Nao Iwamoto's beloved fantasy romance manga Marronier Ōkoku no Shichinin no Kishi (The Seven Knights of the Marronnier Kingdom) is officially receiving a television anime adaptation, set to premiere in October 2026 on NHK Educational TV. The announcement was made on June 1, 2026, alongside key staff details and a teaser visual.
Key Announcement Details
The anime will be produced by J.C. Staff (To Your Eternity, Food Wars!, A Certain Scientific Railgun), with a talented creative team at the helm.
- Studio: J.C. Staff
- Director: Kiyoko Sayama (Skip Beat!, Vampire Knight, To Your Eternity Seasons 2-3)
- Series Composition: Shinzō Fujita (To Your Eternity Seasons 1-3, The World Is Still Beautiful)
- Character Design: Yuriko Maeda (Requiem of the Rose King, One Punch Man Season 2)
- Music: Yoshiaki Fujisawa (Apocalypse Hotel, Land of the Lustrous, Love Live!)
- Sound Director: Jin Aketagawa (Dr. Stone, Fire Force)
- Network: NHK Educational TV
No cast members have been announced yet, though a teaser video (without animation) has been released on the anime's official website.
About the Manga
Written and illustrated by Nao Iwamoto, the manga has been serialized in Shogakukan's Flowers magazine since September 2016, with 10 compiled volumes released to date. An 11th volume is scheduled for June 10, 2026. The series is published in English by Seven Seas Entertainment under the same title.
The story follows seven brothers who serve as knights of the Marronnier Kingdom, a small but strategically located nation at the center of eight surrounding kingdoms. Each brother is dispatched to a different kingdom as an ambassador, embarking on adventures to find their fated partner. The brothers are named: Nemukunai (Not Sleepy), Hakuai (Benevolent), Atsugariya (Sensitive to Heat), Samugariya (Sensitive to Cold), Kemono Tsukai (Beast Tamer), Tsurugi Jiman (Sword Pride), and Harapeko (Hungry).
The manga topped the 2018 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! guidebook list of best manga for female readers, cementing its reputation as a standout work in the josei demographic.
Iwamoto's Previous Work
This is not Iwamoto's first brush with anime adaptation — her previous work Ōgon no Kuni Mizu no Kuni (Kingdom of Gold, Kingdom of Water) was adapted into the feature film Gold Kingdom and Water Kingdom in January 2023, released internationally by Seven Seas Entertainment.
Community Reception
The announcement has been met with enthusiasm from fans of the manga, who have long hoped for an anime adaptation. The series' blend of fantasy adventure and romance, combined with its unique premise of seven distinct brothers each pursuing their own journey, has been praised for its character-driven storytelling. Fans have particularly noted the strong josei representation in a medium often dominated by shonen and seinen adaptations. The involvement of director Kiyoko Sayama, known for her work on beloved shoujo and josei adaptations, has been cited as an encouraging sign for a faithful adaptation.
What This Means
October 2026 is shaping up to be a competitive season for anime, and The Seven Knights of the Marronnier Kingdom stands out as a unique offering — a fantasy romance with a strong female readership base. With J.C. Staff's extensive experience in the fantasy genre and a production team with deep roots in literary adaptations, the series has strong potential to appeal beyond its existing manga readership. The NHK broadcast slot also suggests a broad, mainstream-targeted approach rather than a late-night niche.