AMC Networks’ fast-growing anime streamer HIDIVE has announced two new worlds of magic and adventure will unfold onscreen for fans this winter: The gamer-turned-baby summoner tale Hell Mode and the charming creature adventure Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling. Both series offer different visions of the popular isekai genre.
“We’re thrilled to announce that the anime adaptation of the wildly successful Hell Mode light novel series will be part of HIDIVE’s Winter 2026 slate. Fans will not want to miss a minute of this exciting new isekai action anime when it premieres as an exclusive simulcast series on HIDIVE in January. Hell Mode is sure to be a hit with audiences this winter!” said John Ledford, President of HIDIVE.
Ledford commented about Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling, “We can’t wait for fans to watch the anime adaptation and experience this long running light novel series in a whole new way. Whether you are new to isekai and fantasy or a long time fan of these genres, you will not want to miss Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling and its premiere in January!”
The new isekai action series Hell Mode (full title: Hell Mode: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing) will join the upcoming Winter 2026 season line-up. Based on the hit light novel series created by Hamuo, the series will be offered as an exclusive simulcast series on HIDIVE. Hell Mode is scheduled to premiere this January and will be available to subscribers in both the U.S. and Canada as well as key overseas markets including the U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
In advance of its streaming debut, HIDIVE will present the North American premiere of Hell Mode Episode 1 at Anime Frontier 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas. As part of today’s announcement, HIDIVE released the official English subtitled trailer for the series.
Synopsis: Thirty-five-year-old Kenichi Yamada has spent his life playing every single MMORPG he can get his hands on. Tired of new games that cater to casual players, he leaps at the chance to try out a never-ending game with an intimidating “Hell Mode” that raises the difficulty (and chances to level up) to impossible heights. But, as soon as he selects the “Summoner,” Kenichi finds himself transported into the world of the game and reborn to a family of serfs as a baby named Allen! With nothing but his memories and wits to guide him, Allen sets off to conquer Hell Mode, unearth the secrets of the Summoner class, and free his newfound family from their fate.
Written by Hamuo, the Hell Mode light novel series first launched in November 2019 on Shōsetsuka ni Narō. The title was acquired by Earth Star Entertainment in July 2020 and has been published under Earth Star Novel ever since., The light novel spans 12 volumes to date and has been adapted into a manga series that debuted in October 2020. The English-language versions of both the light novel and manga are available in digital from J Novel Club. A print edition of the English language version of the light novel is available Yen Press.
The anime adaptation is directed by Makoto Tamagawa together with series composition by Daishiro Tanimura, character design by Kei Tsushima and production by Yokohama Animation Lab. The voice cast of Hell Mode is led by Mutsumi Tamura as Allen, Mayu Iizuka as Krena, Tasuku Hatanaka as Dogora, Sayaka Senbongi as Cecil, Hideo Ishikawa as Rodin, Sayaka Ohara as Theresia and Makoto Koichi as Mash.
Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling is an adaptation of the popular isekai fantasy light novel series by Nekoko and will be simulcast exclusively on HIDIVE, available in the U.S. and Canada as well as key overseas markets including the U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. HIDIVE will also present the show’s North American premiere at Anime Frontier 2025 in advance of its streaming launch in January.
Synopsis: Our hero needs to come out of his shell … literally! Reborn in another world inside a dragon egg, he doesn’t have the amazing magic or mighty physical strength of your typical isekai’d adventurer just yet. He’ll need to break free and grow from a weak hatchling and into a fearsome beast if he wants to escape the deep, dark forest unscathed. What battles and adventures await him in this unique take on the isekai phenomenon?
Originally launched by Nekoko as a web novel in August 2015, the light novel series debuted in December 2015 with illustrations by Naji Yanagida and currently totals 16 volumes, with the first 12 volumes published by Earth Star Entertainment and from volume 13 thereafter published by Square Enix. The English language version of the light novel is available from Seven Seas Entertainment.
The Reincarnated as a Dragon Hatchling anime series is directed by Yuta Takamura and assistant Nobuyoshi Arai, with series composition by Tatsuhiko Urahata and production by Studio FelixFilm.
