- Interview Location: Anime Expo 2026
- Interview Format:In-person, One-on-One
Anime Herald: What would you like our readers to know about the upcoming second season [of Sentenced to Be a Hero]?
Masashi Masuo:Season 2 will feature even more characters and even more unreasonable, chaotic situations than the first. Director Takashima is working incredibly hard to ensure the audience can truly feel that intense atmosphere. We hope you look forward to it!
Anime Herald: What do you think drove the success of season one?
Yoshiki Nakakoji:I believe it’s because the director’s meticulous vision and sheer talent truly blossomed. I feel that the creative concepts we developed were translated onto the screen in a very direct and visually impactful way.
Anime Herald: What are your respective origin stories? What led you to entering the anime industry?
Takeru Noda: While I was in college, I came across an anime called FLCL. I was deeply fascinated by its incredible animation and craftsmanship, which inspired me to want to draw something like that and pursue a career in the animation industry.
(Editor’s note: FLCL is my #1 anime. I need to speak with Noda-san about it one day.)
Anime Herald: Any fun stories from the trip to LA?
Masashi Masuo:We went to see a Dodgers game yesterday, and the stadium felt just like a theme park—it was incredibly fun. I was amazed by how huge all the food and drinks were! Best of all, the Dodgers pulled off a thrilling comeback victory, and celebrating that moment with everyone in the crowd was an unforgettable experience.
Anime Herald: For Yasutaka Kimura: Did your work onPLUTOhelp you develop any skills that you were able to use onSentenced to Be a Hero?
Yasutaka Kimura:In PLUTO, there was an elderly character who used a cane. Just introducing a single cane completely changes a person’s center of gravity, and PLUTO provided me with valuable experience in depicting those subtle physical nuances. InSentenced to Be a Hero, even during close-up action shots of just a character’s face, we needed to convey a sense of physical weight. I believe my experience with illustrating shifting body weight and anatomy on PLUTO was fully utilized to bring weight and realism to the action inSentenced to Be a Hero.
Anime Herald: Do you have any questions for us?
Takeru Noda:What exactly did you find most enjoyable or interesting about the first season ofSentenced to Be a Hero?
Anime Herald: I was familiar with the light novels. In terms of the story, the corruption of goddesses is what I found most interesting. As for season one, the animation was outstanding. Additionally, the light novels are pretty dense. Season one has good pacing, which is key when accounting for the switch of mediums. Well done byStudio KAI.
Yasutaka Kimura:Who is the most popular character among fans in America?
Anime Herald: For me it is Teoritta, but the thing aboutSentenced to Be a Herois that there are so many different characters with depth. People have a variety of favorite characters. I can’t point to one specifically.
Special thanks to the team fromStudio KAI for speaking with us aboutSentenced to Be a Hero.
