On Wednesday, Kadokawa released the second English-subtitled promotional video and a new visual for the upcoming television anime based on Satori Tanabata's story and illustrated by Tea's, "Villainess Level 99" (Akuyaku Reijō Level 99: Watashi wa Ura Boss Desu ga Maō dewa Arimasen). The video not only showcases the anime's musical themes but also provides a sneak peek at the opening theme. Additionally, more details about the cast and staff were revealed, along with the scheduled release date on January 9.
Mayu Maeshima will perform the opening theme titled "LOVE or HATE?". On the other hand, characters Eleonora Hillrose and Yumiella Dolkness, voiced by Rina Hidaka and Fairouz Ai, respectively, will join forces for the ending theme called "Suki ga Rebechi" (Love on a Different Level).
In addition to her involvement in the ending theme, Hidaka also joins the cast by voicing the character Eleonora Hillrose, who makes her appearance towards the end of the video.
Recent additions to the announced staff include:
- Prop Design: Shiori Shirazaki
- Art Director: Kazuhiro Arai
- Key Color Artist: Hitomi Fujii
- Editing: Emi Onodera
- Sound Director: Jin Aketagawa
- Sound Effects: Toshiya Wada (Swara Pro)
The anime will debut on Tokyo MX on January 9 at 24:30 (effectively January 10 at 12:30 a.m. JST or January 9 at 10:30 a.m. EST). It will also be available on MBS, BS11, and AT-X.
The main cast of the anime includes:
- Fairouz Ai as Yumiella Dolkness
- Yuma Uchida as Patrick Ashbatten
- Azumi Waki as Alicia Ehnleit
- Taku Yashiro as Edwin Valschein
- Haruki Ishiya as William Ares
- Kohei Amasaki as Oswald Grimsarde
Minoru Yamaoka (known for Wakako-zake, Zo Zo Zombie, Zo Zo Zo Zombie-kun) directs the anime. Fumihiko Shimo (known for Date A Live IV, Date A Live V, Full Metal Panic!) supervises the series scripts, while Hitomi Kaiho (key animator for Fairy Tail, Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic) and Lo Ho Kim (chief animation director of Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer) handle character designs for animation. Kana Utatane (Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill, Nights with a Cat) is in charge of the musical composition.
J-Novel Club publishes the novels in English and provides the following synopsis:
Yumiella Dolkness is a typical villainess in an otome role-playing game, except she's also secretly the dominant hidden boss. But Yumiella wasn't always Yumiella, you see? In her past life, she was just a shy college student and a devoted gamer. So, upon realizing she's been reincarnated as the hidden boss, she decides to stay away from the protagonists and avoid her demise at their hands. All she wants is a quiet and pleasant life. Too bad that when her gamer instincts kick in, Yumiella can't simply ignore her incredible stats… A girl has to strive! So, with plenty of free time before starting her life at the academy, she lets loose a bit and reaches her maximum level at 99. And when everyone else finds out, they have the wrong idea about her power: now they think she's the Demon Lord! Will this OP villainess be strong enough to reclaim the peaceful life she always desired?
The sixth volume of the novel series will be released on January 10, and Nokomi launched a manga adaptation in 2020, currently comprising three volumes.
