The Water Magician (novel series)

The Water Magician
First light novel volume cover
水属性の魔法使い
(Mizuzokusei no Mahōtsukai)
GenreAdventure, isekai[1]
Novel series
Written byTadashi Kubō
Published byShōsetsuka ni Narō
Original runApril 1, 2020 – present
Light novel
Written byTadashi Kubō
Illustrated by
  • Nokito (1–2)
  • Mebaru (3–6)
  • Hana Amano (7–)
Published byTO Books
English publisher
ImprintTO Bunko
DemographicMale
Original runMarch 10, 2021 – present
Volumes13
Manga
Written byTadashi Kubō
Illustrated byBokutengo
Published byTO Books
English publisher
  • NA: J-Novel Club
ImprintCorona Comics
MagazineComic Corona
DemographicSeinen
Original runSeptember 20, 2021 – present
Volumes6
Anime television series
Directed byHideyuki Satake
Written byJun Kumagai
Music by
  • Akira Kosemura
  • Sayaka Aoki
Studio
Licensed byCrunchyroll
Original networkTBS, BS11
Original run July 4, 2025 – scheduled

The Water Magician (水属性の魔法使い, Mizuzokusei no Mahōtsukai) is a Japanese light novel series written by Tadashi Kubō and illustrated by Hana Amano. It initially began serialization on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō in April 2020. It was later acquired by TO Books who began publishing it under their TO Bunko imprint in March 2021. A manga adaptation illustrated by Bokutengo began serialization on the Nico Nico Seiga website under TO Books' Comic Corona brand in September 20, 2021. An anime television series adaptation produced by Typhoon Graphics and Wonderland premiered in July 2025.

Characters

Ryō (涼)
Voiced by: Ayumu Murase[2]
The main character of the series, Ryo is a Japanese man who dies at age 20 and is reincarnated in another world. He is given the powers of a water magician as well as eternal youth. He trains in a distant land for 20 years before he travels to other lands, becoming an adventurer.
Abel (アベル, Aberu)
Voiced by: Kazuki Ura[2]
Abel is an adventurer Ryo found washed up on the shore near his home. They travel to the nearest city. We learn he is the captain of the Crimson Blade party of adventurers.
Sera (セーラ)
Voiced by: Kaede Hondo[2]
Nils (ニルス, Nirusu)
Voiced by: Genki Muro[3]
Eto (エト)
Voiced by: Naoya Miyase[3]
Amon (アモン)
Voiced by: Kōhei Amasaki[3]
Lihya (リーヒャ, Rīhya)
Voiced by: Kaori Ishihara[3]
Rin (リン)
Voiced by: Sara Matsumoto[3]
Hugh McGrath (ヒュー・マクグラス, Hyū Makugurasu)
Voiced by: Satoshi Mikami[3]
Nina (ニーナ, Nīna)
Voiced by: Miku Itō[3]
Michael (ミカエル, Mikaeru)
Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu[3]
Lewin (ルウィン, Ruuin)
Voiced by: Hōchū Ōtsuka[3]

Media

Light novel

Written by Tadashi Kubō, The Water Magician initially began serialization on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō on April 1, 2020.[4] It was later acquired by TO Books who began publishing it with illustrations by Nokito under their TO Bunko light novel imprint on March 10, 2021. Later volumes feature illustrations by Mebaru (for volumes 3 to 6) and Hana Amano (for volume 7 and onwards). Fourteen volumes have been released as of June 20, 2025.[5]

During their panel at Anime NYC 2023, J-Novel Club announced that they had licensed the series for English publication.[6]

No. Original release date Original ISBN North American release date North American ISBN
Arc 1
1 March 10, 2021[7]978-4-86-699168-9March 14, 2024[8]978-1-71-833370-3
2 June 19, 2021[9]978-4-86-699225-9July 23, 2024[10]978-1-71-833372-7
3 November 20, 2021[11]978-4-86-699371-3December 17, 2024[12]978-1-71-833374-1
4 March 10, 2022[13]978-4-86-699469-7May 14, 2025[14]978-1-71-833376-5
5 August 20, 2022[15]978-4-86-699641-7October 14, 2025[16]978-1-71-833378-9
6 February 20, 2023[17]978-4-86-699773-5——
7 July 20, 2023[18]978-4-86-699900-5——
Arc 2
8 October 20, 2023[19]978-4-86-699979-1——
9 January 15, 2024[20]978-4-86-794050-1——
10 April 20, 2024[21]978-4-86-794164-5——
11 July 16, 2024[22]978-4-86-794252-9——
12 January 15, 2025[23]978-4-86-794426-4——
Arc 3
13 March 19, 2025[24]978-4-86-794510-0——
14 June 20, 2025[5]978-4-86-794600-8——

Manga

A manga adaptation illustrated by Bokutengo began serialization on the Nico Nico Seiga website under TO Books' Comic Corona brand on September 20, 2021.[25] The manga's chapters were collected into six tankōbon volumes as of January 2025.[26]

During their panel at Anime NYC 2023, J-Novel Club announced that they had also licensed the manga adaptation for English publication.[6]

No. Original release date Original ISBN North American release date North American ISBN
1 March 15, 2022[27]978-4-86699-475-8February 14, 2024[28]978-1-71834-051-0
2 November 15, 2022[29]978-4-86699-708-7April 17, 2024[30]978-1-71834-053-4
3 July 15, 2023[31]978-4-86699-904-3January 15, 2025[32]978-1-71834-055-8
4 January 15, 2024[33]978-4-86794-057-0April 9, 2025[34]978-1-71834-057-2
5 July 16, 2024[35]978-4-86794-239-0——
6 January 15, 2025[26]978-4-86794-405-9——
7 July 15, 2025[36]978-4-86794-621-3——

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced on January 10, 2025. It is produced by Typhoon Graphics and Wonderland, and directed by Hideyuki Satake, with scripts written by Jun Kumagai, character designs by Yūka Kozutsumi, and music composed by Akira Kosemura and Sayaka Aoki.[2] The series premiered on July 4, 2025, on TBS and BS11.[a] The opening theme song is "Blue Motion" (ブルーモーション, Burū Mōshon), performed by Meiyo Densetsu, while the ending theme song is "Tayutau Mamani" (たゆたうままに; Sway as You Please), performed by Misaki. Crunchyroll is streaming the series.[3]

Episodes

No.Title [37][38]Directed by [b]Written by [b]Storyboarded by [b]Original release date [39][a]
1"The Slow, But Dangerous, Life"
Transliteration: "Kikenna Surō Raifu" (Japanese: 危険なスローライフ)		TBATBATBAJuly 4, 2025 (2025-07-04)
After dying in an accident, a twenty-year-old Ryo Mihara meets an angel he dubs Michael. Michael informs him he has been chosen for reincarnation in another world called Phi to simply to live as he pleases. He is also granted water magic and a house in Rondo Forest. Ryo devotes himself to mastering water magic. He goes exploring in the forest but encounters a Lesser Boar he manages to kill, and an Assassin Hawk, which escapes. As months pass Ryo begins to master water magic and encounter deadlier monsters. One day he encounters a Dullahan which defeats him yet does not kill him. Ryo realises for some reason the Dullahan is training him as it also uses water magic and gives him a water sword. The Assassin-Hawk returns, having evolved into a stronger form to get revenge. Ryo kills it but is grateful the Hawk helped him grow stronger. Soon after the red dragon, Lewin, appears, impressed Ryo killed the hawk. Lewin reveals the sword belongs to the Fairy King, so Ryo must have impressed him a lot. Ryo takes the opportunity to ask Lewin many questions about the world. Meanwhile, Michael is surprised Ryo reincarnated with the hidden ability of Eternal Youth.
2"Abel the Castaway"
Transliteration: "Hyōryūsha Aberu" (Japanese: 漂流者アベル)		TBATBATBAJuly 11, 2025 (2025-07-11)[c]

Reception

Lauren Orsini of Anime News Network gave the first light novel volume a score of 2/5 stars, writing, "Did anyone else read My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George when they were a kid and vowed to run away from home and live a self-sufficient life in the forest along with their trusty pet hawk? That's a high I've been chasing since childhood, and I nearly found it between the pages of The Water Magician." She added, "So Ryo comes with [Abel], and the pair battle their way through the jungle, and then the mountains, until they reach the Adventurer's Guild, turn in the magic stones they found in all those wyverns they one-shotted, level up their ranks, and oh look, it's suddenly a very cookie-cutter isekai story that you could find anywhere... You also won't be surprised to hear that Ryo is (yawn) the strongest person in the Adventurer's Guild. So much for this story's strong start. This is only the first volume, but I won't be reading the second."[41]

Notes

  1. ^ a b TBS lists the series premiere on July 3, 2025, at 25:28, which is effectively July 4 at 1:28 a.m. JST.
  2. ^ a b c Production staff information is taken from the ending credits of each episode.
  3. ^ This episode aired at 1:58 a.m. JST, 30 minutes after the original air time on TBS.[40]

References

  1. ^ 『水属性の魔法使い』のコミカライズ連載が開始　最強水魔法使いのマイペースで気ままな冒険譚. LN-News.com (in Japanese). September 21, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Pineda, Rafael Antonio (January 10, 2025). "The Water Magician Isekai Novels Get TV Anime in July". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Hodgkins, Crystalyn (June 13, 2025). "The Water Magician Anime Reveals July 3 Debut, More Cast, Crunchyroll Streaming". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  4. ^ 水属性の魔法使い (in Japanese). Shōsetsuka ni Narō. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  5. ^ a b 水属性の魔法使い　第三部　東方諸国編2 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Pineda, Rafael Antonio (November 17, 2023). "J-Novel Club Licenses Chivalry of a Failed Knight, Management of Novice Alchemist, 13 Other Titles (Updated)". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  7. ^ 水属性の魔法使い　第一部　中央諸国編1 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  8. ^ "The Water Magician: Arc 1 Volume 1". J-Novel Club. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  9. ^ 水属性の魔法使い　第一部　中央諸国編2 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  10. ^ "The Water Magician: Arc 1 Volume 2". J-Novel Club. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  11. ^ 水属性の魔法使い　第一部　中央諸国編3 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  12. ^ "The Water Magician: Arc 1 Volume 3". J-Novel Club. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  13. ^ 水属性の魔法使い　第一部　中央諸国編4 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  14. ^ "The Water Magician: Arc 1 Volume 4". J-Novel Club. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  15. ^ 水属性の魔法使い　第一部　中央諸国編5 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  16. ^ "The Water Magician: Arc 1 Volume 5". J-Novel Club. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  17. ^ 水属性の魔法使い　第一部　中央諸国編6 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  18. ^ 水属性の魔法使い　第一部　中央諸国編7 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  19. ^ 水属性の魔法使い　第二部　西方諸国編1 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  20. ^ 水属性の魔法使い　第二部　西方諸国編2 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  21. ^ 水属性の魔法使い　第二部　西方諸国編3 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  22. ^ 水属性の魔法使い　第二部　西方諸国編4 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  23. ^ 水属性の魔法使い　第二部　西方諸国編5 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  24. ^ 水属性の魔法使い　第三部　東方諸国編1 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  25. ^ 水属性の魔法と隠し特性でいつしか人類最高峰の魔法使いに「水属性の魔法使い」新連載. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 20, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  26. ^ a b 水属性の魔法使い＠COMIC第6巻 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  27. ^ 水属性の魔法使い＠COMIC第1巻 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  28. ^ "The Water Magician (Manga): Volume 1". J-Novel Club. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  29. ^ 水属性の魔法使い＠COMIC第2巻 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  30. ^ "The Water Magician (Manga): Volume 2". J-Novel Club. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  31. ^ 水属性の魔法使い＠COMIC第3巻 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  32. ^ "The Water Magician (Manga): Volume 3". J-Novel Club. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  33. ^ 水属性の魔法使い＠COMIC第4巻 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  34. ^ "The Water Magician (Manga): Volume 4". J-Novel Club. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  35. ^ 水属性の魔法使い＠COMIC第5巻 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  36. ^ 水属性の魔法使い＠COMIC第7巻 (in Japanese). TO Books. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  37. ^ "Terebi Anime「Mizuzokusei no Mahōtsukai」Koshiki Saito" TVアニメ「水属性の魔法使い」公式サイト [TV Anime「The Water Magician」Official Site]. tsuihosha-shokudo.com (in Japanese). Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  38. ^ "Watch The Water Magician - Crunchyroll". Crunchyroll. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  39. ^ "Terebi Anime「Mizuzokusei no Mahōtsukai」Koshiki Saito" TVアニメ「水属性の魔法使い」公式サイト [TV Anime「The Water Magician」Official Site]. tsuihosha-shokudo.com (in Japanese). Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  40. ^ 神椿市建設中。　♯１[字]. TBS (in Japanese). Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  41. ^ Orsini, Lauren (2024-04-27). "The Spring 2024 Light Novel Guide - The Water Magician". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
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