Fans of anime and fantasy light novels have a new reason to celebrate in early 2026. TO Books announced on Wednesday (7) the production of an anime adaptation of the series The Person I Loved Asked Me to Die in My Sister’s Stead, the original work by Mizuki Nagano. With an emotional premise filled with dark fantasy, the story has already won readers worldwide, thanks to its English publication by Tokyopop and its high rankings in Japan’s most respected guides. The news comes as the original literary series prepares to launch its eighth volume, scheduled for January 10, showing that the franchise is in full expansion.
The plot, which also gained a manga version drawn by Maki Yamori, delves into the journey of Lady Wisteria. The main character sees her greatest wish – to be worthy of the man she loves, Lord Bright – turn into a heartbreaking request. Due to the selection of her younger sister for an eternal sacrifice, Wisteria is summoned to take her place in the Kingdom of Dawn. More than twenty years later, however, a stranger with a familiar face emerges to challenge her loneliness, triggering a central mystery. The project’s relevance is attested by the work’s constant presence in the Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! ranking, where it appeared in the 2023 to 2026 editions, consolidating its success among the audience.
Success Trajectory and Next Steps
The path to this announcement began on the web. Mizuki Nagano launched the original story on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website in November 2020, winning online readers before its serialization concluded in September 2022. The popularity ensured not only the physical publication of the light novels, illustrated by Saori Toyota, but also a successful manga adaptation. Meanwhile, the comic version, which also has its sixth Japanese volume scheduled for January 10, has already reached its fourth volume in English, published by Tokyopop in August 2025, showing the global appeal of the narrative.
Despite the excitement, the official announcement has not yet brought crucial details, such as the animation studio responsible, the format (whether it will be a series or a film), or the release date. On the other hand, the announcement itself is a major step, indicating that production is in its early stages. Thus, fans can expect more news throughout 2026, while revisiting the light novels and manga to prepare for the screen debut. The adaptation promises to bring to life the emotional drama and fantasy elements that captivated so many readers, potentially becoming a new highlight in the romantic fantasy anime catalog.
