He Kept Man Of The Princess Knight Anime: Release Date, Story, Cast, Story & Latest Updates

The Kept Man of the Princess Knight anime official teaser visual featuring Matthew and Arwin — The Kept Man of the Princess Knight Anime

The Kept Man of the Princess Knight (known in Japan as Himekishi-sama no Himo) is set to premiere in January 2027. Kadokawa has unveiled the first teaser promotional video (PV), a main teaser visual, and confirmed the core voice acting cast and production staff.

Manga, Light Novel & Awards

The Kept Man of the Princess Knight ( Himekishi-sama no Himo) is an upcoming anime based popular light novel written by Toru Shirogane. This light novel series has over 200,000 copies in circulation. The series officially began publication on February 10, 2022, under Kadokawa’s Dengeki Bunko imprint. And As of mid-2026, 6 light novel volumes have been published in Japan.

The Kept Man of the Princess Knight (known in Japan as Himekishi-sama no Himo) manga is divided into two parts with different people working on both mangas. The original manga adaptation illustrated by Keyyang began serialization on January 25, 2023, and concluded after three collected volumes. A new sequel manga illustrated by Chihiro Yamazaki started serialization in August 2025, continuing the story from the later events of the light novel. Kadokawa has not officially explained the reason for the change in artists.

Why Two Artist?

The first manga by artist Keyyang was hired to adapt the early parts of the light novel to boost sales. With the TV anime officially in development the publisher wanted a fresh manga running to promote it. So instead of bringing back the Old/Original artist, the publishing company hired a new artist (Chihiro Yamazaki) to start a sequel series that adapts the later Story.

The Kept Man of the Princess Knight Anime Story

The Kept Man of the Princess Knight is a dark, gritty fantasy story that subverts traditional hero tropes. It takes place in a chaotic, crime-ridden city built around a massive, deadly maze known as the Great Dungeon. A noble named Arwin, known as the Crimson Princess Knight, sees her kingdom fall and explores a series of dangerous dungeons to find the legendary treasure that will allow her to rebuild her nation, but Matthew is her live-in boyfriend, widely despised by the public as a lazy, useless “leech” or “gigolo.”

He spends Arwin’s hard-earned gold on alcohol, gambling, and lounging around their home. But the dark twist is that Matthew is not actually a helpless person He is a viciously skilled, retired dark adventurer who operates in the city’s underbelly. While Arwin fights monsters in the light to maintain her public image as a pure hero, Matthew works secretly in the shadows. He uses assassination, torture, and brutal underground tactics to eliminate the corrupt politicians, assassins, and rival guilds trying to exploit or kill Arwin. Their relationship is toxic yet deeply loyal. Matthew acts as the hated villain but Arwin can remain a shining symbol of hope.

Studio & Director

The anime is being animated by Studio BLADE and directed by Chihiro Kumano. BLADE is a growing Japanese animation studio known for its detailed and visually distinct style. Famous Work:

The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses
A Couple of Cuckoos

Chihiro Kumano is a highly versatile director who has handled major romance, fantasy, and slice-of-life titles. Famous Work:

The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten (Directed Season 2 and served as Episode Director for Season 1).
Served as an Episode Director for massive anime hits like Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation and Moriarty the Patriot.

The Kept Man of the Princess Knight Anime Trailer

Streaming 7 Episodes Details

As of June 2026, the exact total episode count and international streaming platforms have not yet been officially confirmed. However, looking at current industry standards and Kadokawa’s release patterns, you can expect Estimated Episode Count12 Episodes Because it is a late-night light novel adaptation, it will most likely air as a single “cour” (one broadcast season) spanning 11 to 13 episodes.

This is standard for modern fantasy adaptations to test the audience’s reception before planning a second season. And expected Streaming Platforms While no exclusive global streaming rights have been signed yet, the show is highly expected to drop on major global anime networks Given that Crunchyroll and Prime Video heavily report on and license Kadokawa’s Dengeki Bunko adaptations, they are the most probable destinations for overseas fans. Official confirmation regarding the streaming platform and exact episode length usually drops 2 to 3 months before the January 2027 premiere.