Highlights
- KADOKAWA has officially announced a TV anime adaptation of The Fake Alchemist.
- Based on Jirō Sugiura’s isekai web novel, the fantasy series follows Paracelsus, a reincarnated alchemist.
- KADOKAWA continues expanding its isekai anime slate despite previously identifying isekai saturation as a challenge.
KADOKAWA announced on June 18 that The Fake Alchemist manga will receive a TV anime adaptation, with Studio Passione. The announcement came with a teaser visual and new illustrations of protagonist Nora created by original author and manga artist.
Originally written by Jirō Sugiura as a web novel, The Fake Alchemist later received a manga adaptation illustrated by Umemaru. The manga series began serializing on KADOKAWA's ComicWalker platform in 2023, with Yen Press publishing the English edition.
The Fake Alchemist anime announcement is timed the English manga's Vol. 2 release on June 23. The Fake Alchemist Vol. 1 is already available in English.
The Fake Alchemist Anime: Plot and Creator Reactions
KADOKAWA’s The Fake Alchemist adaptation arrives amidst a sustained demand for fantasy and isekai-adjacent narratives among modern anime audiences. The manga follows Paracelsus, a young man from Earth who has been reincarnated in Orichalconia, a city-state where alchemy and magic are integral to everyday life.
Paracelsus, who conceals his cheating abilities while surviving as a working alchemist, bears the same name as a historical alchemist; however, The Fake Alchemist is not a biographical rendering.
In The Fake Alchemist, Paracelsus’ quiet life as an alchemist takes a dramatic turn when he encounters Nora, a shamanic slave girl, and Coco, an elf deprived of all four limbs and five senses. The following narrative evolves into a struggle shaped by magic, ancient powers, and cosmic forces.
Original creator Sugiura described the anime confirmation as unexpected. “I am surprised, thinking to myself, ‘To think the day would come when The Fake Alchemist becomes an anime ,” he said in an official statement. Illustrator Umemaru offered a shorter reaction, saying he is looking forward to enjoying the anime with everyone.
While most of the production details and release window remain unannounced, Passione’s involvement may draw attention from anime fans. The studio is known for adapting genre-focused works, including Harem in the Labyrinth of Another World, Mieruko-chan, and Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf.
However, greenlighting The Fake Alchemist anime adaptation sits quite in contrast with KADOKAWA’s early stance. In the company’s Mid-term Management Plan (FY2026–FY2031), it attributed FY2026‘s 51.6% year-on-year drop in operating profit for its publishing and IP creation segment in FY2026, to isekai saturation.
