Always a Catch! Anime Premiere: Tetsu Inada Joins the Cast & Crunchyroll Streaming Details

The highly anticipated fantasy rom-com anime Always a Catch! officially premiered this Wednesday, bringing a fresh twist to the aristocracy genre. Alongside the debut, the production team announced the casting of veteran voice actor Tetsu Inada as Maria’s father, and released the creditless opening theme featuring HoneyWorks and Airi Suzuki.

Adapted from Mayo Momoyo’s popular light novel series, known in Japan by its incredibly long title, Nigashita Sakana wa Ōkikatta ga Tsuriageta Sakana ga Ōkisugita Ken, the anime is animated by Studio TROYCA.

With a stacked voice cast, a renowned scriptwriter, and a protagonist who prefers throwing hands over throwing tea parties, the series is positioned to dominate the seasonal anime charts.

Below is everything you need to know about the Always a Catch! anime, from cast details to where you can read the original manga.

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What is Always a Catch! Actually About?

At its core, Always a Catch! is a subversion of the classic “villainess” and “broken engagement” tropes that have recently flooded the anime market.

Maria Annovazzi is the daughter of a duke. For her entire life, she believed she would inherit her father’s dukedom. To prepare for this heavy responsibility, she didn’t study etiquette or political maneuvering; instead, she spent her youth rigorously training in hand-to-hand combat and martial arts. Marriage was never on her radar.

But her life plans shatter when her parents unexpectedly have a baby brother. In this aristocratic society, the male heir takes absolute precedence.

Suddenly stripped of her future title, Maria realizes she is woefully behind in the marriage market.

With no eligible bachelors left in her homeland, she travels abroad to study, and hopefully find a husband.

The Misunderstanding That Starts It All

Upon arriving in a neighboring kingdom, Maria is immediately confronted by the local crown prince.

In a dramatic public spectacle, he vehemently declares that their engagement is entirely null and void.

There is just one problem: Maria has absolutely no idea who he is, and they were never engaged.

Once the prince’s embarrassing case of mistaken identity is cleared up, the story takes a sharp comedic turn.

The prince happens to witness Maria single-handedly annihilating a pack of armed bandits using her bare fists.

Rather than being horrified by her unladylike behavior, the prince realizes he has a massive crush on women who can kick his ass.

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Meet the Voice Cast

A romantic comedy lives and dies by the chemistry of its voice actors.

Fortunately the casting directors for Always a Catch! have assembled an absolute powerhouse lineup of top-tier talent.

The Protagonists

• Maria Annovazzi (Voiced by Yū Serizawa): Serizawa is no stranger to playing energetic, slightly chaotic heroines. She brings the perfect blend of aristocratic elegance and tomboyish grit to Maria, a woman who would rather punch a bandit than wear a corset.
• Renato di Rubini (Voiced by Atsushi Tamaru): Tamaru steps into the role of the crown prince. He perfectly captures the duality of a royal who starts off incredibly arrogant but quickly turns into a blushing mess when faced with a physically dominant woman.

The Supporting Cast

The aristocratic academy setting allows for a wide ensemble of eccentric nobles, voiced by some of the most recognizable names in the industry:

• Aida Amethis voiced by Saori Hayami (Known for Yor in Spy x Family)
• Placido di Rubini voiced by Shūichirō Umeda (Known for Akira in Zom 100)
• Raimondo Cigata voiced by Taku Yashiro
• Ireneo voiced by Natsuki Hanae (Known for Tanjiro in Demon Slayer)
• Eleonora Casciari voiced by Kaori Maeda
• Rosalia Pinotti voiced by Rumi Ōkubo

The Newest Addition (Tetsu Inada)

The official anime X/Twitter account recently confirmed that Tetsu Inada is joining the cast as Maria’s father, the Duke.

Inada is legendary for his booming, authoritative voice, most notably playing the fiery hero Endeavor in My Hero Academia.

Note: Casting Inada as the Duke is a brilliant meta-joke. When viewers hear his voice, they immediately expect a terrifying, muscular patriarch, which perfectly explains why his daughter Maria turned out to be such a formidable martial artist.

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Behind the Scenes (Studio TROYCA and the Creative Team)

Credit: Mayo Momoyo / Mito / Square Enix / Nigashita Sakana Production Committee

Animation quality can make or break an adaptation. For Always a Catch!, the production is in the highly capable hands of Studio TROYCA (Re:CREATORS, Idolish7, Lord El-Melloi II’s Case Files).

Here is a breakdown of the core staff driving the project:

• Director: Akira Oguro (Giant Beasts of Ars). Oguro has a strong track record of balancing heavy fantasy elements with character-driven drama.
• Series Composition: Michiko Yokote. This is the secret weapon of the production. Yokote is a veteran scriptwriter who has penned episodes for legendary comedies like Gintama and Call of the Night. Her involvement guarantees that the comedic timing of the “broken engagement” misunderstanding will land perfectly.
• Character Design: Isamu Suzuki (Shinobi no Ittoki). Suzuki has translated Mito’s original light novel illustrations into incredibly expressive, animation-friendly designs.
• Action Animation Director: Kanako Ōta. Take note of this role. The fact that a rom-com has a dedicated “Action Animation Director” proves that Maria’s fight scenes are going to be a major visual highlight, not just a passing joke.

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Music and Aesthetics (Opening and Ending Themes)

Anime openings are crucial for setting the tone, and Always a Catch! goes all out with its musical choices.

• Opening Theme (OP): “Chikai wa Kyun to.” by HoneyWorks feat. Airi Suzuki. HoneyWorks is practically anime royalty when it comes to high-energy, infectious romantic tracks. Featuring pop star Airi Suzuki, the creditless OP stream released by TMS Entertainment highlights bright, fluid animation that perfectly captures the youthful energy of the academy setting.
• Ending Theme (ED): “DEAD OR LOVE.” by Yoshino. The ending theme shifts the tone slightly, leaning into the dramatic, high-stakes nature of aristocratic politics (and Maria’s lethal punches), providing a catchy closer to every episode.

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The Broadcast Schedule (Where to Watch Always a Catch!)

For international fans, the wait is officially over.

As of April 1, 2026, Always a Catch! is streaming exclusively on Crunchyroll.

While the series debuted locally in Japan on Tokyo MX and BS 11, Western audiences can now dive straight into the action.

The highly anticipated first episode, titled “How I Searched For A Promising Catch,” is live right now, introducing viewers to Maria’s chaotic arrival in the Kingdom of Rubini and that infamous “broken engagement” scene.

Here is the current streaming breakdown for the series:

• Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll (Global Exclusive)
• Episode 1 Release Date: April 1, 2026
• Spoken Audio: Japanese
• Available Subtitles: English, Spanish (Latin America & Spain), French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, and Arabic.
• Content Advisory: Rated A12 for Violence (Expect to see Maria throwing some heavy, well-animated punches right out of the gate).

Tip for Dub Watchers: The fact that Crunchyroll secured exclusivity and rolled out nine different subtitle languages on day one shows a massive investment in this title. If you are holding out for an English dub, keep a close eye on Crunchyroll’s seasonal “Dubcast” schedule. High-profile, action-heavy rom-coms like this typically see their localized dubs premiere just two to three weeks after the initial simulcast.

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Source Material: Where to Read the Light Novel and Manga

If you cannot wait for the next episode and want to jump into the source material, you have plenty of options.

The franchise has expanded rapidly since its humble beginnings.

1. The Web Novel: Mayo Momoyo launched the original story on the famous user-generated site Shōsetsuka ni Narō (Let’s Become Novelists) in 2020.
2. The Light Novel: Picked up by Square Enix in 2021, the story was officially published with gorgeous illustrations by Mito.
3. The Manga Adaptation: Kaki Nagato launched the manga version in April 2022 on Square Enix’s Manga UP! service.

Important Release News: Fans of the physical and digital books should mark their calendars. The 7th volume of the light novel and the 10th compiled volume of the manga are both scheduled to ship simultaneously on April 7.

How to Read in English

English-speaking fans are well taken care of.

The manga adaptation is officially licensed and digitally published by several major platforms (external links):

• Square Enix Manga & Books (Physical and Digital)
• Manga UP! Global
• Kadokawa’s BookWalker Global Store
• Comikey

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Why Always a Catch! Stands Out from the Crowd (Review & Analysis)

Ok, yes, I know, I know… if you look at the current anime landscape, the “Otome Game” or “Villainess” genre is incredibly saturated.

Every season features a noblewoman who is either reincarnated, exiled, or trying to avoid a bad ending.

So what makes Always a Catch! different?

1. The Protagonist Isn’t Reincarnated: Maria is not a modern Japanese office worker trapped in a video game. She is a native to her fantasy world. Her struggles with finding a husband and losing her inheritance are grounded in the actual politics of her universe, making her a much more relatable and authentic character.

2. Physical Strength Over Magic: In most fantasy romance series, power is determined by magical aptitude. Maria subverts this entirely by being a brawler. Watching an elegantly dressed aristocratic woman deliver a flawless right hook to a bandit is visually hilarious and incredibly refreshing.

3. The Male Lead’s Fetishization of Strength: The crown prince’s reaction to Maria is what truly sells the comedy. Instead of being emasculated by her strength, he is enamored by it. This flips the traditional gender dynamics of the Shoujo genre on its head, creating a partnership built on mutual respect (and a healthy dose of fear on his part).

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What does the Japanese title of Always a Catch! mean?

The original Japanese title is Nigashita Sakana wa Ōkikatta ga Tsuriageta Sakana ga Ōkisugita Ken. Translated literally, it means: “The fish that got away was big, but the fish I caught was too big.” This is a clever metaphor for the prince losing out on his original (mistaken) engagement, only to end up with a bride who is overwhelmingly powerful.

Is Always a Catch! an Isekai?

No, Always a Catch! is a straight fantasy romantic comedy. Unlike many similar shows, the main character is not reincarnated from another world, nor is she trapped in a video game. It is a pure, in-universe fantasy story.

Where can I read the Always a Catch! manga in English?

The manga is officially available in English on digital storefronts including Square Enix’s Manga UP! Global app, BookWalker Global, and Comikey. Physical editions are published by Square Enix Manga & Books.

Who animates Always a Catch!?

The series is animated by Studio TROYCA, with Akira Oguro serving as the director and Michiko Yokote handling the series composition.

Will there be action scenes in the anime?

Absolutely. Despite being a romantic comedy, the main character is a martial arts expert. The production team even hired a specific Action Animation Director (Kanako Ōta) to ensure the fight choreography looks incredible.

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