The Isekai genre and its reincarnation themes are quite popular in the anime industry. However, the stories and narratives revolving around such shows tend to be repetitive and overstretched due to the genre's fame. Many Isekai anime fit perfectly into this category, so it’s rare to see anime that breaks off from the Isekai reoccurring developments.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation is one such Isekai anime. Based on the light novels written by Rifujin na Magonote, the story begins like any typical Isekai. The story starts after a 34-year-old shut-in gets a shot at another life in a world filled with fantasy elements. He reincarnates as Rudeus Greyrat and starts life afresh, with magic as his forte. However, soon tragedy strikes, and Rudues now has to find a way to reunite all members of his missing family. Jobless Reincarnation is an amazing story, but what makes it different from other Isekai anime?
Well-Paced Story Development
It's rare for most Isekai anime to leave the main character, who reincarnates as a child, for more than one season. The frequent 'jump' into adulthood by most Isekai protagonists leaves a lot of questions unanswered. However, Jobless Reincarnation tackles this aspect satisfactorily. The main character Rudeus, born to the Greyrat, starts life afresh as a baby, contrary to most MMORPG Isekai characters. The anime takes viewers through Rudeus's coming-of-age process, where he learns new, foreign things about his new world. His internal dialogue gives fans an insight into Rudeus's mannerisms and questionable thoughts.
In Rudeus's old world, he barely had any friends, and he tried to make up for his lack of companionship with excessive gaming and a reclusive lifestyle. However, this changes in his new world as he tries to make new friends – his attempts were mostly unsuccessful until he saves Slyphiette, an elf bullied by other children. Their friendship starts with uneven pacing but soon smoothens and develops into something deeper. On the other hand, Roxy was another central character that contributed to Mushoku Tensei’s progression. Her magic teachings helped Rudeus expand his exceptional affinity for magic. At a young age, Rudeus was already capable of casting spells without chanting, nothing short of a feat for children in his world. Still, despite his magic talents, Rudeus still lacked the talent for swordsmanship, to the disappointment of his father, an expert swordsman.
This narrative debunks any possible overpowerdness present in most Isekai protagonists that makes the story one-sided. In season one, Jobless Reincarnation progressed unhitched until the debut of the large-scale disaster hits the continent, separating Rudeus from his family, and leaving him stranded in a foreign land with Eris, the haughty noble child. Together, they traverse their new harsh world, growing their survival skills and doing their best to face their harsh reality. This somehow works for them until they meet the feared Superd tribe member, Ruijerd. Surprisingly, contrary to the Superd’s bad reputation, Rujierd turned out to be a kind individual and eventually gained the trust of Eris and Rudeus. After the duo abandoned their fear, Rujierd joined the duo on their year-long journey. Most events in Mushoku Tensei allow viewers to witness a unique story development that goes on unpredictably.
Character Development
One of Jobless Reincarnation’s biggest achievements is its proper character development. The gradual, subtle change in Eris’s behavior is undoubtedly one of the best in the series. Eris was first introduced as the typical spoiled, rich kid pampered by her family members, especially her grandfather. However, her immature character changes after she meets Rudeus. After a horrible experience with kidnappers, Eris finally realized that the world didn’t revolve around her.
This allowed her to accept Rudeus as her teacher and change her attitude for the better. However, Eris’s full character growth doesn’t happen until the abrupt large-scale teleportation that transports both her and Rudeus to a foreign place. No longer present in her well-guarded home, where she received the ‘miss princess’ treatment, Eris was forced to drop some of her bad habits to fully survive the situation she found herself in.
Roxy, Rudeus's mentor, also experienced character growth. As a member of the Migurd tribe, Roxy was unable to use telepathy like her fellow tribe members. This setback led her to create an emotional rift between her and her parents. However, in the second season of the series, she finally accepted her telepathic disability and made up with her parents – who still loved her despite her shortcomings.
Lastly, Rudeus also has his own fair share of character growth. He constantly tries to change some of his old, bad habits that follows him into the new world to become a better person with positive attitudes and behaviors. Although, it isn't an easy attempt for Rudeus to let go of his past, considering his psychological trauma. Still, he tries to move forward and grow out of his shell. The evident character development is one of the reasons Mushoku Tensei supersedes most Isekai anime.
A Balanced Power System
Jobless Reincarnation features both magic and swordsmanship in relation to its power system. While magic is usually the main theme in most Isekai anime, Mushoku Tensei balances it out properly with swordsmanship. First off, Ghislaine from the Beast Tribe is regarded as the Sword King – a title reserved for powerful swordsmen. Ghislaine's superb swordsmanship was visible during Eris's kidnapping attempt, allowing fans to visualize her awesome skills. Magic may be at the epicenter of Jobless reincarnation, but it doesn't neglect swordsmanship. Another perfect example is the Rudeus-Eris duels.
On several occasions, Eris bested Rudeus with her impressive swordsmanship despite his incredible magical abilities. Even Rujierd and other members of the Superd Tribe are widely feared for their skill with the spear. This narrative balances out magic and other fighting styles, creating a diverse and interesting power system. In the future seasons of Jobless Reincarnation, magic will most likely take the story’s center stage. Regardless, swordsmanship and other fighting forms will still play a key role in the series. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation is a wholesome anime to watch, especially for fans seeking a reboot of the Isekai genre. It’s a balanced mix of comedy, tragedy, and action that leaves viewers guessing the story’s future possibilities.