Just 3 Days After Its Release, the Anime Sentenced to Be a Hero Immediately Earns a 5-Star Rating on Crunchyroll

Just 3 Days (Dok. Ist)

WartaGate.com – The latest fantasy anime titled Sentenced to Be a Hero has immediately captured attention since its premiere on January 3, 2026.

Despite having aired for only a few days, the series has already achieved an impressive milestone by earning a five-star rating on the Crunchyroll platform.

Based on data collected as of Tuesday, January 6, 2026, more than 19,000 Crunchyroll users have submitted ratings for the anime. Remarkably, around 95 percent of viewers gave it the maximum score, an achievement that is considered rare for a newly released anime.

One of the main reasons Sentenced to Be a Hero quickly drew viewers’ interest lies in its unconventional story. The anime is set in a fantasy world that is constantly ravaged by endless warfare against the Demon Lord and his army.

Instead of relying on holy knights or chosen heroes, the front lines of the battlefield are filled with hardened criminals. They are sentenced to fight as “heroes” in order to defend the world.

Even more cruelly, death is not the end for them. Each time they fall on the battlefield, they are resurrected and forced to fight again without end. This concept gives the anime a dark, brutal tone while presenting profound moral dilemmas.

Although it is now receiving widespread praise, Sentenced to Be a Hero did not have a smooth journey to the screen. The anime was originally scheduled to air in October 2025 but was delayed for about three months.

The delay was not without reason. Crunchyroll previously revealed that the additional time was used to improve the overall production quality.

In fact, the first episode was produced as a special episode with a runtime of around one hour, a move rarely taken for a new series.

The anime is adapted from the light novel titled Sentenced to Be a Hero: The Prison Records of Penal Hero Unit 9004.

The novel was first published in October 2020 and written by Rocket Shokai, with illustrations by Mephisto.

In Japan, the novel is published by ASCII Media Works under the Dengeki no Shin Bungei label and is fairly well known among fans of the dark fantasy genre.

For the anime adaptation, Studio KAI was entrusted as the production studio. The main director’s chair is occupied by Hiroyuki Takashima, assisted by Yoshitake Nakakoji as assistant director as well as character designer.

Meanwhile, the series composition and script are handled by Kenta Ihara, character designs by Takeru Noda, and the music is composed by Shunsuke Takizawa.

Beyond its story and visuals, another major strength of Sentenced to Be a Hero lies in its voice cast. The anime features many well-known and experienced seiyuu who have appeared in various popular titles.

With its strong narrative, high production quality, and top-tier voice actors, Sentenced to Be a Hero is predicted to become one of the most talked-about anime throughout 2026.