is a Japanese light novel series written by Arata Shiraishi and illustrated by Uodenim. It was originally published as a web novel on the online publication platform Shōsetsuka ni Narō in 2018, before it was acquired and published by Kadokawa Shoten under their Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint from October 2019 to March 2022. A manga adaptation illustrated by Kentarō began serialization on Square Enix's Manga Up! service in September 2019. An anime television series adaptation produced by EMT Squared aired from July to September 2026.
Plot Ephtal, a magician who is actually the reincarnation of a human from the modern world, spent his entire life trying to improve his skills in magic. However, he was unable to succeed before dying of old age. After his death, he is reincarnated 400 years later, also as a sage named Ephtal. Now finding himself in a world where, due to magic becoming weaker, he is now the strongest magic user, Ephtal decides to live out his second chance and fulfill what he was unable to do in his previous life.
Characters
A Sage of the Wind who spent his life unsuccessfully trying to become a skilled magician. After his reincarnation, he is now one of the strongest magic users, as he finds himself in a world where magic's power has declined.
Media Light novel Written by Arata Shiraishi, From Overshadowed to Overpowered originally began as a self-published web novel on the online publication platform Shōsetsuka ni Narō in 2018. Following positive reception, it was acquired and published by Kadokawa under their Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint featuring illustrations by Uodenim, after that which both the web novel and Shiraishi's account were deleted from the website, with eight volumes published between October 1, 2019, and March 1, 2022.
Manga A manga adaptation illustrated by Kentarō began serialization on Square Enix's Manga Up! service on September 26, 2019, under the title , with the first volume released on January 31, 2020; with nine volumes released as of July 7, 2026. The manga is released in English on Manga Up! and is also licensed in English by Comikey.
Anime An anime television series adaptation was announced on February 20, 2026, with the English title of The Failed Sage's Academy Domination.https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2026/2/20/from-overshadowed-to-overpowered-second-reincarnation-of-a-talentless-sage-anime-adaptation-announced-cast-staff?srsltid=AfmBOop0k_goi8ZkNsWzwzOnGP5-IaMmkVXKoh97x5HsC4Ca2N5-mfXS It is produced by EMT Squared and directed by Hisashi Ishii, with Deko Akao supervising series scripts, Hideki Furukawa designing the characters, and Takaaki Nakahashi composing the music. The series aired from July 2 to September 17, 2026, on Tokyo MX and other networks. The opening theme song is "+Encount", performed by Flow, while the ending theme song is , performed by TrySail. Crunchyroll streamed the series.
Episodes
See also The Misdeeds of an Extremely Arrogant Villain Aristocrat, another light novel series with the same illustrator
Notes
References
External links Light novel official website Manga official website Anime official website