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Isekai stories are a dime a dozen, but That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime has enjoyed immense popularity since Fuze’s fantasy light novel series first got serialized in 2013. The ongoing anime (which debuted in 2018) has contributed to this success, spawning one ONA (original net animation) spin-off and two feature films so far.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime follows Satoru Mikami, a middle-aged salaryman who accidentally gets stabbed on the street during a conversation with a colleague. Death evades him after Mikami gets transported into another world and reincarnates as a Slime. This marks the beginning of a bizarre journey as Mikami — now known as Rimuru Tempest — must navigate this strange new identity and the expectations that come with it.
[Ed. note: This article contains spoilers for the That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime anime]
In December, a livestream revealed that the anime’s fourth season will be split across five cours (blocks of episodes), with the first two cours set to air from April 2026 onward. The fourth season will premiere on April 3 on Crunchyroll, and we finally have a new trailer that underscores the tension between the Jura-Tempest Federation and the various factions that harbor conflicting goals.
While Rimuru’s Jura-Tempest Federation wants to move towards a world where humans and monsters can coexist, not everybody is happy with the concept of such a peaceful future. Key antagonists include Granbell Rosso (a former Hero and head of the Five Elders of the Kingdom of Siltrosso) and his blonde-haired granddaughter Mariabell Rosso.
Mariabell’s presence in the season 4 trailer is intriguing, as her avaricious personality will introduce an unpredictable quality to the socio-political conflicts to come. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime excels in balancing slice-of-life elements with tense politicking, but the upcoming season seems to be leaning towards a more somber mood. Mariabell’s insistence on ruling through world domination alone is troubling, placing her (and Granbell) as formidable foes blocking Rimuru’s path. The fate of the Tempest Kingdom also looks dire, and multiple clashes between opposing forces (along with new alliances) seem inevitable.
The trailer provides a peek into the opening theme song, “Esoragoto” by Eir Aoi, which sets the tone for the political machinations taking place in the shadows. We also have the second anime film, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea, to look forward to, which will be released in North America on May 1. Until then, we must anticipate the rise of a new Hero and an era that ushers in hard-earned peace for all.
