Introduction
The idea of a show where a character or group of characters are thrust into fantasy setting with life or death consequences is not a new idea in anime, as a matter of fact, you could even say the market is borderline saturated with them these days… But for good reason. I don’t know why, but we all enjoy the idea of these shows… But they all seem to have one thing in common, and that’s failure in execution. Whether it’s character design, storytelling, deus ex machina plot twists, or the creator or director of the series just deciding to take a huge dump on the fan base, they never live up to what they could be. That brings me to Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash. Unlike every other show I’ve seen with this narrative, it really seems to get things right. From the characters, to the story, to the exposition, to the setting and background art style… It’s all just handled beautifully.
The Characters
At first glance, the characters really have appear to bring nothing to the table. For the first couple of episodes, they all seem pretty generic and “trope-y”. Then episode 4 happens. In a plot twist that everyone can see from a mile away (I mean it’s in the OP…), The Party’s leader, Manato dies. Manato is the first character to really receive any development in the show, and it’s repeatedly established how he is the pillar that is holding up the building. From this point on, something great happens. Haruhiro, the main character and his friends start to get some real development. The whole party’s depth and range of emotions are on full display after Manato’s death. Even the hot-headed, annoying as crap Ranta shows that he has a side that can be mournful and empathetic. Yume the hunter and best girl, Moguzo the warrior, and Shihoru the mage sort of get the short end of the stick on the development side, but Ranta’s development over the past few episodes, Mary’s development through the middle, and Haruhiro’s growth throughout are really great to watch. Side characters really aren’t a thing in this show. I’m leaving a lot out, but the characters are great, just take my word on it.
The Plot
This is where we get a little separation from the norm in regards to the genre. Our band of characters are introduced to this new world with no memories of their past, but everyone somehow knows that they don’t belong in Grimgar. Throughout the entire series, characters make references to luxuries that don’t exist in Grimgar, sometimes giving clues as to what the characters did before they arrived. The story can really be divided into 3 arcs. The first arc is the introduction to Grimgar and death of Manato. These episodes ease you into the world, introduce you to the struggles of the characters, and the parallels between them and the goblins they fight. It also heavily expresses how important Manato is to the group. The second arc is Mary’s introduction and the group’s revenge. Needing a new healer after Manato’s death, the group is put in touch with Mary, a healer who apparently wants nothing to do with the group. After fighting a little fighting, arguing, and planning, the crew plans an assault on the group of goblins that killed Manato. This process leads to Mary opening up to the group, learning to trust again, and really opens the door for Haruhiro as the leader of the group. The final arc is the Kobold Dungeon and Mary’s revenge. After their clash with the goblin group that killed Manato, the goblins are on high alert, forcing the group out of their hunting grounds, into the mines where Mary’s party was killed. To make a long story short, Mary lays her friends to rest by freeing their spirits, the group encounters the big Kobold that killed them, and some minor and unfortunate deus ex machina stuff happens… But it’s minor. Like allowing Ranta to escape after he sacrificed himself by simply flashing forward, never explaining how he escaped. And then when Haruhiro fights the big kobold… 2 really minor things, but they kinda brought the show down a little.
The Music/Art/Style
I can’t praise this show enough for its art and animation, I want to particularly draw attention to the landscapes in the background. They often look like oil paintings with the crisp, clean animation rolling in the front of them. It’s really quite marvelous. The soundtrack wasn’t notable except for the OP. It was great
Takeaway
The takeaway here is we have a story that well told and a complete thought. That is rare in anime. There isn’t much in the way of deus ex machina resolutions and pointless comedy. Although most of the times they try to be funny they fail hard. The fan service level is higher than it needed to be, but it’s not in your face all the time… Only occasionally. The characters are likeable and not too one dimensional and show some genuine depth and development. The plot is clean, complete, well thought out, and not too complicated. I do have one major problem with this anime, but maybe it will be resolved in an upcoming season? Let’s hope. Nothing is ever revealed about the character’s pasts and how they got to Grimgar… And that’s something that really needs to be dealt with, and soon…at least if there’s another season to come. Bottom line is I would recommend this to anyone interested in the fantasy genre.
Because of the lack of explanation of the backstory and the not so painful deus ex machina fight resolutions in the final episode, I've got to give Grimgar an 8/10. It's good, no it's really good. My enjoyment level is a 10 because it was a blast to watch and never got too stupid or boring.
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash
Rating : 8/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
If this gets a second season, i'm going to watch it.
