During the stage at Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair 2025 today, the upcoming action fantasy TV anime Sentenced to Be a Hero revealed a second main trailer. Sentenced to Be a Hero Main Trailer 2 Additionally, two new characters and their voice actors were announced. Shoya Chiba (Kiyotaka Ayanokoji in Classroom of Elite ) voices Jayce Partiract, a Dragon Knight who ride dragons, soaring through the skies as the aerial force of the unit. He is also skilled in spearmanship. Not only can he communicates with dragons, but he possess an unusually beloved constitution. He himself is only interested in dragons, and are unfriendly toward humans. Comment from Shoya Chiba: I'm playing the role of Jayce, the Dragon Knight. I'm performing him with a rough tone that feels refreshingly crisp. Keeping his background in mind, I'm pouring my heart into every single line. I was already familiar with the work, but when I read the original novel during the audition, I was utterly stunned by the vividness of its story development. I'm excited for everyone to experience that same vivid impact through the anime. While everyone has their own view of what makes a "hero," I'm thrilled that this work has the potential to be enjoyed by people all over the world. For that very reason, I strongly hope Neely will be portrayed as noble, beautiful, and adorable. Please look forward to it. Jayce Partiract Shoya Chiba Meanwhile, Yoko Hikasa (Mio Akiyama in K-ON! ) voices Neely, a female dragon who races across battlefields alongside Jayce. She possesses vivid blue scales and unleashes powerful flames from her mouth. Jayce is so loved by other dragons that she sometimes sulks out of jealousy. According to Jayce, her allure lies in her mysterious eyes and strong-willed nature. Comment from Yoko Hikasa: Neely's appearance is a dragon, but when she talks to Jayce, you feel as if she were human. Like a mother, a sister, and a friend all at once. I'll work hard alongside Jayce that you can feel that there exists trust and affection that transcends race in our voice expression ! Neely Yoko Hikasa RELATED: Sentenced to Be a Hero Anime Fights to the Death in New Key Visual The TV anime adaptation of the S entenced to Be a Hero light novel series created by Rocket Shokai (story) and Mephisto (illustrations) is set to premiere in Japan in January 2026. Hiroyuki Takashima ( Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation animation director) directs the anime at Studio KAI, with series composition by Kenta Ihara ( Saga of Tanya the Evil ), character designs by Takeru Noda and music by Shunsuke Takizawa ( Kemono Michi: Rise Up ). Yoshitake Nakakoji serves as assistant director and creature designer, Nobutaka Ike serves as world designer and Kota Sugawa serves as prop designer. Yen Press publishes an official English version of the original light novels and describes the story: Heroism—a punishment for only the worst criminals. Those sentenced to the fate of a hero are forced to fight on the front lines against deadly centers of contagion that rot the land and turn its creatures into roving armies of violent beasts. And if a hero dies, their only reward is being brought back to life so they can continue the never-ending battle. But when Xylo Forbartz, a member of Penal Hero Unit 9004 and a convicted goddess killer, comes face-to-face with a new goddess, the pact they forge might just be enough to change the world… Source : "Sentenced to Be a Hero" anime official website 1 , 2 , Press Release
