kilrazan

It's not very often I come across an anime that resonates this well. The author clearly understands how to write a story that targets an adult/mature audience without just being porny. More than that, this work stands out above the others of the Isekai genre by taking itself seriously and using the new world as a genuine new start for the main character.

Story: The MC is a nearly 40 year old self-described good-for-nothing-bum who's spent the last 20+ years of his life hiding from the world doing nothing but stereotypically Otaku stuff in his little apartment. One day, he dies saving a couple of high-schoolers from an accident, and finds himself reborn into the fantasy world. What follows is a journey of redemption and cleansing of sorts for the MC; reconciling his past with this opportunity for a new future doesn't come easy, and he must confront his deep-seated fears. I find the path he takes very cathartic; it's not some shortcut to success, nor any kind of immediate payoff. He has to work hard, and when he's overcome the obstacle at hand the elation he feels is genuine and earned, but even so there's always another challenge around the corner. 9/10 It obviously plays into a number of tropes of the genre, but it does so masterfully and shows what the genre is meant to be.

Animation: Simply amazing. They've done an incredible job of making the world feel vibrant, and making the action feel impactful. The color palettes are beautiful, the character designs are striking, and the magic effects are tasteful. 10/10 Stellar work.

Sound: Incredibly moving and powerful. Everything about the soundtrack fits perfectly, the voice actors are talented and on-point, and the foley artistry for sfx is seamless. I'll be listening to this OST for a while. 10/10 Simply beautiful

Characters: While I may not *like* every character, I acknowledge that every character was given a lot of thought and deep consideration for how they'd behave and what their motives are. Everyone behaves according to their own moral compass, but more importantly, everyone is deeply flawed in a very human way. Everyone makes mistakes, and has their own way of handling them. Above all, the MC is incredibly well thought out - he has deep seated traumas from his prior life as well as relevant baggage from being a 30-something virgin, but desperately wants to strive for a new and better life in this world. He makes critical errors and is a little too lecherous at times, but it's all believeable. 10/10 Excellent writing

Overall: A master-class anime make no mistake. It's powerful, moving, and convincing. It's serious, but lighthearted and playful when it needs to be. I have basically no complaints about this show, and immense praise for it. 10/10 Easily the best Isekai since Re:Zero