While I am not a stranger to Isekai anime as I have seen a bunch of them like SAO, Mushoku Tensei, etc, etc, I have thought I could give this a try.
Seeing the trailer on Netflix looking pretty nice with the art and all, I just jumped in.
The first episode didn't quite catch me so left it for a few weeks but after finishing some other anime, I thought I would jump back in.
And I am very VERY glad I did.
I am a sucker for anything that gives you the chance to explore the world.
Find out more about how everything works together with the characters.
Take Mushoku Tensei as example. The MC doesn't know anything of the world and you learn together with him everything works.
This show does a lot of that as well, though it must be said that just 12 episodes is of course not enough to go full deep dive.
I do however think that the show does a really good job setting up everything and give you the explanations you need when things happen.
The characters are, to me at least, not your run of the mill tropes.
Sure there is some of it in there but nothing to overly done. Sometimes you get the mega super awesome happy girl together with the super intelligent bad ass leader guy and the completely ignored silent girl/guy that does a finisher to every now and then to show he/she is still there.
The characters all have their own way of doing things and to me stand out on their own exactly as much as you should expect.
The show to me is about a group of kids thrown into a fantasy world and basically are discarded.
They are not the smartest or strongest guys and really have to struggle to keep food on their plates and a roof over their heads every day.
The development and hardship of having to hunt and therefor battle monsters is really well executed for a show of just 12 episodes.
Though I think would have liked to see like a 26 episode long season, I also understand that would probably drag the show in such a way that it would become boring really fast.
Story: 8
Like I said, the story is not the "group is summoned with all special OP skills and go kill the demon king". Rather this is "group is summoned and have to fend for themselves".
Which I enjoy a lot. It gives a lot of room for character development and world building. The world is set up nicely and really gives a sense of reality with the way the streets look narrow and the bars full.
Like people really live there. And all the military guys there are there as well, giving you the sense that there is a lot of stuff in the city that you don't get to see.
Which is not a bad thing at all, as the focus of the show is the group of kids trying to survive and not trying to learn about the world.
Art: 9
This is something of a special anime on the art side of things.
everything looks painted and the way the animations and backdrops blend is done really well.
There are certain parts of the show where there is hardly any movement on screen while the MC narrates some things that happened or his thoughts.
Those amazingly drawn backdrops look gorgeous and you can really appreciate the time that went into creating that style.
Sound: 9
The music is create and the special FX sound great too.
Nothing to complain and I am looking for a lot of tracks that are played in the anime to be added to my YTM playlist.
Characters: 8
The show is mainly group focused with a small part of Character development, which for some might not work as well as it does for me.
Because of the 12 episode run time you can develop the characters as much as the group or vice versa and with a cast of around 6 people. you probably get what I mean.
But even with that said, I really cared for the characters and really was sad for the times sad things happened.
They way they directed some of the shots where, during sad moments, the camera would just stand still and aimed at the group while nothing happens and just music plays, makes for a welcome change for a moment where usually things roll by pretty fast.
Enjoyment: 8
At the moment of writing, 8 episodes in, I am really enjoying the emotional rollercoaster the characters go through.
They way they band together, the struggles they have and how they are towards each other in times of desperation are well done.
And it sounds so weird to say I enjoyed their pain but I do enjoy the story telling a lot.
Overall: 8
Really liking it overall.
The characters are really nice and grow throughout.
The music is great and the OST is something to listen to in your spare time.
The art is so stylish and gorgeous.
For people who like fantasy stories and want a more slow paced series that shows more of the progression from nothing to something good, this is definitely something to watch
