Today’s Overlap Bunko All-Star Gathering 2025 brings with it all sorts of exciting news for light novel fans—including a new anime! Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord: Production Magic Turns a Nameless Village into the Strongest Fortified City is the latest title confirmed for an anime adaptation.
The announcement was made today during the ABEMA broadcast of the Overlap Bunko event. While there are no details yet about cast, crew or studio, the original artists for the series have pitched in for some celebratory artwork. Check out the two new pieces: one by light novel illustrator Kururi and one by manga artist Maro Aoiro:
Art by Kururi
Art by Maro Aoiro
An official website and X (formerly Twitter) account have also opened for the upcoming series. More details will be forthcoming as production progresses.
The original Easygoing Territory Defense by the Optimistic Lord light novel is written by Sou Akaike and illustrated by Kururi. A manga adaptation is also available, illustrated by Maro Aoiro. As of April 2025, the light novel’s web version has surpassed 300 million page views, and it took third place in the Paperback category of 2022’s Next Light Novel Awards.
Seven Seas Entertainment publishes English translations of both the light novel and its manga adaptation, describing the story thus:
Van, fourth son of a marquis, is just a toddler when he realizes he’s been reincarnated. Thanks to his literal lifetime of knowledge, he’s raised as a child prodigy—until his production magic manifests, and it’s the last thing his snooty mage family wants to see! His disappointed father banishes him to a podunk town on the verge of collapse, yet Van can only see the place’s potential. Can our hero’s bastion of battlements build a better life than battle magic ever could?!
Source: Comic Natalie
