{"rewrite":{"id":"r_3ccbebfa15fb7cfaa45bd7de","clusterId":"c_73b4a17013de06d6822d6216","slug":"nia-liston-the-merciless-maiden-anime-sets-october-6-debut-adds-cast","model":"deepseek-v4-flash:free","headline":"Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden Anime Sets October 6 Debut, Adds Cast","summary":"The television anime adaptation of Umikaze Minamino's Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden light novel series will premiere on October 6 at 9:25 p.m. JST on Tokyo MX, followed by broadcasts on BS NTV and MBS. The announcement came with the first promotional video, a key visual, and three new cast members. Fūka Izumi joins as Rinokis Funk, Rina Honnizumi as Hildetora Altoir, and Rina Hidaka as Reliared Silver. Honoka Inoue stars as the titular Nia Liston. Motoki Nakanishi directs at KONAMI animation, with Haruta Segi as assistant director. Gigaemon Ichikawa handles series scripts, Yūki Itō and Kana Tosaoka design the characters, Naoki Endō composes the music, and Hiromi Kikuta directs the sound. The anime will hold an advance screening of its first three episodes on September 22 at esports TOKYO BAY studio. The light novel series launched on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website in 2019 and ended there in 2021, with Hobby Japan publishing the novels from September 2022. The 11th volume was released on June 1.","whyItMatters":"The advance screening of three episodes on September 22 gives the production a full two weeks of early audience feedback before the October 6 broadcast, an unusually long preview window that suggests the studio is testing the series' reception ahead of its television run.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eThe additional staff includes color designer Ryōta Katsuta and Maki Yamamoto, art setting by Barnstorm Design Labo, art director Hiroshi Gōroku, background art by Makaria, compositing director of photography Takashi Ōde, and editor Masayuki Kurosawa.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDirector Motoki Nakanishi previously worked on \u003cem\u003eLove Is Indivisible by Twins\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSummoned to Another World for a Second Time\u003c/em\u003e. Series composer Gigaemon Ichikawa has credits on \u003cem\u003eHimitsu no AiPri\u003c/em\u003e and three seasons of \u003cem\u003ePuniRunes\u003c/em\u003e. Character designer Yūki Itō was a key animator on the \u003cem\u003eMob Psycho 100 II\u003c/em\u003e OAV, and Kana Tosaoka worked as an in-between animator on the \u003cem\u003eKantai Collection\u003c/em\u003e film. Composer Naoki Endō worked on \u003cem\u003eLove Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club\u003c/em\u003e, and sound director Hiromi Kikuta has credits on \u003cem\u003eAikatsu!\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eBlue Period\u003c/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eHaikyu!!\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe light novel originally ran on Shōsetsuka ni Narō from May 2019 to January 2021. Katana Canata began drawing the novels\u0026#39; illustrations from the third volume in 2023, and the anime credits both Jishaku and Katana Canata for original character designs. Kabuto Kodai launched a manga adaptation on Square Enix\u0026#39;s Manga UP! service in 2022, with the eighth compiled volume released on February 6. J-Novel Club publishes the novels digitally in English.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden's October 6 premiere is set, but the advance screening of the first three episodes on September 22 is the real marker for fan anticipation.","twitterPost":"Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden's September 22 advance screening of the first three episodes builds anticipation before its October 6 debut.","threadsPost":"Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden's October 6 premiere is confirmed, but the advance screening of the first three episodes on September 22 gives fans a chance to judge the adaptation before it airs.","newsletterBlurb":"The Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden anime has locked in an October 6 premiere, with a trailer, key visual, and three new cast members revealed. Honoka Inoue leads the cast as the reincarnated hero, and the first three episodes will screen early on September 22.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Anime News Network\",\"url\":\"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-07-28/nia-liston-the-merciless-maiden-anime-1st-trailer-reveals-more-cast-staff-members-october-6-debut/.240046\",\"title\":\"Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden Anime's 1st Trailer Reveals More Cast, Staff Members, October 6 Debut\"},{\"source\":\"Anime Corner\",\"url\":\"https://animecorner.me/nia-liston-the-merciless-maiden-anime-reveals-key-visual-trailer/\",\"title\":\"Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden Anime Reveals Key Visual, Trailer\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":10600,"outputTokens":1641,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1785841047,"createdAt":"2026-08-04T10:37:49.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-08-04T10:42:23.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-04T10:37:49.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_73b4a17013de06d6822d6216","canonicalTitle":"Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden Anime Reveals Key Visual, Trailer","representativeArticleId":"a_e6326e79c95f3714f0d4ff70","sourceCount":2,"writtenSourceCount":2,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[\"Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden\"],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[\"Fūka Izumi\",\"Rina Honnizumi\",\"Rina Hidaka\"],\"type\":\"announcement\",\"domain\":\"anime\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-07-28T11:55:46.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-07-28T13:57:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-04T10:42:23.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Anime News Network","url":"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-07-28/nia-liston-the-merciless-maiden-anime-1st-trailer-reveals-more-cast-staff-members-october-6-debut/.240046","title":"News\nNia Liston: The Merciless Maiden Anime's 1st Trailer Reveals More Cast, Staff Members, October 6 Debut"},{"source":"Anime Corner","url":"https://animecorner.me/nia-liston-the-merciless-maiden-anime-reveals-key-visual-trailer/","title":"Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden Anime Reveals Key Visual, Trailer"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":["Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden"],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":[],"studios":[],"people":["Fūka Izumi","Rina Honnizumi","Rina Hidaka"],"type":"announcement","domain":"anime","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Nia Liston: The Merciless Maiden anime premieres October 6 at 9:25 p.m. JST on Tokyo MX, then on BS NTV and MBS.","Fūka Izumi, Rina Honnizumi, and Rina Hidaka join the cast as Rinokis Funk, Hildetora Altoir, and Reliared Silver respectively.","The anime holds an advance screening of its first three episodes on September 22 at esports TOKYO BAY studio.","Motoki Nakanishi directs the anime at KONAMI animation, with Honoka Inoue starring as Nia Liston.","The light novel series has 11 volumes, with the latest released on June 1."]}