Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation - a more realistic approach at the isekai anime genre

A television series adaptation by Studio Bind from a manga adaptation by Yuka Fujikawa in June 2014 issue of Monthly Comic Flapper. Seven Seas Entertainment licensed the tankōbon volumes of the manga for localization in North America. The series is about a jobless and hopeless man who dies after having a sad and withdrawn life and reincarnates in a fantasy world while keeping his memories, determined to enjoy his new life without regrets.

According to many light novel readers, Mushoku Tensei is the grandfather of modern day isekai. Pretty much a benchmark on how isekai anime should be as It popularized a lot of the themes we see in isekai including the idea of "Truck-kun." Whether its true or not really depends on how you view it. In any case lets just dive into the review for now. Oh and spoiler warning too.

Unlike most isekai stories Mushoku tensei is story is slow paced and concentrate more on the world building as it slowly develop the twist and plot. The show feels like an isekai slice of life if anything as it follows the MC from birth until he grows up and learn some sword and magic skills. Even his apparent unique skill silent of casting a spell without incantation isn’t exclusive as show in the first few episodes that some folks can do the same thing rare as they are. And this is what makes the plot exciting as your MC isn’t that super OP character like most isekai fantasy anime out there making the world he lives in feel real as fantasy settings go.

Plot twist speaking won’t get much until you get to the episode “Turning Point” which was a few episodes into the show. By that time you met enough about the character and the people that live in it to hopefully actual build a connection to them. If around this is where you either love the show or find that the series is not for you taste. It is somewhat a slow build up to that point. Not that it has a great story but you won’t get much tension until that point in the story. I mean even a small pendant the MC Rudeus received from as early as episode 2 has significant implication plotline wise 10+ episodes later.

 

The character in Mushoku Tensei is pretty cliché when you look at it. The typical sort of genius MC, the boyish typical tsundere ala Louise Zero and some super strong or powerful mage or warrior to serve the shield or damage dealer rounding up the list of main characters. What makes it fun is the character development and backstory within each character has Each one is so carefully done that even the side characters feel like they could probably star in their own isekai spin off. Its simply that well done of a series. The main character Rudeus isn’t perfect he has trauma and has a lewd mind of a thirty something old man from his previous world along with all his memories. And it is becoming a better person despite the flaws is what is at the core of series as characters go.

If you like grand epic isekai battles however there is very little to be found in Mushoku Tensei. The little battles that it has mostly support the story moving forward like to show a certain spoiled tomboy tsundere developing into a really decent fighter which I for one think was surprisingly done. The anime opening itself is also part of every episode so it is one of those rare anime where it adds to the emersion in the isekai world of Musoku Tensei.

 

What the show lack in budget it makes up with it in beautiful visuals. Just watch how Rudeus cast a water spell during the first episode of the show and you will know how much care and detail that went into making it. A lot of these scenes are desktop wallpaper worthy. And this kind of quality that runs throughout the entire show with very little to no decline in quality. I heard they made an entire animation studio just to animate this and that’s saying something. I haven’t seen a well animated dragon that isn’t CGI in a while and this series has that too. You will know what I mean when you see it.

Sure the pacing is probably not for everyone and the MC and some of the earlier scenes felt its going borderline kinky lots of times. It skips the parts where there could be potential for a lot of action to rush the plot along. And these kind of issue would turn away some. So unless your into these kind of isekai or has the patient for them you probably won’t like this series. Still the reward is worth it regardless as its pretty much a well done series. Clearly in my Top 5 of Isekai anime recommendation as of now.

Overall I would say Mushoku tensei is the gold standard when it comes to isekai as it gives us an engaging overlapping plot, flawed yet relatable characters. The world building is impressive and you feel like you are actually on some great adventure on a magical world with living characters. If you are into isekai or plan to get into the genre this is definitely something you should watch. The flaws aren’t even flaws but more a matter of taste. As is Mushoku Tensei is a must watch as encapsulates what an isekai anime should be.