During the season it started I watched only the first episode. I’ve picked it up during the following season in a spare time I had. The series is comedy or at least it’s supposed to be. It was only occasionally and mildly funny at least for me. Maybe, because it is quite predictable. However, what hit me the most is the melancholic bitter sweet journey of the main character. Yes, Jahy-sama is ranked the second in the daemon realm, but how the series shows moments of her great struggle and misfortune I couldn’t help myself but to empathize with the character at the most misfortunate moments. Even despite the fact she does deserve that. Afterall, it’s a fall of proud protagonist. The show spares nothing to beat Jahy-sama down. Yet, in her poor and downtrodden state she founds kindness of others, especially the restaurant owner. In this humbled state her pride is slowly chipped away. I really like how the series show various moral messages without being preachy. The scheming evil fails [1] and good deeds are rewarded [2] as it should be. It shows even putting yourself in place, where temptations against your well-being are strong, is not a good idea. [3] It does show contrast between her previous behaviour as well. There are even simple life lessons for kids, like not wasting money on frivolous things, etc. I wasn’t looking for that in the series, but it was nice surprise.
Despite emitting strong episodic feel in the beginning there is an overarching story. I would say at least in the later episodes various reoccurring characters get to know more each other. Even some relationships with them evolve.
For lowlier sensibilities Jahy’s concept/design combines in her transformation best of adorable little girl and young adult woman … in a skimpy outfit. [4] Add to it nekomimi aka cat ears and that Nagataro like tanned skin tones, which do go against traditional Japanese ideals of feminine beauty. She is from the daemon realm. Keep in mind the show is not supposed to be in ecchi, but it has some moments, which could be considered as such. It has relatively high count of eccentric characters. The restaurant owner has that very kind and loving mother role for Jahy-sama. Landlord is landlord and more like somewhat grumpy dad … despite the fact she is sister of the restaurant owner, but she does care for MC’s wellbeing as well. Probably my least enjoyable character. It isn’t, because she is grumpy, but her interactions with MC aren’t just that interesting most of the time. There are more characters including kindly apprehending Japanese policeman, a very sweet little girl, who befriends Jahy-sama, rather weird magical girl [5] and tomaro [6].
Soundtrack is appropriate and works fine with the scenes, the first OP is decent. The second OP after episode ten is meh.
Overall, I had a good time watching this. It’s very slice-of-life comedy with some surprisingly emotional moments. The comical elements are mostly predictable, but even then, occasionally funny still. If you want another comedy around slice-of-life and daemons vs magical girls Machikado Mazoku might be an alternative. If you want more realistic “transported into our world and have to work” Hataraku Mao-sama seem more seriously built around that idea at least from the few episodes I’ve watched. What this series has more in contrast are heart-warming moments. It reminds me in that regard Hinamatsuri series. I would recommend two or three episodes then decide.
Spoilers
[1] For example Saurva trying to ruin Jahy’s reputation backfires and makes it better instead.
[2] For example Jahy-sama saving a little bird helps her to found magical crystal.
[3] Jahy-sama searching for money in shopping district, where she is tempted to spend few coins, she has left.
[4] And yes, she does catch a cold, because the way she dresses up.
[5] Actually there are two, but who is weirder a bearded gentleman in magical girl costume or magical girl getting suspicious kind of pleasure from misfortune.
[6] A tomato plant, which in reality turns to be habanero.
Edit for more context.
While the animation isn't groundbreaking, it is more than adequate. It fits the manga and source material as well as the overall flavor of the series. The locations and backgrounds have just enough detail to make the world feel alive and part of the show, even if we do do only see snippets here and there. In fact the anime actualy adds more detail to many scenes than what are in the manga.
The music of the OP/ED are great and I prefer the 2nd versions of both more than the first. Also the sound design, musical queues, and gags throughout are pretty good as well.
Others have complained about the lack of story, however this could be two-fold. One people aren;t really paying much attention to the inter-connectivity of the story, or it isn't being presented properly. I prefer to see it as the former rather than the later. There is defeinitely story here and it is being told between gags and jabs.
We haven't even gotten to all the characters yet, but there is enough diversity within them to give fans of just about any type of character or situation something to enjoy and/or laugh about.
Straight up it is a solid and funny overall project. Especialyl if you are a fan of series like The Devil is a Part-Timer and other fid out of water comedy stories.
People leaving bad reviews for this show are dumb. There is a difference between a bad series and a series you personally don't like. Anime "fans" don't seem to know how to separate that anymore.
That is all.
Ok so it was an OK anime ig like the first 12 Episode were quite good and entertaining but after that it went downhill like the humour wasn't really good and the story took a turn for the worst.It felt like the first 10 episodes were written by someone else and the last 10 were written by different person. I was expecting a lot from this anime was dissatisfied.I will read the manga when it is finished to know which is better.
Repetitive and unimaginative.
The episodes feel the same and the jokes get old quickly.
The characters are too one-dimensional or archetypes without much grace.
The OPs and EDs are fine although the screamings become a bit annoying after a couple of episodes.
I feel that they were too faithful to the manga since some jokes do not work, especially when they break the fourth wall.
I think it would have worked better if they were short chapters.
Having reviewed the manga, I very much anticipated the anime adaptation and for the most part, I am enjoying it. Like I mentioned in the manga review, it is about the once-great second-in-command Jahy who was stranded on Earth following the destruction of the Dark Realm (Demon Realm in the original). While collecting the mana crystals, Jahy has to work in order to survive and hilarity ensues.
The animation goes well with contrasting Jahy's role in the Dark Realm from the human realm. In the Dark Realm, Jahy is imposing, and apathetic to her minions even going as far as to execute them for the most petty of inconveniences. But in the human realm, Jahy is a fish out of water; her stripperific outfit makes her out as a degenerate by modern Japanese standards and this gets her in trouble with the police frequently. In the human realm, she is made to suffer for comedic effect due to her unfamiliarity with the way that the human world worked.
The characters are fun to watch. You really can't help but feel a slight twinge of pity for Jahy due to her being made the cosmic plaything that suffers humiliating abuse and failure every day...even when she isn't doing anything actively malicious. In some ways, you want to root for her to achieve her goals, but, as the rules of comedy state, she has to fail. It is both hilarious to watch her fail, but you also want her to be given a break every now and then.
The boss and Ryou the Landlady are fun supporting protagonists. The Owner is honestly the kindest character in the whole show, maybe even anime in general. She lends Jahy an ear whenever Jahy was feeling troubled, and she even goes as far as to give Jahy her paycheck early when she noticed that Jahy was acting weakly. Ryou is the polar opposite. Unlike her older sister, she is less likely to give Jahy patience with nearly every episode having them clash over Jahy's refusal to pay rent. But even then, Ryou does care for Jahy going as far as to defend her and, while intoxicated, admits to feeling proud of Jahy for her attempts at achieving her goal.
The opening and ending themes are also earworms. The opening depicts Jahy as she was stranded on Earth and emphasizes Jahy's sheer will hence the title of the show. The ending theme accounts Jahy's daily attempts at collecting mana crystals and working. Rinse and repeat. It is also fun that they include small segments after the ED sometimes parodying other anime or professional working TV shows.
Overall, The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated is a good adaptation of the manga hitting a lot of the beats from the manga while adding a few more laughs. For those who liked The Devil is a Part-Timer, this show is up your alley.