I'm sure that if you have been into anime for quite sometime now, you've probably heard of Mushoku Tensei. Mushoku Tensei is currently the #1 most popular show on Netflix Japan for winter 2021 (including non-anime shows). Mushoku is a light novel that started back in 2012 and reached the title the #1 Japanese light novel of all time. it has even got the title "The Grandfather of Isekai" over the years among the community and I bet that even your favorite isekai has probably taken inspiration from Mushoku Tensei and might even has some references to it included.
So, what's all the hype about? what's so great about MT?
In addition to that, there is actually focus on his growth and family life rather than just having a time skip and seeing him departing away. Rudy doesn't forget his previous life which were a disaster. He was bullied and began to isolate, thus he ran away from communicating with people. In his second life, unlike other shows, Rudy isn't an overpowered guy instructed by a divine being. Rudy understands that he has been reincarnated and that he's not on Earth, He learns a new language and gets used to new people and all of that he does by himself. Those simple things improve him so much as a character, he learns how to live a honest life and becomes quite the hard worker. Every minor thing he does pays out for him and moves the plot forward, just at the right time and pace. That's how a real reincarnation should look, we get to see him reborn properly. Rudy realizes that it's his second chance and he doesn't want his life to be a failure again and this time he is born as a noble, which pays perfectly to his goal. He may be talented and a noble but he lives humbly and tries his best in every term. He doesn't really have a goal to start with, he just lives his life and that's exactly what this show knows how to convey. The plot knows how to explain itself very clearly, if it's the world building, monarchy of nobility, magic system, occupations, different species and languages and so much more, this is how a true isekai needs to be done. It feels like they don't rush anything at all, the pacing is perfect and it matches the story's theme. The world building is insane, it's so detailed and well explained. There are continents, species and tribes among them. The History of this world and what Rudeus was taught by his parents, books and Roxy who trained him at a young age also play a big role later. Things becomes more complicated once Rudy crosses paths with someone from the demon tribe "Superd" whom Roxy warned him about. The side characters are also great. Each one of them has their own personality and highlights, they also get enough screen time for them to shine. Even the history of the world of RE:ZERO resembles MT. An example for that would be the war and the tragic events that have prevailed terror on both worlds and took place 400 years ago in both shows.
Rudy is such an amazing protagonist, he has a trauma that scars him even in his new life and yet, he wishes to change. He doesn't judge people by their appearance but rather tries to understand them because that he comes from the same place of being bullied and ashamed. He is awkward and funny, but most importantly - a human being. He sometimes is put in a very unexpected situations and still finds his way around each time, wisely and realistically and it's very interesting to see his social and mental development and in all other senses. It's just fun seeing him bringing others to his side, slowly but smartly, splendidly done for someone who has learnt how to act and be so charismatic. Even the side characters are well written, you can tell them apart, each one has a different personality and design. You could even tell the difference between a 2 year time skip which is really rare to see among childhood or extreme ages in anime. This anime may seem like it misses some plot twist or action at first look, but when it gets to that part, it becomes action-packed high quality show. The plot turned so dramatically, it was so shocking and it caught me off guard. There is so much character introduction that it feels like most of the season is just a prologue for Rudy and it's so good. Such a great buildup with a surprising plot hook.
In my opinion the concept of isekai has kinda run its course. Personally, I'm tired of seeing the same things each time: an OP and bland character gets transported into a different world in order to defeat the Demon King or something similar and by his journey falls in love with a heroine and all of that is done in the stupidest way possible. But Mushoku, a franchise that came out a decade ago, renews in perfectly.
As I already mentioned previously, MT has a mix of both action and SoL and that has been incredible, like sometimes you'd see things that one wouldn't bat an eye if they were not animated, but they are and enhance the experience a lot more, background work, consistency, movements, MT is the best looking show so far in the history of anime and I'd be surprised if animation could get any better than that in the next 5 years.
As a proof to that, I bet you couldn't even be able to tell there is use of CGI in a lot of scenes.
Considering that this is the first anime that studio Bind animates this is crazy. The budget is huge and it made me shocked when I saw the numbers on Wikipedia.
Personally, I think the art style is amazing, it looks more hand drawn and less vibrant, it reminds me of the animation I grew up on just with much better quality and frame rate and this is another thing this show does - being nostalgic. In my eyes it's beautiful, not too colorful but also not pale at all. The character designs are cool and match their personality very well. The outlines look like they're drawn with chalk which is very unique and for some reason it is really satisfying to see, reminds me a little of 91 Days or Scum's Wish in that sense, but on a whole different level. After watching MT every other anime seems like a kids' drawing and I'm not exaggerating.
As for the music for the show, it was created especially for it and it gives me amazing feels, it is so relaxing and works fantastically with a fantasy show. There are 2 opening themes but no actual opening, in each episode there is a kind of a MV with credits that plays through the episode while the music plays. This way we get more screen time and let me tell you this, it works surprisingly well. When they first showed the opening on episode 3 I shed some tears because of how glad it made me. Now, for the ending, it's just your typical ending but due to how good it looks it makes it the best ending of the season for me, it feels somewhat nostalgic I may even say and with every visual my heart skips a beat. The song is also a banger and it's from the same artist that does both of the openings.
The lyrics beautiful. The whole song is from Rudy's perspective and he sings to Roxy, the meaning is so deep and the music and vocals make you feel like you're a part of the show. Honestly one of the best anime endings I've ever come across.
The voice acting also is worth praising, they thought about every detail possible to produce the best, Rudy's thinking is voiced by a voice actor with more of a deep and manly voice in order to remind us that Rudy is actually a grown up at heart and has the mindset of an adult. The different languages are also voiced in different languages, I'm not sure if it's an actual language and if it is then I couldn't figure out which one it is so I guess it's just Gibberish, and if it is it's done so good and consistently that they literally came out with a new language just for this show which is insane. This may sound very simple but the amount of effort they put into that is huge and it isn't obvious at all. In Vinland Saga for example the voice acting was bad in this term, at some scenes they were supposed to talk in different languages but the entire voice acting was in Japanese and it was so weird, so the creators sure had taken here a lot to mind.
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