Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica

Since the discovery of "Samon Syndrome" 30 years ago, thousands of young people have traveled to fantasy worlds, the few returnees managing to keep the special abilities they acquired in those parallel universes.

Akatsuki Ousawa, known as the "Rogue Hero," discards his peaceful life in the fantasy world Alayzard to face new challenges upon returning to Earth. He comes back with Miu, the daughter of the Demon King he defeated, and is now forced to hide her true identity by having her pose as his little sister. The two soon join Babel, a special school designed for those who have acquired special abilities and magical powers through their journey to a fantasy world.

Babel was seemingly founded to train young interdimensional travelers and "guide them to the right path for the sake of humanity and themselves," but its true purpose remains unclear to the pseudo-siblings. Will Akatsuki and Miu be able to overcome the hostile, powerful student council and uncover the forces at play behind the scenes?

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Ousawa, Akatsuki Main

Okamoto, Nobuhiko Japanese

Ousawa, Miu Main

Hikasa, Youko Japanese

Nanase, Haruka Main

Inoue, Marina Japanese

Doumoto, Kuzuha Main

Hanazawa, Kana Japanese

Izumi, Chikage Main

Ueda, Kana Japanese

Kaidou, Motoharu Supporting

Abe, Atsushi Japanese

El Da Sherfied, Listy Supporting

Satou, Rina Japanese

Aihara, Minami Supporting

Taketatsu, Ayana Japanese

Uesaki, Ryouhei Supporting

Hino, Satoshi Japanese

Hikami, Kyouya Supporting

Sakurai, Takahiro Japanese

Cook, Justin Producer

Itou, Yoshiyuki Producer

Tanaka, Shinsaku Producer

Usui, Hisato Producer

Reviews

Feb 21, 2023

kairii333

Recommended

This was a surprisingly hilarious anime.

The overpowered main protagonist is nothing short of a sleezy dude, and while he is a sleezeball he does show good potential and is a man of his word. Obviously, this is a pretty trash anime, but I went into it expecting nothing less, and so maybe since my expectations were exceedingly low, it allowed me to enjoy the anime for what it is. It does attempt at being serious from time to time, but does a overall good job at breaking up the dramatic monotony by adding in some fun comedic breaks. Obviously there is some ecchi in ... this anime, and so be warned.

The plot mostly centers around main-protag-kun so if you are looking for more depth and development from other side characters, this is not the anime for that. Most of the other characters are used for exposition or comedic breaks. That said, once again, if you are just looking for something mindlessly entertaining with good humor and fan service, then this is probably for you.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Nov 11, 2024

Joe_Devaney

Mixed Feelings

Overview:
"Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero" should really be called "Aesthetics of a Rogue Hero", because that's exactly what the series values above all else- aesthetics. It does a fine job at using style to make various things about it seem very impressive, but when you look deeper, you realise that these things are nowhere near as great as they appear at first glance, and other than a fairly unorthodox protagonist (which isn't necessarily for the better), there isn't all that much that separates it from other anime of its kind.

Story (6/10):
The series is set in an alternate version of Earth that runs parallel to a ... fantasy world called Alayzard, where people are frequently spirited away to and those who survive are granted magical powers. One such person is Akatsuki Ousawa, a young man who has recently slain the demon lord Garius, becoming the titular "rogue hero" as a result. The twist is that right before he died, Garius trusted Akatsuki with his only daughter Miu, who he brings back with him to his own world to ensure her safety and allow her to live a safe life. Assuming the identity of his little sister, Miu moves in with Akatsuki, and the two of them begin to attend a private school own by the international organization Babel, where those who have returned from Alayzard successfully are enrolled as students and taught to control their powers. From there, this unlikely duo meet new friends, train in combat and deal with various threats to their new lives.

Does this premise sound like anything you've heard before? Well, it should, because while the idea of a "reverse isekai" where the protagonist takes someone from a fantasy world to his world seems novel enough at first, that novelty quickly wears off when they get thrust into magic school, which as far as anime is concerned is an even more clichéd setting than any fantasy world. Sure, being clichéd doesn't automatically make something bad, but, as I mentioned above, "Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero" does barely anything to distinguish itself from other anime of its kind, which admittedly works in its favour sometimes, but not often. What's worse is that despite Alayzard being pretty much the catalyst for the entire plot, it never manages to be anything more than a background, as it's never focused on for more than one scene at a time. Instead, the story is pretty much entirely centred around Babel School and the various activities they get up to, some alright, others downright cringeworthy.

Even so, the story isn't a complete failure altogether. In the final arc, we get some decent worldbuilding both for Alayzard (despite its lack of on-screen presence) and Aktasuki's version of Earth. Namely, we learn that being a hero like Akatsuki isn't quite as amazing as it's initially made out to be, and Miu merely moving to Earth doesn't mean that her problems are just going to go away, since there are plenty of people who want her dead simply for being related to the late Demon Lord and will do anything to ensure as much. This results in a number of surprisingly touching moments, some decent relationship building between the major characters, and a satisfying final conflict. All of that being said, while the story does have its high points, there isn't really anything that you couldn't get from a number of other, better shows, and the series ultimately ends just when things start to get really interesting.

Art & Animation (8/10):
On the surface, "Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero" seems to look well above average. The characters are very well-drawn, the art style is right up my alley and the animations and special effects are generally very smooth and believable. However, when you look closer, you realise that the series doesn't look quite as good as it does at first glance. For example, the female character models all have the same shape to them, with the only real differences between them being their hair, their heights and their faces, which often delves into uncanny valley territory. And, as it tends to be the case with ecchi shows, the fanservice is often in your face to the point that it completely kills the mood of a scene. Don't get me wrong, though, the visuals are still good. They're just not quite as great as first impressions would have you believe.

Sound & Dialogue (8/10):
There isn't all that much to say about the soundtrack, as I barely even noticed it a lot of the time due to most of the music being rather generic and forgettable. The only real exception I can think of is the opening, and even that wasn't fantastic. The voice acting is generally very good- Eric Vale and Felecia Angelle do a respectable job as Akatsuki and Miu respectively, and the series boasts a fine cast which includes Todd Haberkorn, Monica Rial and Alexis Tipton. That said, none of them gave what I would call their best performances and it's a real shame that Colleen Clinkenbeard and Christopher Sabat, arguably the two best voice actors in the cast, are relegated to characters that do pretty much nothing of significance. Overall, the sound design is nothing spectacular, but it does what it's supposed to do if nothing else.

Characters (7/10):
It’s obvious from the very first episode that Akatsuki is far from your typical harem protagonist. However, much like Kinji Tohyama in “Aria the Scarlet Ammo”, that’s a point that tends to work against him rather than for him. To put it mildly, Akatsuki is not a nice person. He may be the hero of the story, but he’s still perfectly willing to kick the ass of anyone who so much as annoys him and often takes full advantage of his super speed to snatch women’s underwear. I know a lot of people are tired of the “girl attacks boy for being perverted” trope, but Akatsuki frequently pushes the point where a good smack or two would be more than justified, especially since, unlike most protagonists, his perversions are almost always entirely on purpose. And yet he almost never gets punished for his frequent harassment, since nobody can do anything about him because he’s just too powerful, despite being one of the few Babel students who can’t use magic, instead relying on something called energy manipulation. But while he can be very hard to like at times, he’s certainly not without redeeming qualities, and the final arc in particular shows that for all his vices he could be a hell of a lot worse, though how much comfort that is will likely vary from person to person.

The other half of the main duo is Miu, called Miu Ousawa in school due to her posing as Akatsuki’s younger sister. Even though Akatsuki was entrusted by Miu’s father to keep her safe, Miu starts off not liking him very much, which is understandable considering his rather unpleasant personality as well as the fact that he was the one who killed her father in the first place. Personality-wise, she’s generally kind but also very modest and shy, as well as often lacking in self-worth, particularly when it comes to how people treat her due to who she is related to. She’s also surprisingly intelligent and perceptive, having a consistently good grasp of battle strategies and being easily able to deduce people’s motives regardless of whether they try to pretend otherwise. Her fighting style is also more-or-less the opposite of Akatsuki’s- unlike Akatsuki, who will take energy manipulation over magic any day of the week, Miu has a natural affinity for all types of magic and can cast several types in quick succession, making her a formidable opponent, if not to the same level as Akatsuki (then again, that’s a really high bar to clear). Overall, while she doesn’t get too many chances to shine, I would definitely say she stood out as my favourite character, as she’s not only the nicest character in the series by a good amount, but also the only one who goes through any meaningful character development.

During their time at Babel, Akatsuki and Miu meet several other notable characters. Two such characters are fellow heroes and students Chikage Izumi and Kuzuha Doumoto, who quickly become good friends with each other and Miu. Initially, it’s out of their shared disdain for Akatsuki but overtime they become genuine friends who are always looking out for each other and will have each other’s backs no matter what. For their individual characters, Izumi is a tomboyish lesbian who enjoys getting intimate with other girls (though this is overall treated as a very small part of her character and is in no way offensive) and Kuzuha is a prodigy who skipped multiple grades, which is why she’s in high school despite being only 11. Both of them are also capable badasses in their own rights, with Izumi being a water magic-using archer and Kuzuha being an earth magic user who wields a hammer as big as she is. There’s also Haruka Nanase, the vice-president of the Babel student council who quickly grows to hate Akatsuki (noticing a pattern here?) due to his perversions and chaotic attitude and makes it her personal mission to keep him in line, often roping in the rest of the student council (besides the president) to help her. However, while her attitude towards Akatsuki is justified at first, she’ll often get on his case even when it isn’t warranted, like if all he did was step in to help with something, implying an unhealthy obsession with order. Overall, I didn’t dislike her, but she’s definitely the weakest of the main characters. Other than these five, there aren’t really many characters I consider worth noting. I can say, however, that the villain of the final arc is a surprisingly good one, being a credible threat to the main cast and having a comprehensible, if completely unjustifiable, motivation.

Enjoyment (7/10):
“Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero” is an entertaining series to be sure, with well-animated fight scenes and some genuinely funny comedic moments. Unfortunately, it does fall into the rather frequent trap of being ecchi for ecchi’s sake, and Akatsuki’s frequent perverted antics get old and annoying fairly quickly. The show can also be unexpectedly dark at times, particularly towards the end where we get the implication that neither world is as glamourous as it initially appears. Even so, the show never overdoes it and carries a hopeful tone even at its darkest, especially since that’s when Akatsuki’s noble qualities shine through the most.

Overall:
“Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero” is a textbook example of an anime that is neither a triumph nor a disaster. The story is rather underdeveloped, the visuals aren’t quite as good as they seem at first glance and the characters, with the exception of Miu, can be quite unlikable at times. Nevertheless, the series does have its good points as well, and so long as you don’t go in expecting anything original, this is an anime that you may very well end up enjoying in spite of yourself.

Score:
6+8+8+7+7=36/50=7.2/10

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Feb 20, 2023

ThatAnimeSnobRE

Not Recommended

Animated by Studio Arms, and directed by Kujou Rion, both of which have made nothing but porn-related works. This show is no exception; it is heavy on fan service, has ecstatic in its title, and the main picture shows one guy and many chicks. Plus it is the adaptation of a light novel, so it doesn’t take a genius to tell it won’t be a mature show about the meaning of life.

Let’s start by something easy; the production values are average to bad for their time. Half the time I felt like I was watching a low budget hentai; dull animation and cookie cutter characters ... defined only by hair colour and boob size. The soundtrack is also nothing but forgettable songs. There are supposed to be some famous voice actors in it but I sure didn’t give a damn if they all sound like retards with the material they were given.

The story is about this guy who was magically transported to another world, where he became an RPG hero and defeated the king of demons even before the show begins. He finds a portal to return home but decides to take with him the demon’s daughter in order to protect her from all the people who would hold a grudge against her. Back in his world he is enrolled in the special school for all kids with superpowers and has the girl pretending to be his sister. And since this is a no-brainer show we are not supposed to ask why his parents didn’t run to see their son safe and sound or why is transportation to other worlds taken so lightly. As I said, it is a heavy on fan service show, so you must enjoy it just for that and not for anything else. All I have described above are just the excuse; they barely elaborate or flesh out the whole transport to other worlds theme. The plot is BS and all you get is basically excuses for the protagonist to look awesome while dealing with high-schoolers who are too high on hormones and keep looking for excuses to molest a girl or pick a fight with the protagonist.

The protagonist is memorable for being a parody of RPG heroes. He has reached epic levels from his fight with the demon king and has learned some really ridiculous powerful skills, such as removing underwear from girls in a fraction of a second or making them pee for the lulz. He is not a wuss like most protagonists these days and treats women only as f**k holes. Other than that he is blunt, uninteresting, and named after the villains in that gay show called Naruto. The demon’s daughter is supposed to be a tragic character for having to hide her identity and rebuild her life, but as I said the show barely tries to flesh out the theme of the story. Thus she is treated mostly as a sperm bucket with a rack that never seems to fit in clothes. Thus it’s impossible to sympathize with her; plus her name is like the sound of a cat. The rest of the characters are nothing much; the girls are treated as cosplaying whores, while the boys are just jerks who want nothing else but to fight. Literally, there is nothing memorable about them despite the occasional sloppy attempts at drama and fleshing out.

In a similar way every single thing that is going on in this show is just a poor excuse for fan service. Trust me when I say they are learning nothing in that school, the teachers are useless, and it’s just a bunch of horny teenagers finding pitiful excuses to blow shit up and molest others just for the heck of it. So basically every episode is about the protagonist shamelessly molesting girls who instead of reporting him literally fall for him, and boys who want to compare their peckers with the protagonist. Any drama or plot that sometimes tries to pop up is forgotten as soon as the next underwear flies off in the air. And the ending is not even an ending but rather a warm-up for a second season that never came. Yes, it was yet another infomercial for selling more novels instead of a proper adaptation.

As a whole there is nothing to see here; just another forgettable no-brainer show. I must admit that it’s at least good for its fan service. It is bordering a softcore hentai at times, with a protagonist who is one step away from a rapist, and that makes it more interesting that the usual crap we get in harems. The boobs are never censored and there are even some scenes of sexual foreplay. Other than that it’s complete garbage and if you try to watch it for any other reason you are going to hate it.

Reviewer’s Rating: 3

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