Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden Anime Sets October 6 Debut, Adds Cast
The advance screening of three episodes on September 22 gives the production a full two weeks of early audience feedback before the October 6 broadcast, an unusually long preview window that suggests the studio is testing the series' reception ahead of its television run.
Key Facts
- Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden anime premieres October 6 at 9:25 p.m. JST on Tokyo MX, then on BS NTV and MBS.
- Fūka Izumi, Rina Honnizumi, and Rina Hidaka join the cast as Rinokis Funk, Hildetora Altoir, and Reliared Silver respectively.
- The anime holds an advance screening of its first three episodes on September 22 at esports TOKYO BAY studio.
- Motoki Nakanishi directs the anime at KONAMI animation, with Honoka Inoue starring as Nia Liston.
- The light novel series has 11 volumes, with the latest released on June 1.
Reporting from 2 sources: Anime News Network, Anime Corner.
The television anime adaptation of Umikaze Minamino's Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden light novel series will premiere on October 6 at 9:25 p.m. JST on Tokyo MX, followed by broadcasts on BS NTV and MBS. The announcement came with the first promotional video, a key visual, and three new cast members. Fūka Izumi joins as Rinokis Funk, Rina Honnizumi as Hildetora Altoir, and Rina Hidaka as Reliared Silver. Honoka Inoue stars as the titular Nia Liston. Motoki Nakanishi directs at KONAMI animation, with Haruta Segi as assistant director. Gigaemon Ichikawa handles series scripts, Yūki Itō and Kana Tosaoka design the characters, Naoki Endō composes the music, and Hiromi Kikuta directs the sound. The anime will hold an advance screening of its first three episodes on September 22 at esports TOKYO BAY studio. The light novel series launched on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website in 2019 and ended there in 2021, with Hobby Japan publishing the novels from September 2022. The 11th volume was released on June 1.
The additional staff includes color designer Ryōta Katsuta and Maki Yamamoto, art setting by Barnstorm Design Labo, art director Hiroshi Gōroku, background art by Makaria, compositing director of photography Takashi Ōde, and editor Masayuki Kurosawa.
Director Motoki Nakanishi previously worked on Love Is Indivisible by Twins and Summoned to Another World for a Second Time. Series composer Gigaemon Ichikawa has credits on Himitsu no AiPri and three seasons of PuniRunes. Character designer Yūki Itō was a key animator on the Mob Psycho 100 II OAV, and Kana Tosaoka worked as an in-between animator on the Kantai Collection film. Composer Naoki Endō worked on Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club, and sound director Hiromi Kikuta has credits on Aikatsu!, Blue Period, and Haikyu!!.
The light novel originally ran on Shōsetsuka ni Narō from May 2019 to January 2021. Katana Canata began drawing the novels' illustrations from the third volume in 2023, and the anime credits both Jishaku and Katana Canata for original character designs. Kabuto Kodai launched a manga adaptation on Square Enix's Manga UP! service in 2022, with the eighth compiled volume released on February 6. J-Novel Club publishes the novels digitally in English.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.