The Misfit of Demon King Academy

The Misfit of Demon King Academy: Behind the Scenes of the Reborn Demon King’s Schoolyard Struggles

The Misfit of Demon King Academy (2020) arrived as a fresh twist on the isekai genre, blending time-travel reincarnation with high-stakes magical academia. But behind the anime’s sharp action and satirical edge lies a production history marked by delays, a stacked voice cast, and a second season that fans had to wait years to see. Here’s what we know about the making of this demonic underdog story.

A Rocky Road to Premiere: Delays and Last-Minute Changes

The anime’s journey to the screen was far from smooth. Originally slated for an April 2020 debut, The Misfit of Demon King Academy was pushed back to July of that year due to "production issues" . While the exact reasons for the delay weren’t publicly detailed, the timing coincided with the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted anime production pipelines worldwide. The series finally premiered on July 4, 2020, nearly three months behind schedule—a setback that likely added pressure to the team behind the adaptation.

The anime was first announced at the "Dengeki Bunko Aki no Namahōsō Festival" event in October 2019 ^[2], where it was teased as an adaptation of Shu’s light novel series. The source material, illustrated by Yoshinori Shizuma, had already built a dedicated fanbase, raising expectations for the anime’s quality. Whether the delay was a blessing in disguise—allowing for polish—or a sign of deeper production struggles remains unclear, but the finished product delivered on the novel’s promise of a powerhouse protagonist navigating a world that had forgotten his legacy.

Voice Cast: A Star-Studded Lineup for a Reborn Villain

Anos Voldigord, the reincarnated Demon King, is brought to life by Yuuichirou Umehara, a veteran seiyuu known for roles like Armin Arlert in Attack on Titan and Gojo Satoru in Jujutsu Kaisen (though the latter role came after Misfit). Umehara’s deep, commanding voice was a perfect fit for Anos, a character who oscillates between godlike power and exasperated schoolboy frustration.

The supporting cast reads like a who’s-who of anime voice acting:

• Tomori Kusunoki (Miku Nakano in The Quintessential Quintuplets) voices Misha Necron, Anos’s loyal follower and one of the few who recognizes his true strength.
• Yuko Natsuyoshi (Rias Gremory in High School DxD) plays Sasha Necron, Misha’s twin sister and a rival who initially underestimates Anos.
• Takuma Terashima (Kuroo Tetsurou in Haikyuu!!) voices Raymond Ashram, a high-ranking student with a complex relationship to the Demon King’s legacy.
• Nene Hieda (Kaguya Shinomiya in Kaguya-sama: Love is War) lends her voice to Misa Ilioroagu, a spirited classmate who becomes one of Anos’s allies.
• Rikiya Koyama (Koro-sensei in Assassination Classroom) rounds out the cast as Gaius, a teacher with a mysterious past .

The ensemble’s chemistry is palpable, with each actor bringing depth to characters who could have easily slipped into archetype. Notably absent from the cast list in the available evidence is Kana Asumi, whose role isn’t specified in the snippets—rumor suggests she may have voiced a minor character, but without confirmation, her involvement remains unverified.

Season 2: A Long-Awaited Return and Subtle Rebranding

After the first season wrapped in September 2020, fans were left hanging for years. The second season, titled The Misfit of Demon King Academy II, finally premiered in January 2023—nearly two and a half years later . The extended hiatus wasn’t unusual for anime adaptations of ongoing light novels, but the gap still tested fan patience.

The second season’s full title hints at a shift in tone or scope: Maō Gakuin no Futekigōsha II ~Shijō Saikyō no Maō no Shiso, Tensei shite Shison-shi no Gakkō e Kayō~ (roughly translating to "The Misfit of Demon King Academy II: The Strongest Demon King’s Ideology, Reincarnated and Enrolling in His Descendants’ School"). The addition of "II" and the expanded subtitle suggest a deeper dive into Anos’s past lives and the consequences of his reincarnation ^[4]. Whether this was a creative choice or a marketing move to distinguish the season remains unconfirmed, but it signaled that the story was far from over.

Unanswered Questions and Rumors

Despite the anime’s popularity, some behind-the-scenes details remain frustratingly vague:

• Director and Studio: The evidence doesn’t specify who directed The Misfit of Demon King Academy or which studio handled the animation. Given the series’ fluid action sequences and detailed character designs, speculation points to a mid-sized studio like Silver Link or Project No.9, but this is purely conjecture.
• Production Budget: No figures have been released regarding the anime’s budget, though the delay and high-profile cast suggest it was a significant investment.
• Light Novel Influence: The anime closely follows the light novel’s plot, but it’s unclear how much creative input author Shu had in the adaptation. Some fans have noted minor deviations in pacing or dialogue, but without official commentary, the extent of these changes is unknown.
• Future Seasons: As of the latest evidence, there’s no confirmation of a third season, though the light novel series is ongoing. Given the second season’s 2023 release, another long wait wouldn’t be surprising.

Why the Hype? A Demon King’s Schoolyard Revolution

The Misfit of Demon King Academy stands out in the crowded isekai genre by flipping the script: instead of a modern-day underdog transported to a fantasy world, it’s a godlike villain reincarnated into a future where his legacy has been watered down. Anos Voldigord isn’t just overpowered—he’s disappointed by how far his descendants have fallen, and his journey is as much about reclaiming his throne as it is about proving that strength isn’t just about raw power, but ideology.

The anime’s blend of satire, action, and world-building resonated with fans, and its production quirks—delays, a stacked cast, and a long-awaited second season—only added to its mystique. Whether or not we get more of Anos’s schoolyard antics, one thing is clear: this misfit left a mark.