Originally revealed in a joint announcement via the official Twitter accounts of Hobby Japan‘s HJ Novels imprint and Comic Fire on March 31, 2023, the animated adaptation of Kishima Kiraku’s light novel series Shinmai Ossan Boukensha, Saikyou Party ni Shinu Hodo Kitaerarete Muteki ni Naru (“The Rookie Middle-Aged Adventurer Was Trained to Death by the Most Powerful Party to Become Invincible”) has now been confirmed for premiere in early 2024. The series is produced by Yumeta Company (Ginga e Kickoff!!, Akkun to Kanojo, Muv-Luv Alternative) and directed by Kitagai Shin (Akkun to Kanojo, CUE!). Satou Takuya (Caesar from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Albert from Moriarty the Patriot, and Sabnock from Iruma-kun) voices the protagonist.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vd5pSmxl5g]
Kishima originally published the series on Shousetsuka ni Narou, before moving to Kakuyomu on June 1, 2018. It was later acquired by Hobby Japan, who published it with illustrations by Tea under their HJ Novels imprint on December 22, 2018. As of June 2023, twelve volumes have been released. A manga adaptation illustrated by Ogino Ken (Lady Justice) was also published by Hobby Japan on their Comic Fire website starting on November 22, 2019. It has reached seven tankoubon volumes as of April 2023.
In this world, 20 is considered the ideal age to get into the adventuring business and start working your way up the ranks. In that regard, 32-year-old Rick Gladiator, with no experience under his belt except 14 years behind a guild’s reception desk, is way behind the curve. But as the saying goes, “the second best time to plant a tree is now”, and after 2 years of hellish training with the Orichalcum Fist, the strongest party of adventurers on the continent, he is ready to take on the adventurer exam gauntlet… and as it turns out, the biggest problem for him will be holding back. The career path of the world’s strongest late bloomer begins!
