Is this another anime trend I see before me? Now, gender change comedies have been with us since the Greeks took ink to paper (or whatever they wrote on). We can discuss “Some Like it Hot”, “Victor/Victoria”, “The Hot Chick” (OK, NOT ‘The Hot Chick”; that one was terrible!) and into the mix we fling another montrapatiously-titled show “She Professed Herself Pupil of the Wise Man (“Kenja no Deshi o Nanoru Kenja”), which also doubles as part of the video game genre for anime.
The game we are in is called “Arch Earth Online” and we see the great and grand wizard and sage Danblf (I think you can find him). His stats are off the charts to the point he is referred to as “The One-Man Army”, able to summon all kinds of knights and Valkyries and dragons and whatever caliber of mythical creatures necessary to quell a zombie invasion or monsters on the loose. He is considered one of the Nine Great Sages. But he is also aware that he is IN a video game. (And just for the record, he states that he has modeled himself after the two greatest wizards in filmdom, so my guess is both Gandalf and Dumbledore).
But something happens with the game, and he ‘disappears’ for 30 years, just when there is a great uprising in the nation. When he returns, he discovers that he has become a girl. Well, what REALLY happened is that he was messing with his character with a Vanity Case, didn’t close out properly and became our Lady in Purple, who goes by the name Mira. Now s/he has kept all of his/her awesome and massive abilities; it’s just that s/he isn’t taken seriously. Instead of the imposing and demonstrative figure he was, now she appears to be a mere wispy girl who looks as though she couldn’t even lift up a dessert spoon, much less a broad sword.
The situation is not lost on the king of Arkite, King Solomon (the dandy to her right). He still relies on Mira and decides to let the tale go that (a) Danblf is on a personal quest in the North, (b) and will be gone for some time, (c) and Mira is his pupil. The last one raises the most eyebrows, as the mages do NOT take on pupils. The series contends itself with Mira relearning the ropes of a game that has seriously changed over the years and taking on the Massive Quest.
You see, monsters are running amok in the kingdom, especially those that are not native to the area. To stop a potential invasion, Mira has to find the other sages, who have been scattered hither and thither, to come back for a final stand against chaos. So, in a sense, it is a great road picture.
On the whole, it’s not a bad series, especially when Mira tries to get taken seriously. Actually, it is to his/her advantage to remain in this form, as then s/he can infiltrate areas better, than if he was that towering inferno s/he used to be. Oh, yeah, sure, a few key people tumble to the truth, but keep it zipped, as these are very trying times for all. It just feels like that anything that is of a dramatic or chaotic nature, Danblf/Mira gets called out to handle it, much to his/her consternation. I mean, can’t you call on someone else?
In any case, problems are more of a challenge than an issue and are dispensed, but, but, but….the overarching problem is not dealt with and, thus, a second season is called for.
This certainly is a change of pace from the usual ‘stuck-in-the-game’ sub-genre, in that informed decisions are being made and everyone is on the same page. The havoc raised isn’t of a violent and gruesome nature, as some of these shows can dissolve into, so it is light and frothy and fun, so it makes for light viewing. And, along those lines, go ahead and binge, it helps with the overall narrative and it is kind of a hoot to see this ‘child’ kick booty with the best of them.
On a scale of 1 to 10:
Artwork 8 (Good overall design and execution)
Plot 8 (Typical, but handled with aplomb)
Pacing 8 (Builds nicely)
Effectiveness 7 (Playing the long game)
Conclusion 7 (It reaches a coupler point, but hasn’t ended)
Fan Service 2 (A similar show would be “Okamisan”)
Bingeability 8 (Open the throttle)
Overall 8 (A very charming story to tell)
And remember, it’s first run until you’ve seen it. You’re….who?!!?