuru’s moment of regret after losing his temper during the council in Episode 78 (Season 4, Episode 6), as well as the memorable scene of Rimuru reflecting on Raphael in Episode 83 (Season 4, Episode 11). The audience listened attentively without making a sound, erupting into applause and cheers after each performance.

Looking back on the recording, Okasaki joked, “Rimuru isn’t exactly a hand-to-hand combat type, so seeing him launch a kick made it feel like he had reached a new level,” drawing laughter from the crowd.

The latest Season 4 trailer was then screened, followed by the world premiere of previously unseen footage from Episode 86 (Season 4, Episode 14), featuring a confrontation between Diablo and Carrera. The room once again erupted with excitement.

Okasaki laughed, commenting, “Diablo sometimes really goes overboard. But he was already very memorable in the latest ‘movie,’ and I hope everyone looks forward to seeing even more of him in the future.”

Toyoguchi added, “The audience’s reaction has been absolutely wonderful. It makes me want to do a screening event someday. The story also connects directly to what happens after the ending of the movie, Tears of the Azure Sea, so I think viewers will enjoy the second cour even more if they watch the film first.”

As the panel drew to a close, Narita delivered a message to fans. “Following the movie Tears of the Azure Sea, Season 4 will continue to air over five cours, allowing us to take on a challenge that few other titles can attempt. Our creators, the team at animation studio Eight Bit, the cast, and everyone involved are giving it their all. We hope you will continue to support the series.”

Toyoguchi added, “We haven’t even finished recording all the way through the fifth cour yet. We’ll use everyone’s enthusiasm for the series as motivation and continue doing our best.”

Okasaki concluded, “I’m truly happy to have had the opportunity to talk about Slime with so many of you here in Los Angeles. There are many exciting stories still to come, so please stay with us until the very end.”

Surrounded by the energy and smiles of nearly 2,000 fans, the That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime panel proved to be a passionate celebration of a series beloved around the world, once again demonstrating the title’s global popularity.

💧Anime Expo 2026💧
All That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime activities at Anime Expo 2026 has ended!
Thank you all so much for the incredible support! We hope to see you again in the US!#Slime #転スラ #Tensura #AnimeExpo2026 #AX2026 #AnimeExpo pic.twitter.com/vF3rjpHIKh

— Bandai Namco Filmworks English (@bnfw_en) July 6, 2026