Wataši, nórjoku wa heikinči dette itta jo ne!

Is it possible that a bad adaptation could still end up being a good anime series? Well, in my opinion, it could be given the right circumstances... However, let us first talk about why many people think this adaptation is so bad and what made quite a large number of fans of the original (web novel) and other, according to them, more accurate adaptations (the manga series), to criticize this anime series so brutally reflected in the ratings on various databases (like on MAL and AL). In other words, in order to better understand what is supposedly wrong with this particular show, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the original, and if you do it is really easy to discover all the main differences... For example? An awful lot of events in this anime series are not shown in the correct order. Some of the introductory parts have been omitted, which the anime series only references much later on in the season in the form of flashbacks. Some of the characters (like Nano) have been designed in a totally different way. Another character, the first female villain we see, only appears in the anime series and the quality of her character is something on the level of the Team Rocket from Pokémon. The main issue with the anime series is the tone and setting of the show. While the original web novel has an entertaining narrative with mysterious, even slightly dark undertones, this anime series is mostly a cheerful tale of cute little girls, which is full of memes and pop culture references, and the show’s over-the-top craziness often drowns out any hint of seriousness, darkness or mystery. A lot of the storylines in an anime series have completely random outcomes, all in an attempt to provide the funniest scene possible, and it does not seem to matter if it fits the show or if it just makes your head spin. Some malicious whispers even claimed that, for example, the way the aforementioned Nano looks in the anime series had only one purpose - to make one hilarious joke at the expense of Pokémon... I mean, fans of the web novel and the manga could see how someone has taken an interesting and original story narrative and turned it into a total fiasco, picking out only some choice moments from a narrative too sophisticated for them, and twisting it out of shape! So, if that is the case, it is obviously a bad adaptation... However, after saying all that, there are those who are unfamiliar with the original web novel, and who have only watched the anime series because they perhaps like fantasy anime or cute little anime girls. There are even some people who are going to like it a lot, because it is an entertaining, laid-back and really funny show, no matter how stupid the jokes may be, plus it also contains a lot of cheeky references to other (but not only) anime series you are bound to recognize. The show features some very likable characters who work out their situations in ways that are sometimes quite original... Now, if you last until the end of the first season, you will get the (un)clear message that there is going to be some big mystery element, that something in this show’s world is not quite right, and perhaps this is going to pull you into the show more, so some people are definitely going to end up thinking this was a very good anime series. Except what about Jeoffrey? In all honesty, I think I have got a pretty good idea of the direction the animation studio (Project No.9) went in. It appears to me that the anime’s creators were probably not planning on a follow-up, and that is why they did not want to develop the narrative fully. This is because if they had stuck to the formula within the original source material, they probably would not have gotten very far during twelve episodes, and it would not have perhaps been that interesting for a lot of people. Instead, they picked out only the best and funniest moments from that original, spiced it up with some more comedy, and loosely threw it all together. However, by focusing on being more entertaining at the expense of the original narrative, all these plot-holes and shortcomings do not matter as much as they do with, say, Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest. Why? That is because you are supposed to take Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest seriously, which is just not possible with the plot holes and the crappy exposition and the set design. However, comedy is primarily about letting loose, and just being entertained - in other words, this aspect can be overlooked to a certain extent and in this regard, I therefore do not feel the need to get extremely pissed off that this anime series largely went its own way in that direction. I enjoyed it, and I think that was the whole point! 7/10. (23.12.2019) (menos) (más)