Chiaki Kobayashi is attached to three announced television anime projects. He plays Unran in the January 2027 arc of Though I Am an Inept Villainess, Hakura in the Heir to a Monstermancer adaptation, and an unnamed role in The Salty Koharu Has a Soft Spot for Me, which premieres in October 2026.
Chiaki Kobayashi's three most recent credits are all television anime roles announced within a three-month stretch in 2026. The earliest of the three, The Salty Koharu Has a Soft Spot for Me, was announced on June 27, 2026, with an October 2026 premiere and a promotional video and key visual. Kobayashi is one of six newly revealed cast members, alongside Miyu Tomita. Fumihiro Yoshimura directs at Tezuka Productions.
The following week, Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures announced that Heir to a Monstermancer, the novel series by Damu Amato and Shirabii, is getting a television adaptation. Kobayashi voices Hakura, and he reprises the role from the voice drama released with the first novel volume in 2024. Manaka Iwami and Akio Ōtsuka also reprise their voice drama roles. Chihiro Kumano directs at Project No.9.
The most recent announcement, on September 20, 2026, places Kobayashi in the second cours of Though I Am an Inept Villainess, titled The First Royal Outing arc, which premieres in January 2027. He voices Unran, the young leader of a village in the southern territories, joining Yuichi Nakamura and Shunichi Toki as new cast members. The arc starts from a second body swap and continues the staff from the first cours, which premiered on July 12.
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4d ago
Toho announced on Sunday that the second cours of the Though I Am an Inept Villainess anime will premiere in January 2027 under the title The First Royal Outing arc. Three cast members join the new arc: Yuichi Nakamura as Kou Keikou, Reirin's eldest brother; Shunichi Toki as Kou Keishou, her second-eldest brother; and Chiaki Kobayashi as Unran, described as the young leader of a village in the southern territories. A key visual and character visuals were released alongside the news. The arc moves the story to early autumn for the Harvest Festival, held in the southern lands ruled by the Shu clan. With no consort as guardian, Keigetsu continues preparations under pressure, while Reirin supports her and looks forward to her first royal outing. An unforeseen accident interrupts the ritual, Keigetsu's spell runs out of control, and the two swap bodies again. After the swap, Reirin is abducted. The staff returns from the first cours, which premiered on July 12.
Jul 3
Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures announced on Friday that Damu Amato and Shirabii's novel series Heir to a Monstermancer is receiving a television anime adaptation. The announcement included a teaser visual and the main cast and staff. Manaka Iwami voices Leen, Chiaki Kobayashi voices Hakura, and Akio Ōtsuka voices Ao; all three reprise their roles from a voice drama released with the first novel volume in 2024. Chihiro Kumano directs at Project No.9, with Satoru Sugizawa handling series scripts and Akane Kasasagi designing the characters. The series won the grand prize in the 2nd Drecom Media Awards. Amato originally posted the story on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website from 2016 to 2024. J-Novel Club publishes the novels in English. A manga adaptation by Yū Satō will launch on Drecom's Drecomi+ manga website in September. Drecom will publish the third novel volume on July 10. A promotional webtoon adaptation was produced by MITA, Gudan, and Red Seven.
Jun 27
The anime adaptation of Kazami Sawatari and Aitiki's light novel series The Salty Koharu Has a Soft Spot for Me will premiere in October 2026. A promotional video and key visual were released, along with six new cast members including Miyu Tomita and Chiaki Kobayashi. The series is directed by Fumihiro Yoshimura at Tezuka Productions.