Winter 2021 Anime: Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

Synopsis

Male, 34-year-old, virgin, jobless shut-in. He was run over by a truck and ended his life… Or that was supposed to be the case. But when he opens his eyes again, he finds himself in the isekai of swords and magic. The man, who has been reincarnated as a young boy named Rudeus, starts thinking: In this world, he might be able to go all out in his life…  (Source: Muse Asia)

Comments

Dany Muhammad (The Indonesian Anime Times)

I like the fact that Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation uses different voice actors for the main character’s internal monologue and for the speaking voice. The different voice is a constant reminder that there is still a trace of his previous identity still attached to him. This is why the scene where Rudeus gets out of the house for the first time is so heartbreaking. It’s easy to empathize with him because according to him, the outside world is scary. Maybe Rudeus is a typical ORE-TUEEEE character, but he is still a NEET who has trauma from his previous life. The fact that the scene is narrated by the same voice as his previous life makes the scene stronger. Unlike many other isekai protagonists, it is actually easy to explore Rudeus’ headspace.

Another aspect that makes the execution feels strong is the animation; it looks good. The body language is detailed. Studio Bind is a relatively new studio but I think they are doing a good job here, especially in the photography aspect. The effect when magic spells are enchanted looks gorgeous. While the pace is slow, and sometimes a certain scene feels dragged out for too long, however, after 2 episodes, I think that’s appropriate. There are a lot of mundane things that are included in the anime, but it enables viewers to understand the characters more. I especially like the chemistry between Rudeus and his mentor Roxy.

There are some parts that probably would cause controversy among viewers. The most notable one is probably the fact that the main character is an incredibly perverted person. He won’t shy away from sharing his thoughts and maybe some people will find that uncomfortable. While the fanservice is minimal, it is still advisable to not watching this anime in public, especially without earphones.

Still, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation actually manages to entice empathy for its main character, and I think it is really important because the plot will heavily revolves around Rudeus’ journey in another world. Many said that isekai is an oversaturated trend but Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation actually able to provide an isekai narrative with amazing visual and empathetic protagonist. The story may feel slow at times, but this anime is an easy recommendation for me.

Facts and Figures

Screenshots and Trailer

The Indonesian Anime Times