Mahou Senshi Louie

I would rate this a 7.5 if I could. It has a message, it has entertainment value, and it isn't as ecchi as one might think from a casual glance.

The female characters are surprisingly deep and I found that I knew real-life women who could be compared to each of them. On the one hand, one can watch this show as merely being a bit of fan service, counterbalanced by a male buffoon, thus making a compromise show suitable for viewing in mixed male-female company. I take the show more seriously; I think the writers are making a point about how ... an old-fashioned masculine man can get along with aggressive, independent female co-workers who are *not* romantically attracted to him in the slightest. I think it's trying to make a point about modern gender roles. I could be reading way too much into it.

At the same time, it's very intertextual, which is a fancy way of saying it rips off cliches from all kinds of sources that have come before it. IMHO the writers do a great job of ripping off a diverse selection of sources -- not just swords-and-sorcery, but also murder mysteries, martial arts stories, etc.

When I think of Rune Soldier, I almost immediately think of Slayers: sword bearing warriors, magical items, monsters, sorcery, etc. It's definitely a comedy, and nearly impossible to take a situation seriously until the very end. There were quite a few times I laughed out loud while watching this. The series is 24 episodes long, and it felt like an appropriate length. There weren't really any dry episodes or filler that was noticeable either. The last three episodes were more or less dedicated to the ending, and although there were events leading up to this it almost felt like an abrupt twist to finish things ... up, but in the end I was pleased with the way things were handled so I can't complain. If you dig comedic anime and the old school RPG setting then I'd highly recommend this.

I'll admit, Rune Soldier has a very special place in my heart, and I'm definitely biased towards it. I hope this review will explain why.


Story-wise, Rune Soldier follows somewhat standard form. A group of female adventurers (Melissa the priestess, Genie the fighter, and Merril the theif) need a Mage to fill out their party so they can properly explore ruins and do all that fun adventuring stuff. The problem is, the only Mage willing to join their party this side of anywhere is Louie, a blue-haired, barrel-chested smart-mouth who prefers fighting hand-to-hand than casting spells (mostly because he's pretty terrible at magic). Unfortunately, Melissa's deity ... informs her that Louie is to be her Champion, and thus the group is saddled with him regardless.

The world of Rune Soldier is vibrant, diverse, and infinitely interesting, and the characters frequently travel to new places in search of fame and fortune, while frequently returning to the capital city (which is also just as interesting and engaging as the rest of the world). Half the show is spent on their 'down-time' as well as the adventuring, so you get to learn a lot about the characters by what they do when they're not climbing wizard's towers to stop rogue elementals from destroying the country.

There are a couple of interesting sub-plots and recurring characters, mainly an elven girl who helps out occasionally, a rival adventuring party, and eventually the endgame plot, as Louie uncovers a sinister plan to take over the kingdom. The only penalties I can give the plot are than some of the episodes are less engaging than others, but I wouldn't want to cut any of them out - they all add to the characterization. 9/10, definitely.


Art style is pretty typical of the time it was made, it'll feel very similar to Slayers, but with a more mature and rough feel to it. It's good, but not spectacular. Some of the magical effects look a little dated in their presentation, but thankfully no epilepsy warning needed. 7/10.


Sound design is good for the show, but while it fit the scenes quite well, none of them were particularly memorable. They served their purpose, and would work great if you run a table-top fantasy RPG game. 7/10.


Character - oh, here we get to the good part. You see, the best thing about Rune Soldier is the character growth, and how the relationships change over time. Louie is initially relegated to being a pack mule for the group, nothing more than a waste of space that's only good for carrying things and the occasional spell (if that). His irresponsible nature and gung-ho attitude in the first few episodes only serve to reinforce their view of him in this way. However, as the show progresses, Louie improves in many ways - swordsmanship, playing nice with teammates, even magical prowess, and most importantly he gains their respect. By the end of the show, they're fighting right alongside him, trusting him enough to let him take the lead for once, and letting his infection enthusiasm get to them. It's a beautiful thing, and you can track the incremental progression from episode to episode.

The best part is, IT'S NOT A HAREM. Rune Soldier has the balls to put a male lead in a group of female characters and NOT have them falling for him at every turn. It's fundamentally about respect and trust, and it's a breath of fresh air. The only character that has even the slightest hint of interest in Louie in a romantic way is Melissa, and that's really more of a "Wow, he's actually a really nice guy. Why haven't I seen this before?" kind of moment. Overall, it's just a superb cast of characters accompanied by excellent writing, and it's one of the main draws of the show. 10/10.


Enjoyment is a huge part of any anime, and Rune Soldier does NOT fall behind. There are a lot of different episodes (since the show tends to follow an episodic rather than serialized stye), and there's something here for everyone. Dashing swordfights, tournament battles, magic duels, sea monsters, slice of life stories, festivals and fairs, exploring dark forests and holding armies at bay, there are tons of fun adventures to be had here. The show starts strong and keeps the momentum up from the very beginning. The only mar on the enjoyment depends on what method you decide to watch it. Subbed is okay, but the voice actors always felt a little off. The English dub is actually surprisingly good, with the exception of Merril, who is a little annoying and high-pitched. 9/10.


Overall, this show is AMAZING. The lackluster art and sound is only due to its age - in everything that matters, this show is top notch. Get your popcorn ready, get comfortable, and watch the first 4 episodes. You'll get hooked in no time, and the only thing you'll regret is that it's finished. 910, and a definite recommendation here, for what it's worth.

I thought the first half of the series was quite enjoyable. In the tradition of "George of the Jungle", "Beverly Hills Ninja" etc, it's the story of a guy who's strong on heart but weak on execution. The twist of having the standard adventure types of warrior, thief and holyperson portrayed by competent women works well and the series never descends into a harem comedy although it hovers close every once in awhile. The situations are strong and the humor fast paced. Unfortunately after the about the 11th episode it falls apart rather quickly - like the creative team wanted to move on to other ... things and just kinda wrote some stuff to fulfill the 24 episode obligation. The stories are pretty cliche - the humor is weak - it becomes disappointing. The first ten or so episodes are definitely worth watching though.

This anime is definately 10's across the board. It is one of the funniest anime shows I have had the pleasure of watching. This show never gets old, no matter how many times I watch it.

I write this review for you a changed man. Every now and then, certain forms of art come across our lives and changes the way we view not only ourselves, but the world and our understanding of how it works. Rune Soldier IS that work of art, and I laud it for its ground breaking intricacies and the scope of it's message.

Story: 10

On the surface, this may seem to the uneducated viewer as something less than exemplary. To the sophisticate, or those with taste, they would notice the latent gifts for script that the writers have blessed us with. The anime (a term i ... do NOT use lightly, I assure you) is short, sweet, and completely above the means in which it was given.

Art: 9

Art is objective, greatness is not. This is greatness.

Sound: 10

Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, Rune Soldier. One of these things is exactly like the others.

Character: 10

Great characters are born, not created in playwrights. The different actors in this epic are wonderfully sculpted from the different corners of the human psyche, wonderfully interacting with each other.

Enjoyment: 10

For reasons listed above.

Overall: 10

Rarely does a story come by that enriches not just the spirit but the mind. You would be paying yourself a service to experience this masterpiece first hand.

Now, many people may wonder why some of this may feel a little familiar if they have seen Record of Lodoss War. It’s because the show was based in the same world as Lodoss, but on a different continent. I have a feeling they used that to pretty much get away with not specifying anything that actually happened on Lodoss, even though they have basically the same design concepts. I bring up the fact that Celecia, a cute yellow haired elf girl they meet in the second journey looks really close to Deedlit, the elf girl in the Record of Lodoss War. I do ... have a question on why Celecia is even in the show, she is only shown twice it seems and she never really does much except being a spiritual helper… just like Deedlit… um… But… getting back on subject.

This isn’t a like Lodoss, in that he is rather crazy and comical. The characters don’t act exactly how their classes are stereotyped with makes for a better rounded character personality. I see them growing into the idea of Louie and get a hang for his antics, even to the point that they praise him (though right after, add a damn hard slap to the face comment). This show is with a lot of strong women, they never show themselves to be a damsel in distress so Louie never has to really ‘save them.’ I fact, normally they are saving him from his stupidity.

It’s something I think people should watch, though if you’re looking for serious, this is not for you. I guess I can credit this to D&D. There are two ways of playing, the serious ones that takes everything as the rules, no talking without being in the game… then there are the lose fit, those who have fun with it and play it just for something to do. This is the later….. Lodess War is the first.

Maybe back in the day it was something to go gya gya over (according to the person who rated it a 10) but to me it was cliche after cliche. Some of the scenes are cute, but there's nothing new or surprising in the story. The episodes are very skippable, I'd compare it to saiyuki where there is really nothing to tie all the series together except for the same characters that keep appearing in them with a couple attempts at humour. So, you can skip a bunch of the episodes as I did and still not miss a thing. I guess, most of the ... part that you could call a "plot" appeared in the last couple episodes of the series and even that was soooooooo predictable that you can just skip through it. So, I recommend that you watch this if you are really bored, or in the mood for watching something really predictable and bla.
Also, as another personal rant comment, the guy is supposed to be a crappy magician so why is he practicing with swords??!!! shouldn't he be training to become a better magician???

Story in a nutshell: 3 female treasure hunting adventurers who are looking for a female wizard to join their troupe (consisting of a warrior, a thief and a priestess) are made to take on Louie (a male wizard more brawn than brains) after events conspire to force them to do so.


Rune Soldier ("Mahou Senshi Louie") is an anime full of genuine laugh out loud moments. It is a comedy fantasy anime set in a world filled with quaint towns with taverns, wizard schools, demons, fairies, buried treasure, armies and adventurers etc. And while getting on its years now, this anime's quality still shines through.


Artwork: The ... artwork is dated in its style now but is still of a high quality and the anime has plenty of scenes with particularly great animation.

Characters: Somewhat generic but definitely still very lovable, there is definitely significant character development over the course of this anime.

Comedy: Some of the jokes have become overdone since this anime was created however despite this the anime still has plenty of genuine laugh out loud moments and original comedy.

Romance: There is a little romance that develops (or becomes apparent) between certain characters over the course of the anime but romance in general is not a focal part of this anime.

Action: There is plenty of action in this anime yet its not what you would call an action-packed anime (as some episodes feature little to no action at all).

Episodes: Most of the episodes revolve around their own mini story however in the bigger picture of things, the episodes are all relevant to one another and all link up together to form a bigger overriding story line and ending.

Fan service: This anime has a little fan service however nothing outrageous or which may make you feel uncomfortable.

Overall enjoyment: Very high! This anime is not a masterpiece however it is still an excellent anime and if rated on enjoyment alone, it would definitely get a 10/10 rating from me ^_^v .

Ive only seen two episodes of this Anime and already its appearing to be really bad, as mentioned just one Cliché after another American voice actors Japanese with subs, its not really that good plus there doesn't seem to be a plot

I watched the whole series. It falls mostly in the realm of a magical fantasy that takes place in a stone age civilization. There are several female main characters, but it is definitely not a harem-style anime. It took me several episodes to really begin liking it, but by the 4th or 5th episode I was hooked. Overall it is pretty good. I wanted there to be more romance in it among the characters, but there wasn't too much of that.

This anime is often compared to "slayers", and for good reason - it belongs to the "based fantasy" genre. In other words, generic. And this means that here we will meet goblins, adventurers, medieval cities, magic and other indecency. And with the "slayers" he is related by similar characters and humor.

Many will think that this is a cheap copy and they will be partially right. But when viewing, I felt that the author still wanted to make it better. Using a single template, he added / changed those elements that he considered missing. I think you often had the feeling that you want to change ... something in the work so that you like it. And "Mahou Senshi Louie" is probably such an example.

One of the interesting elements is the approach to the development of the main characters (this applies mainly to the main character - Louis.) - they are more good not in character, but in their "image", since it is built from many remarkable components. Simply put - the characters have a "background" - their past, a place in this world. Their elaboration goes beyond the archetypes, and personally I'm glad about it.

But perhaps the most important advantage of this anime will be its humor and a fair amount of parody. I actually smiled quite often, and even laughed while watching. From this follows the main advantage for the target viewer - it is easy to watch, regardless of your condition.

It's time to talk about a couple of shortcomings - firstly, this is too straightforward behavior of the main characters, in particular the same female trio from the cover - every time Louis does something wrong (and he does it all the time), they call him names and blame for everything, and in general their attitude towards him is negative. Moreover, they constantly repeat the same thing, which is already very annoying for the third time. Apparently the author wanted to create the impression of an anti-harem, but obviously overdid it.

And the second drawback is the ill-fated grotesqueness. I know it's VERY weird to blame comedy for this. But the fact is that the series does not balance well between seriousness and complete absurdity. Because of this, you have to make some efforts to continue to believe in what is happening on the screen. 50% of jokes come down to how stupid the main character is

To sum it up: "Mahou Senshi Louie" is a fun and easy to watch comedy with interesting characters. But due to excessive absurdity, it loses its integrity. But nevertheless, it has its own charm and atmosphere based fantasy, which is not boring to watch.

7/10

Fantasy anime are like cheese in pizza; its existence is just ubiquitous, has been there ever since, essential, and is just utter shite without them. Every season, they come like in waves, trying to find their way to the palates of the avid viewer, drowning us with whatever they offer despite the reality that they are essentially similar. They may come in different flavors and tumble, fumble and turn things around but I like my pizza's cheese like my fantasy anime, flowing with cheese, mate.

Rune Soldier is a fantasy comedy anime with two dozen episodes and artstyle that is strongly 90s despite being made in ... early 2000s. Upon reading its background, I was surprised that it shares the same world and minds behind the abominably boring Record of Lodoss War. Why? Because unlike Record, Rune Soldier is actually entertaining, fun, and never got stale. While Record told a Dungeons and Dragons tale in utter humorless and super serious vibe, Rune Soldier is closer to what a DnD session feels like and after finishing it, I was pleasantly satisfied despite the ending not being that good by itself.

Story:
Rune Soldier is a slapstick, mostly episodic tale about a musclebound wizard named Louie and his companions trying their luck around the magical realm, getting into skirmishes with magical beings, scoundrels, or just dealing with the most mundane everyday problems. It does have a final arc that is kinda serious, but i was thankful it didn't bend so much as to betray the reason why I loved it. As a fantasy anime, the setting was fairly bland and the creatures are cardboard cutouts of pop culture. I also found the magic system barely there and quite unexplored, despite the main character being a magician. Somehow, this works because the show is a comedy and one of its running gag is that Louie uses his fists far more than his wand. Likewise, the show has characterization despite its episodic structure and one of the most lighthearted fantasy anime around. In my book, that is a plus amidst the hundreds isekais that are complicating things exponentially.

Characters:
This is where the show shines the best. The four-man band's dynamics was just fun to watch, with their banters and comradery bouncing in and out and evolving per episode. Louie rose up to be one of my favorite fantasy protagonists and his build as a Muscle Wizard is up there as one of the gag characters that players of Dungeons and Dragons would create in a bonkers campaign. He may be a dumbass but has hints of wisdom in terms of practicality and is not relegated to a generic do-gooder because his flaws just further enhance how different he is from the usual MC. Despite my like for Louie however, Merril was just my favorite the cast, a mouse-type rogue with an explosive, yet non-annoying personality and has the best synergy with the others. Genie, the boisterous female Guts is there, with good storyline but somehow plain characterization. The last of the four is the cleric Melissa who started generic however grew up the most by the end of the show and her catchphrase just grew up with me. Despite four of them mostly together, there is spirtually a fifth member in Louie's friend Ila who was just useful as she is one of the sexiest nerds ever. The support characters are likewise nice to have with despite their irrelevancy to the main plot, which doesn't really matter much because the main cast's dynamics was strong enough to carry the show to the end. It was so strong that when the show ended, I really missed them.

Sound:
Both the opening and ending evokes the Japanese pop and rock of the age and I just loved listening to them alongside the eyecatching animations while they play. Voice acting was marvelous, especially with Merril's voice which gave her such an enormous charm. The background ost was functional in general though I give props to the powerchord powerup theme which just plays whenever Louie does something heroic, something dumb as hell, or a mix of both. It is the narm, baby.

Art:
Artwise, it stands out personally because it is just 90s art which I absolutely love. The design of the girls just pop out, Louie is burly and striking, though i gotta say the animation does dip at times. That said, the animation was mostly fine and probably most of its budget was spent on the first episode and the last where the sakugas were scattered generously. When action kicks in though, there were nice shots. Being a relic of the past, its superdeform actually aged well and never went to extremes unlike its contemporaries. Ila and Merril just look fine as hell and are top tier babes in the anime world.

Overall:
In general, Rune Soldier never overstayed its welcome, the gags mostly stick, the humor works for a fan of slapstick like me, and a fine concoction of fantasy and comedy that is just timeless due to its 90s+2000s aesthetics. Its story is barebones but didn't matter really because this show is among the most lightest ones out there and the enjoyment comes from just seeing the fun adventures and character interactions that didn't fail to entertain me. For a Dungeons and Dragons fan who may feel dismayed by Record of Lodoss War, this is essentially the show with the 'real' spirit of the game. Rune Soldier is the mozzarella pizza that remains delicious hot or cold and is an absolute classic. Whatever my mood is, I'll gladly consume it.

It is episodic by nature, so binging it makes no difference aside from its last three episodes. Watch to detoxify after those horribly complicated shows.

Western fantasy-style anime DONE RIGHT.

aka a prettier Slayers or a more mature, less bleach-ey, more mature Fairy Tail. Nothing much else to say, just that if you like the genre, watch it!!