October Anime Preview: Magical★Explorer, Card Game Return, and More

Three upcoming anime titles are lined up for early October, with production teams and key cast members now filling in the details for fans tracking what’s next across the light-novel, manga, and webtoon-to-anime pipelines. From a reverse-isekai harem premise to a long-running card-game franchise’s latest television run, plus a “light anime” continuation and a second season return, October’s schedule is shaping up fast.

Release dates and where to watch

Magical★Explorer lands its premiere date and theme songs

The staff for Magical★Explorer, the animated adaptation of the light-novel series written by Iris and illustrated by Noboru Kannatsuki, has set the TV anime debut for 3 October. Alongside the announcement came a new promotional video, a fresh visual, and expanded information on the production team and cast.

The opening theme will be performed by ASCA and is titled Remedy, with a preview included in the promo video. ASCA will also sing the ending theme, Double Wings.

The story follows a protagonist who suddenly finds himself inside his favorite harem game, Magical★Explorer—also referred to as “Magiero”—but not as the main hero targeted by the attention of the series’ central 12 heroines plus additional characters from downloadable content. Instead, he wakes up as a support character, and his unexpected magical ability gives him a path to undercut the harem’s designated centerpiece.

Cast and production credits for Magical★Explorer

The revealed cast includes Nobunaga Shimazaki as Kōsuke Takioto, Ai Kakuma as Ludie, Saori Ōnishi as Yukine Mizumori, M.A.O as Nanami, Mai Fuchigami as Marino Hanamura, Minami Tsuda as Hatsumi Hanamura, Risa Tsumugi as Claris, Asaki Yuikawa as Iori Hijiri, and Hikaru Tōno as Rina Katō.

On the staff side, Kazuki Ohashi directs the anime at WHITE FOX. Satoko Sekine handles series composition, while Ryosuke Kimiya is credited with character design and Kenichiro Suehiro composes the music. Additional team roles announced include Yaeko Watanabe and Yūkei Yamada for art backgrounds, Naoto Hosoda for monster design, Yūki Yokoyama for art direction, Eriko Murata for color design, and Shinya Kuwabara for photography direction. CG animation direction is credited to Haruka Sakaguchi, with special effects handled by Keiko Ōnishi. Masahiro Gotō is listed for editing, Jin Aketagawa for sound direction, and Toshiya Wada for sound effects. Gaku Iwasa appears as executive producer, and Shin’ichirō Katō is credited with animation production.

Battle Spirits [Re] Zekkai no Kū sets an October 6 TV premiere

Battle Spirits [Re] Zekkai no Kū, the newest TV anime entry in Bandai Namco’s multimedia Battle Spirits franchise, is scheduled to debut on 6 October. The announcement package included a new promotional video, a visual, and cast details.

The promo also previews the opening theme, Here we are!, performed by JAM Project. The ending theme will be Pulse, handled by Himegoto.

Two newly confirmed main characters anchor the cast: Taichi Kusano voices Kū Bashin, described as a cheerful, sincere fan of Battle Spirits who wants to keep getting stronger, while Daiki Hamano plays Zetsu Ajara, a cold and hard-to-approach rōnin feared as an assassin-like master among the Eternal Battler.

Battle Spirits cast and key staff

The revealed cast list also includes Hiro Shimono as Ibuki Mizuha, Mariya Ise as Yui Kusumoto, Yasuhiro Mamiya as Suiboku Bashin, Nana Mizuki as Mine Kusumoto, Megu Umezawa as Shie Anpachi, Akira Ishida as Jinzan Takasugi, Daisuke Ono as Ryōga Sakamoto, Jun Fukuyama as Kakeru Magi, Shizuka Miyano as Shizu, Miyuki Satō as Fukumaru, and Jun’ichi Suwabe as the narrator voice.

Masashi Kudo directs the anime at Bandai Namco Pictures, and is also credited with original character design. Toshizo Nemoto is assigned series composition. Bandai Namco Pictures is also listed for planning and production.

The franchise traces back to 2008, originating with a collectible card game. Since then, multiple video games, manga, and animated series have been produced, with the first anime arriving around the same time as the game. That initial run was Battle Spirits: Shōnen Toppa Version (50 episodes), followed by Battle Spirits – Dan the Red Warrior, which aired on TV networks including RAI, along with additional later adaptations.

More October anime: Magic Repo Man, Broken Saintess, and a new villain setup

TV Asahi revealed another visual and an additional cast member for Magic Repo Man: Dumped by My Party, I’ll Cash In With a Cute Support Fairy to Become the Strongest! The TV anime is set to premiere on 4 October. The series adapts the manga by Masakichi and Shingō Iijima.

The story premise is centered on Lent, who has a rare ability: he can lend his magic points to others. His group of “Skypiercers” becomes legendary, until his companions decide he’s unnecessary once they’re strong enough to move on. Betrayed, Lent learns his gift contains a hidden power that lets him reclaim the magic he lent out—collecting it back with interest. With a cute yet cunning fairy at his side, he sets out to take revenge and become the strongest.

Risae Matsuda joins the cast as Linka, an adventurer who possesses the unique ability called Asura Realm.

Meanwhile, the official site for the second season of With Vengeance, Sincerely, Your Broken Saintess (Kizu Darake Seijo Yori Hōfuku wo Komete) released a new promotional video. The season is scheduled for 1 October. The anime is described as a “light anime” based on a webtoon by Hada Amino and Sorajima Studio.

For this season, Saya Fukase directs the series at IMAGICA Infos and Imageworks Studio, taking over from Chisaki, who directed the first season. Returning staff include Yūichi Imaizumi for sound direction, Hiroki Nozaki and Airi Kobayashi for sound effects, and onoken for music composition.

The first season’s setup centers on Lua, a candidate to become Santa who has healing power—but with a fatal drawback: she can only heal others by transferring their injuries onto her own body. Mocked and labeled the “imperfect saint,” Lua keeps going because her friend Arianne always defends her. When Commander Garrett is attacked and badly injured by a wild animal, Lua heals him at the cost of nearly dying herself—only to learn that Arianne took credit for her actions. Hurt and furious, Lua encounters the second prince in the succession line, who offers her something tempting. The question becomes whether Lua will turn into the story’s antagonist to get her revenge.