Back in early 2022, there was one anime that seemed impossible to avoid. Since I’m a huge fan of Isekai anime, and I was searching for more back then, Mushoku Tensei was popping up everywhere. I watched two episodes and then moved on, mostly because there was so much other stuff that I was watching and couldn’t keep up. Then around the time season two came out, I tried watching it again. But I do want to point out before I say anything that this isn’t really my kind of Isekai, but I understand why so many people love it.
The story follows a man who dies and is reincarnated into a fantasy world as a boy named Rudeus Greyrat. Unlike most protagonists in the genre, he actually starts his new life as a child and has to grow up over the course of the story. This is the part that I don’t care for, I much rather prefer Isekai where the protagonist appears in the new world as is. Isekai and power fantasy is a lot more fun when you can see yourself in it, but for me it doesn’t work as well from a new perspective like this. I do love the rest of the show though.
Throughout the series, he learns magic and makes friends while still keeping a lot of his personality from his old life, which a lot of people might not care for. The one good thing about him being reincarnated as a child is that his journey feels a lot more natural than someone randomly being thrown into a new world or having the stress of having to take down a demon king. This method lets stuff marinate over a long period of time, and it definitely does in Mushoku Tensei.
While Rudeus is the main character, the supporting cast is just as important and fun. Characters like Eris, Sylphiette, Paul, and Roxy are all interesting or play some important role. Plus there’s some great character designs all over the place. Many of the relationships we see are interesting too, even if Rudy does, says, or thinks something that ruins everything.
While the characters are interesting, the one aspect that really makes the series stand out is the story and world building. It takes some time for things to really kick off because the early bits revolve around Rudy learning the ropes of magic and the world. But after that, things really start getting intense. The world itself is very detailed and the story is quite grand. The entire package of world building and Rudy’s adventure rivals the likes of Re:Zero and Frieren. The world feels alive and there’s so much depth.
The animation also plays a big role. You’re captivated simply by how magic looks right at the start during the first few episodes. I’ve watched a lot of fantasy anime over the past six years, and I’d have to say this is one of the three best looking ones that I’ve seen. Studio Bind put a lot of effort into making sure the show looks amazing.
Mushoku Tensei is an easy recommendation, but it won’t be for everyone, and I’m not even talking about the stuff I personally don’t like. Don’t get me wrong, it has some of the best characters, world building, and story of any fantasy anime I’ve seen, but a large number of watchers simply will not like Rudy. He does grow a lot throughout the show, but his personality will turn off a lot of watchers within the first few episodes. But get past that and you’ll love it.
9/10