The TV anime ROLL OVER AND DIE (『「お前ごときが魔王に勝てると思うな」と勇者パーティを追放されたので、王都で気ままに暮らしたい』) starts airing and streaming on January 8, 2026. Ahead of the premiere, the series has revealed a full Episode 1 info drop—its synopsis, preview stills, and the key staff credits—giving viewers a clear look at the story’s first turning point and what kind of production shape the debut is aiming for. 🌙
Episode 1 opens with betrayal and zero stats
Episode 1 is titled “The Beginning and the End”, and it makes a statement right away: this isn’t a gentle fantasy opener. The heroine, Flum Apricot, is selected to join the hero’s party by divine prophecy—yet she has zero stats, an impossible starting line in a world built on power.
According to the newly released synopsis, the party doesn’t protect her. Instead, Flum is betrayed by Jean, a renowned sage, and sold to a slave trader. The reveal goes even darker by implying that the other party members agreed to it, and that the hero Flum trusted rejects her with chilling contempt. This is the kind of first episode that’s designed to make you feel the floor drop out from under the protagonist—fast.
The cursed sword and the first “Reversal” moment
After being labeled worthless even as a slave, Flum is pushed into a situation where her death is treated like entertainment. With no path left that looks like “survival,” she makes a final, stubborn choice: she reaches for a cursed sword, fully expecting it to kill her.
That’s when the series’ core hook fires. The moment she grips the blade, her fate “reverses”. The story has already positioned “Reversal” as Flum’s one mysterious skill—something whose details aren’t fully explained yet—and Episode 1 appears built around delivering that first shock: the instant the narrative stops being only about cruelty, and starts being about a rule change.
TV and streaming rollout for the January 2026 premiere
For viewers following the weekly drop, the official schedule begins on January 8, 2026. On TV, TOKYO MX and BS11 list the series for Thursdays at 24:30, while AT-X lists it for Saturdays at 22:30 (with repeat broadcasts also noted). Streaming starts the same day, with d Anime Store, U-NEXT, and Anime Hodai listing January 8 at 25:00 as the fastest “all-you-can-watch” rollout, followed by availability on additional platforms.
If you want the cleanest, always-updated source, use the official schedule page here: broadcast and streaming details.
Note: times may change without notice, so it’s worth double-checking close to premiere week if you’re planning a day-one watch.
Episode 1 staff credits shaping the debut
Episode 1’s staff credits have also been revealed, and they’re the kind of details that help you guess how a premiere might feel—especially for a dark fantasy that needs to land its emotional pivot cleanly.
Episode 1 lists Mariko Kunisawa on script, with Nobuharu Kamanaka handling both storyboard and episode direction. For a first episode, having storyboard and direction unified under the same lead can help pacing feel more intentional, which matters when the story is sprinting toward a turning point. The episode also lists multiple chief animation directors—Takaaki Fukuyo, Fumio Matsumoto, and Takafumi Furusawa—a common approach when a production wants the debut to look steady and on-model.
As a small extra for TV viewers, the series is also running a broadcast-linked project where the pre-sponsor and post-sponsor stills are selected by cast members. Episode 1’s pick is handled by Ayaka Nanase (Flum), adding a tiny weekly “cast spotlight” angle to the airing.
Call to Action
If you’re deciding whether to jump in this season, Episode 1 looks designed to hit quickly: betrayal, a cursed weapon, and a “Reversal” moment that flips the premise into motion. 🔥 Keep an eye on schedule updates via the official site and follow the series on X for the latest posts: official X account.
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