Rudeus Greyrat is a relatable character because there are so many sides to his personality due to his previous life as a NEET. His lives have been painted as showing the good and the bad in him, just like in any person. Here's a guy that skipped out on his parents funeral to wank to internet porn. He's slovenly, fat, and self centered. We're also told how he became that way: very important for character development. It all traces back to an incident in Jr Hi where he was bullied. He'd already had a slacker lifestyle going at that point, but this was the tipping point. This was the day that he became a NEET. He shut himself into his room and never left, immersing himself into computer games, the internet, and dating sims. When his siblings return back to the house and find that he skipped their parents funeral, the not only disown him, they beat the snot out of him (one brother is a black belt in Karate) and take a baseball bat to his beloved computer, then, with only the clothes on his back, not even his shoes, he's tossed from the house out onto the streets.
We see a picture of a pretty pathetic guy with absolutely no redeeming qualities. So how are we supposed to generate any affection for this pathetic human being? Truck-kun makes his appearance. Remember, he wasn't ALWAYS a shut in and had some moral upbringing until the bullying incident. Uncharacteristically, he attempts to save some teens in Truck-Kun's path and in doing so, ends up taking a one way trip on Isekai airways to a new world.
Upon arrival, he discovers that he's a baby that has just been born. It takes some time for him to realize that it's not modern day Japan, but an area more like medieval Europe. No computers, no internet, no video games. Surprised that he retains his memories of his previous life, he vows this time he won't screw it up. By the age of 3, he's not only learned to speak the language of the land, but has taught himself to read that language. at a time when books are rare, his parents have a library of 5 books: one containing magic. This is his first step towards his personal redemption and making a positive life for himself.
So far, the first 4 episodes have included all of the important foundations laid out in the first volume of the light novel. The art work is superb, the way they use limited animation to tell the story exceeds the quality of the western cartoons I watched in the 60s and 70s. It's a story of redemption of a young man given a second chance, and he grabs it by the balls and runs with it! It also shows that there are some things that don't change. Yes, he still has a bit of perversion to him, but now it doesn't run his life (at least not yet) but it shows that he has the libido of his father in this world, but he's kept it in check. This makes Rudeus more relatable to the average young man that is watching the anime or reading the manga or light novel.
Possibly one of the best isekai stories out there. The MC isn't born over-powered: his only advantage is his memories of his previous life, where he builds on that to make himself powerful. Rudeus uses this to make himself a perfect child for a young couple. He uses his sense of justice from the beginning. He uses his new life to make something of himself, which we should strive for, and this anime, so far, is bringing that message across from the Light Novel, loud and clear. I like the fact that, at least the males in the story, aren't always paragons of virtue. Paul, Rudy's dad, is a womanizer. Even at young age, Rudy has his own fetishes, ergo Roxy's panties, but he will never assault a lady to get his way. He truly regrets his actions on Sylphy when he discovers that she's not a boy as he exposes her girl bits to his eyes. (Personal note: I was about the same age when I saw the difference and I had the same look on my face, although she showed it to me, willingly)
