The official website for the television anime of Shiratori Shirow and Shirabi‘s The Ryuo’s Work is Never Done! (Ryūō no Oshigoto!) light novel series began streaming a promotional video on Tuesday. The video previews the opening theme song “Kore Kara” (From Now On) performed by Machico.

The single for the opening song will ship on January 31, and Machico will attend events at retailers to mark the release. The events will begin in Tokyo on January 31 and end in Osaka on February 25.

The website also revealed four new cast members. The new roles are Nobuhiko Okamoto as Ayumu Kannabe, Toshihiko Seki as Kōsuke Kiyotaki, Sayaka Senbongi as Machi Kugui, and Sho Hayami as President Seiichi Tsukimitsu.

The anime will premiere on Tokyo MX, Sun TV, KBS Kyoto, BS Fuji, Mie TV, and AT-X on January 8.

The anime’s main cast members are reprising their roles from the novels’ previous drama CD adaptation:

Shinsuke Yanagi (Ro-Kyu-Bu! SS, And you thought there is never a girl online?, Momo Kyun Sword) is directing the anime at the studio project No.9 (Angel’s 3Piece, And you thought there is never a girl online?).

Fumihiko Shimo (New Game!, Clannad, Infinite Stratos) is in charge of the series scripts, and Akane Yano (And you thought there is never a girl online?) is designing the characters based on Shirabi‘s original novel illustrations. Kenji Kawai (Ghost in the Shell, Fate/stay night, Maison Ikkoku, Ranma ½) is composing the music.

Atsushi Satomi is directing the art, and Tetsuya Kawada is the director of photography. Satoshi Motoyama is directing the sound at Magic Capsule, and Nippon Columbia is producing the music. Dreamshift is producing the project.

Miku It? is singing the ending theme “Mamoritai-mono no Tame ni” (For What I Want to Protect).

BookWalker Global announced in July that it would release the light novel series as its second exclusive title. The series’ first English volume debuted on BookWalker‘s website this fall. The company describes the original novels’ story:

The Ryuo’s Work is Never Done! (working title) is about a teenage boy named Yaichi Kuzuryuu who happens to be the strongest shogi player in history, holding the top title of “Ryuo” (Dragon King). One fateful day, shogi-loving elementary student, Ai Hinatsuru, appears before him claiming that he promised to be her master. But was such a promise really ever made? Thus began their master and disciple relationship!

Who can match their level of intensity and passion for shogi?

SB Creative‘s GA Bunko label began releasing the series in 2015. Shirow provides the story, and Shirabi illustrates the novels. GA Bunko published the sixth volume in July, and the limited edition bundles a drama CD. The seventh volume will also ship in January with a drama CD. The novels topped the Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! (This Light Novel Is Amazing!) guidebook’s list of the top light novel series for 2017.

Kazuki and Kogetaokoge launched a manga adaptation of the novels in Square Enix‘s Young Gangan magazine in 2015. Kazuki is in charge of the story composition, and Kogetaokoge illustrates the manga. Square Enix published the fifth compiled book volume in July, and the sixth volume will ship on December 25.

Shirow and Kippu are also currently releasing the No-Rin light novel series, and the 13th volume shipped in October 2016. The series inspired Maru Asakura‘s manga adaptation in 2012 and a television anime in 2014. Cotoji debuted the No-Rin: Petit spinoff manga in 2013, and Toshiko Machida released the No-Rin: Gaia spinoff manga in 2014.

Sources: MoCa News, Animate Times