That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 Episode 5 Hit With Unexpected Delay – Here’s Why

Credit: 8bit

The Season 4 rollout of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime has experienced an unexpected small delay. Episode 5 of Season 4 was set to be aired on May 1, 2026, at its regular scheduled time, but has been suspended in Japan on the Nippon Television Network’s 30 stations nationwide (via official website). As a result, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 Episode 5 is now expected to be released on May 8, 2026.

While many fear that a delay means there are problems with the production of an anime, that is certainly not the case in this situation. There are no production issues with this particular episode. The scheduling is simply changing due to a change in the programming schedule. However, this change also raises some obvious questions, such as what program will air in its place and when viewers can expect the story to resume. So, let us get into all these details one by one.

Why That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 Episode 5 Was Delayed

Based on the official announcement, the delay was attributed to a scheduling conflict with the Nippon Television Network in Japan and its affiliates. The original scheduled broadcast for May 1st was moved, thus skipping a weekly release for the anime. These types of scheduling conflicts are very common in Japanese television networks as they often change them based on various events and scheduling priorities.

We have seen similar issues very recently with Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, where Episode 8 of JJK Season 3 was unexpectedly delayed by a week, just when fans were excited to see the highly anticipated clash between Yuji and Hiromi Higuruma.

However, the good news here in this case is that instead of leaving a gap, the production team behind That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 is planning to air a special recap program titled “Season 4 Dissection Manual” on May 2, 2026, on BS11 in Japan (via @ten_sura_anime on Twitter/X). This recap show is not just going to be a regular recap show, but will include Miho Okasaki, the voice of Rimuru Tempest, who will then revisit key moments of the season so far and share her favorite parts of the story.

Thus, the recap will also provide fans with an excellent insight into what will happen next by breaking down important themes, characters, and plot points. In a way, it serves as a guided refresher, helping both casual viewers and dedicated fans reconnect with the narrative before the next major developments arrive.

When Will That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 Episode 5 Release Now?

There is no official confirmation of further delays, and this appears to be a one-time scheduling change. Thus, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 Episode 5 is now expected to be released on May 8, 2026, which is exactly one week from the previous scheduled release date.

Rimuru Tempest from the anime series That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime.  | Credit: 8bit

The anime continues to follow its regular broadcast pattern – airing every Friday in Japan and streaming globally via Crunchyroll at a fixed time. In Japan, the episode is expected to be broadcast across a nationwide network of Nippon Television and its 30 stations at 11:00 PM JST (via official website). Meanwhile, international viewers can stream it on Crunchyroll at 8 AM PDT (via Crunchyroll).

So based on that, here is the expected release date and time for That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 Episode 5 in other major regions.

Please note that Crunchyroll is currently streaming the series in regions like North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS, and Southeast Asia. Ultimately, the delay of Episode 5 might have interrupted the weekly flow, but it is only a minor change to the schedule; therefore, it should not be seen as a big issue.

The important question now is when the wait will be over, whether episode five will be worth the additional week’s wait. What are your thoughts on that? Share with us in the comments section below.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.