Scum of the Brave – Official Trailer | Crunchyroll: Release Date, Cast, Plot and Streaming Guide

Crunchyroll is officially adding another major title to its growing anime lineup for 2026. The platform has dropped the official trailer for “Scum of the Brave” (Yūsha no Kuzu), confirming that the long-anticipated Tokyo-set supernatural action series is coming soon to global audiences. Built on a wild mix of mafia crime drama and demon-hunting fantasy, this adaptation from Rocket Shokai brings a darker, comedic, and completely unconventional spin to the idea of what it means to be a hero.

Fans have been asking for months where this series would land. Now the answer is clear: Scum of the Brave will stream exclusively on Crunchyroll.

What Is Scum of the Brave About?

The premise wastes no time throwing viewers into the madness.

Set in mid-21st-century Tokyo, the criminal underworld is no longer run by ordinary gangsters. Powerful mafia bosses have access to ether enhancement technology and Demon King Transformation Surgery, allowing them to evolve into full-blown Demon Lords. To fight back, the government sanctions elite bounty hunters known as Braves—heroes who are legally permitted to kill in order to protect society.

The story follows Yashiro, a jaded lone-wolf Hero nicknamed “The Reaper.” He lives a dissolute life, prefers to work alone, and treats his job more like a paycheck than a noble calling. Everything changes when a fearless high school girl named Aki Jogamine inserts herself into his work and loudly declares, “I am your apprentice.”

What begins as reluctant mentorship spirals into escalating confrontations with demons, rival Braves, criminal organizations, and deeply chaotic cases. The line between justice and obsession gets blurry fast.

In blunt terms: it’s the supernatural story of a scumbag master and his self-proclaimed apprentice trying to survive a city that keeps getting more dangerous.

From Light Novel to Anime Adaptation

“Scum of the Brave” has already lived several lives before reaching the screen.

The franchise started as a 2016 Kakuyomu web novel written by Rocket Shokai and illustrated by Yūya Kusaka. A single light novel volume was published in December 2016 under Kadokawa Books. Later, a manga adaptation illustrated by Nakashima723 began serialization online, building renewed interest in the series.

The anime version is produced by studio OLM, the powerhouse behind hits like Pokémon Journeys and Komi Can’t Communicate. This marks the first time the original novel has been adapted into a full television-style anime series.

Anime Production Details

Here is everything officially confirmed about the animated adaptation:

• Series Title: Scum of the Brave (勇者のクズ / Yūsha no Kuzu)

• Format: Anime television series

• Episodes: Season 1 – two consecutive cours

• Premiere Date: January 11, 2026

• Broadcast Network: Nippon TV (Japan)

• Production Studio: OLM

• Director: Shinji Ushiro

• Series Composition & Screenplay: Yōichi Katō

• Character Design: Rika Murakami

• Music Composer: Kenichiro Suehiro

• Opening Theme Song: “Gun Powder” performed by Tooboe

• Ending Theme Song: “Mental Rental” performed by Mulasaki Ima

The anime was formally announced on March 15, 2025, and quickly generated trailer buzz as one expectation-defying project after another hit Netflix and Crunchyroll platforms in recent years.

Voice Cast and Characters

The series is powered by a mix of rising stars and veteran performers.

Main Characters

• Yashiro (The Reaper) – a lone wolf Brave whose routine is repeatedly disrupted

• Aki Jogamine – a determined high school girl training to become a sanctioned hero

• Additional supporting Braves, demons, and criminal-world figures

Confirmed Japanese and International Cast

• Albertina Rizzo

• Matt Vogel

• Eric Jacobson

• David Matranga

• Mayu Iizuka

• Dawn M. Bennett

• Joshua Waters

• Jessie James Grelle

• Shun Horie

• Tomori Kusunoki

• Yuichi Nakamura

• Minami Tanaka

• Kotono Mitsuishi

More detailed casting credits will be confirmed closer to release.

Where to Watch and Stream Scum of the Brave

Japan

• Premiere: January 11, 2026 on Nippon TV

• Local streaming partners: ITVX and affiliated Japanese platforms

Worldwide Streaming

Crunchyroll will be the exclusive global streaming home for Scum of the Brave.

• Crunchyroll Release Date: January 11, 2026 (simultaneous with Japan)

• Available Territories:

  • United States

  • Canada

  • United Kingdom

  • Australia

  • Europe

  • Indian Subcontinent

  • Oceania

  • Middle East

  • CIS

  • South and Southeast Asia

Subtitles: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian and more

For viewers in South and Southeast Asia, Muse Communication has licensed the series, ensuring smooth access across regional Crunchyroll portals.

Additional Platforms

• Wandering Witch interviews on Netflix Tudum

• Previous seasons available on Peacock and Netflix

What Genre Does Scum of the Brave Fall Under?

• Drama > Criminal Fantasy

• Action > Comedy Horror

• Soaps > Procedural Anime

• Supernatural > Opposites-Attract Story

Future of the Franchise

The series is also entering a fresh start in early 2026 with a new Shueisha “Dash X Bunko” illustrated edition, giving audiences more comic-accurate looks for characters such as Cyclops-style heroes in future crossovers.

Teasers suggest the Fox-era equivalent Braves may be rebooted entirely in future anime film productions.

The official trailer confirms that Scum of the Brave is not trying to be polite, safe anime. It is trying to be loud, strange, and unforgettable. With its high-stakes Tokyo underworld setting and jaded mentor-apprentice dynamic, this series has the potential to become one of Crunchyroll’s biggest “sleeper star” hits of 2026.

If you like your heroes flawed, your demons enhanced, and your storytelling completely outside the box—Scum of the Brave is essential viewing.