The critically acclaimed light novel series The Kept Man of the Princess Knight ( Hime Kishi-sama no Himo), which won the prestigious 28th Dengeki Novel Prize Grand Prize in 2021, is set to receive a television anime adaptation.
Produced by studio Blade and featuring a star-studded voice cast, the series promises to bring the gritty, morally complex world of Dungeon City to life. The announcement, made during the Dengeki Bunko Winter Festival 2025 livestream, has ignited excitement among fans of the original novels and manga, as well as newcomers intrigued by its unconventional protagonist and dark fantasy setting.
A Dark Fantasy Masterpiece: Origins and Accolades
Written by Tōru Shirogane and illustrated by Saki Mashima, The Kept Man of the Princess Knight debuted under ASCII Media Works’ Dengeki Bunko imprint in February 2022. Its immediate success, surpassing 200,000 copies in circulation by 2023 cemented its status as a standout in the light novel landscape.
The series’ victory at the 28th Dengeki Novel Prize highlighted its bold narrative choices, particularly its willingness to subvert genre expectations.
Unlike typical light novels that often sanitize their antiheroes, HimeKishi-sama no Himo leans into the moral ambiguity of its protagonist, Matthew, a man widely reviled as a parasitic gambler but harboring hidden depths.
Yen Press, which licensed the novels and manga for English publication in 2023, describes the story as a,
“Refreshing read that maintains its integrity in a way many LNs don’t bother with”.
This authenticity extends to its worldbuilding: Dungeon City is a lawless hub of crime and desperation, where even the heroic Princess Knight Arwin must navigate a labyrinth of treachery to reclaim her kingdom.
The novels’ unflinching portrayal of human flaws,greed, betrayal, and self-loathing. Resonates with readers tired of idealized protagonists.
Plot Synopsis: A Tale of Deception and Hidden Power
At the heart of The Kept Man of the Princess Knight lies the enigmatic relationship between Arwin Mabel Primrose Mactarode, the Crimson Princess Knight, and Matthew, her seemingly worthless companion.
Publicly, Matthew is dismissed as a leech who squanders Arwin’s earnings on vice. Privately, however, he possesses capabilities unknown even to Arwin herself.
Their quest to retrieve a dungeon treasure capable of restoring Arwin’s fallen kingdom forms the core of the narrative, but the story’s true intrigue lies in Matthew’s gradual unveiling as a strategist willing to commit unspeakable acts for Arwin’s sake.
Fans on Reddit have noted the series’ divisive yet compelling portrayal of Matthew. One reader remarked,
Finished the whole volume and it’s a great read. I love how gritty and dark it is. Matthew’s the right blend of morally ambiguous that I’m actually interested to see how he ends up.
Of course this is going to be a divisive title but I can tell the author has a plan and is sticking to it. It’s a pretty rare title in the world of “light novels” and I’m loving the first volume.
Anyways, it’s really rare to see a LN going with a character like him, even those that usually market with a “scumbag” MC. I’d say the closest comparison would be Redo of Healer’s MC, but even that devolved in to “OP MC travels with his harem to save the world later on” so I kinda hope HimeHimo doesn’t go that way lol.
Another praised the author’s refusal to “sanitize” the story, pointing to a pivotal late-novel moment where Matthew crosses a moral event horizon, cementing the narrative’s tragic trajectory.
Production Details: Cast, Staff, and Studio Vision
The anime adaptation will be helmed by director Chihiro Kumano ( Unnamed Memory assistant director) and series composer Deko Akao ( Ragna Crimson), with character designs by Hisao Ishii ( Ushinawareta Mirai wo Motomete).
Studio Blade, known for its work on ‘I Have a Crush at Work‘, aims to capture the novels’ bleak aesthetic through a mix of shadow-heavy animation and muted color palettes.
Junichi Suwabe ( Great Pretender) and Mikako Komatsu ( Helck) reprise their roles as Matthew and Arwin from earlier promotional videos. Suwabe, in a statement, expressed enthusiasm for delving deeper into Matthew’s psyche,
“I will do my best to bring out his full charm, even if that ‘charm’ is unsettling”.
Mikako Komatsu highlighted the complexity of Arwin’s relationship with Matthew, teasing “heart-racing scenarios” that blur the line between loyalty and obsession,
“I’m really happy to be able to continue working on it from the PV.
In addition to the PV, I was also in charge of the ASMR, which was a pretty thrilling situation, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how the suspicious relationship with Matthew will be portrayed when it becomes an anime.
So, please support the TV anime as well!”
Fan Reception and Anticipated Challenges
Early reactions to the anime announcement have been mixed but passionate. While some fans celebrate the adaptation’s potential to amplify the source material’s strengths, others worry about softening Matthew’s edges for broader appeal. A Reddit user cautioned,
“If they tone down Matthew’s scumminess, they’ll ruin what makes this story unique”.
Another praised the manga adaptation by Keyyang for preserving the novels tone, urging newcomers to “read the light novel first for the full experience”.
The anime’s success may hinge on its ability to balance graphic content with character-driven storytelling. Scenes such as Matthew’s ruthless elimination of threats to Arwin including a controversial late-novel assassination risk alienating viewers unprepared for the series’ bleakness.
