SCORE: Good - 7
STORY: Entertaining but repetitive.
As usual for the isekai genre our protagonist is granted a second chance in a fantasy world filled with magic, monsters and game-like systems, instead of eternal afterlife. The catch – main hero is a blue blob, a slime. And this concept works, because there is no world apocalypse to stop or girl’s heart to conquer, at least for now. This is basic escapism with focus on entertainment.
Narrative puts Rimaru in center of outcasts and follows his selfless task to create a peacefull community. This journey is defenitely a fun watch. There are several problems though: all the different story arcs have similar structure and become repetitive after a while: new faction is introduced -> initial conflicts arise -> big battle -> troublemakers are defeated, moderate parts join Slime-sama and get an upgrade. The show peaks midway during the orc invasion arc and cannot infuse its story with new ideas, tension or excitement afterwards.
Pacing is like a boulder rolling down a hill. Early episodes can be considered as slow, but they do a great job at introducing the viewer to characters and world with its mechanics, while you crave for more when end creddits roll. As the story progresses, pacing becomes faster and faster; episodes in the second half turn into random events loosely hold together, not a cohesive story with a hook for more slimy content.
The way characters are treated fuels this displeasure further.
CHARACTERS: A one slime show.
Slime-sama is an OP character, he will solve every problem with ease, win every battle and befriend everyone, but does not necessary take the good karma option on every occasion. Blue blob just enjoys his newfound life and does whatever he wants. The show also manages to transfer his joy, optimism or euphory onto the viewer. As an escapism power fantasy projection, this character works exceptionally well and fulfills its purpose.
Rimaru collects countless colorful followers. Each time a new group is introduced, those new characters will get a short backstory and a name to segregeta them from faceless redshirts. Fullstop. Expect no further development, as focus shifts with each new arc, older characters have to move to the background and remain frozen in the established master – subordinate relationship, thus there are no deeper character arcs or any development. Furthermore, this is a one man (slime) show, because everyone else is a support character and is defined through interactions with Rimuru. The show could use at least one character, who walks besides Rimaru, not behind him.
ART & ANIMATION: I could not imagine a blue blob could look this good.
This show looks good. Character models are detailed, colorful, interesting and stay on model for the entire run; backgrounds utilize a washed-up art style, but can express enough diversity, detail or create beatiful vistas and fit nicely into the slime world.
Animations are crisp and enhance not only fights, but also mundane everyday scenes. Slime itself looks especially gorgeous with funny grimaces or little details, like dog ears and tail attachements when Rimaru transforms from wolf into a slime in ep2. Kudos to the animators. This is how you fill a seemingly expressionless character with charisma and offer an upgrde from paper onto blue screen, I am looking at you Edgelord Bones & Goblin Scrappypants.
SOUND: Applause to all voice actors.
OP, ED as well as background music are nothing extraordinary, especially the later one is entirely unnoticeable.
On the other hand, all the voice actors did a fantasic job and filled every character with soul and joy. It is obvious how much fun people had during recordings and this positive atmosphere is transferred directly into the characters and finally the viewer.
Tensei Slime is a prime example how a show can be, if everyone gives their best. Sadly, even the best production team cannot go beyound the boundaries set up by its source material.
