Fantasy Romance Gets a Fresh Spin: 'Yuusha Party' Unveils Premiere Date and Expanded Cast for Winter 2026

The anime adaptation of Yuusha Party ni Kawaii Ko ga Ita node, Kokuhaku shitemita., also known as There Was a Cute Girl in the Hero's Party, So I Tried Confessing to Her, is scheduled to premiere on January 6, 2026, at 11:00 p.m. JST. The series will be broadcast across several major networks, including Tokyo MX, Hokkaido Broadcasting, RKB Mainichi Broadcasting, and BS11.

This series originates from the popular light novel by author Suisei, featuring illustrations by La-na. It began as a web novel on the Shousetsuka ni Narou platform in 2013 before being published by Futabasha under their Monster Bunko imprint.

The narrative offers a distinct approach to the fantasy genre. It follows Yōki, a man who finds himself reincarnated into a fantasy world as a subordinate to a formidable demon lord. His situation becomes complicated when he develops feelings for Cecilia, a priestess who is part of the opposing hero's party. The story then details Yōki's efforts to express his feelings to her, blending elements of isekai, romantic comedy, and fantasy adventure.

The voice cast for the series includes Kōhei Amasaki as Yōki and Kana Hanazawa as Cecilia. Additional cast members are Ryōhei Kimura as Yūga and Yūko Natsuyoshi as Mikana. Recent announcements have added Toshiki Masuda as Duke and Minami Tanaka as Seek to the ensemble.

Production studio Gekkō is responsible for the animation, with Mine Tomonori serving as director and Yasutaka Yamamoto as chief director. This team aims to deliver a high-quality adaptation of the source material.

For international audiences, Crunchyroll has confirmed plans to stream the series in 2026. Yuusha Party ni Kawaii Ko ga Ita node, Kokuhaku shitemita. is anticipated to be a notable release, providing a blend of romantic comedy within an epic fantasy setting for viewers globally.