A Returner's Magic Should Be Special

Zxmbie37★ 5

This is a disappointing adaptation, so much so that I felt inclined to write my first review. The animation is clunky, there’s endless dead time and still frames, with several key details altered or completely discarded from the source material. I genuinely struggle to find anything redeemable from an adaptation perspective. The fact that they skimmed over 10 chapters of plot and world building in a 30 second montage at the end of the last episode was especially painful. The only reason I don’t rate it lower is due to the source material. If this was my first encounter with the series, I probably would’ve dropped it bythe first or second episode. Read the manhwa instead, and forget this adaptation exists.

Shinkuo★ 5

Have you ever thought to yourself "Hey, this manga would be great as an anime! Why hasn't it been done yet?" That was me with this show--- about 5 years ago when I first started reading the Manhwa. After completing it I can safely say it absolutely FLOPPED and did not live up to expectation like with Attack on Titan or Mushoku Tensei. But looking back on it, the signs were there and realistically even with better animation or editing this was about the level of quality to be expected. I will put it here if you don't want to read the following ramblings: This is showis not very good, is kinda boring, but provides a bit of entertainment if you like Isekai, Fantasy Academy stuff. I can't comment on the Manhwa since I only read maybe a hundred chapters years ago and honestly don't remember much about it, but I think that in and of itself says something. Minor Spoilers, if you couldn't figure it out from the title, the main character of the story is Desir, a magician, who goes back in time to save his friends(?) and his magic and his use of it is abnormal, special even one could say. Now, as it sounds this should be a fairly standard I-Can't-Believe-It's-Not-Isekai fantasy story that feels like an Isekai because of the aforementioned premise, but there were a few points to it that make it, or would have made it, a more interesting story. First, the protagonist isn't overpowered, sorta. Much like many other stories from Korean authors, Desir isn't overpowered because of some God-Given Gift or power but rather his own intelligent use of his abilities, skills, and knowledge. Second, he is returning to save people who had died rather than for some self-serving purpose. Instantly makes him a more likeable and supportable character whom has their own autonomy. Third, a harem. You know it. I know it. We watch these shows because it tickles that little funny part of our monkey brains for a nice dopamine hit. However, this show spices it up by making it a more pseudo-harem feel. Like in his eyes he loves them, as his kids, and not as romantic partners so it doesn't feel weird and makes it more wholesome while having fairly legitimate reasons for them to interact the way they do. Now putting that all together you get a show just as interesting as you reading me list out all of the interesting things about the show. It's bland, tasteless, but also exactly what you came for while knowing it may or may not have something fun or exciting to read. Did that blow your mind? Don't worry, I only noticed after I had written out that entire dissertation and realized it truly encapsulated what the show felt like. If this review bored the crap out of you, there's your answer. I personally slept through 2 episodes before I noticed and ended up having to rewatch them only because where I woke up at seemed interesting and I had hopes it would eventually get better. It did not. However, If you found this review piqued your interest in the show or found it mildly informative, then you may like the show. It had its fun points and may scratch that fantasy itch