'Grimgar: Of Fantasy and Ash' Anime Series Review
‘Hai to Gensō no Gurimugaru’, otherwise known as ‘Grimgar: Of Fantasy and Ash’, is a twelve episode anime released in January of 2016.
Aimed at teens and young adults, the anime series is set in another world. A group of young people wake up in a town with no memory of how they got there, who got them there, or why they are there. Together, they become enlisted as (what the fantasy world calls) ‘volunteer soldiers’, taking on goblins to gain money in order to survive in the world. In doing so, they are able to make their way up the ranks and gain new skills.
The group soon finds themselves speaking words they do not fully understand, like ‘cell phone’ and ‘T.V.’ – concepts that exist in our world but not that of Grimgar. However, the words do seem awfully familiar to them.
At the start of the series, the members have difficulty finding the money to make it by, and must continuously mend the clothes and equipment they possess. Each person has an important role in the group, helping it to function efficiently. There are however, problematic characters who add to the drama of the series and complicate certain events:
Ranta is a Dark Knight and somewhat of a wild child. He doesn’t really get along with people, and can be quite arrogant.
Shihoru is the team’s hunter, who is skilled with a dagger and bow, and forges himself as one of the group’s ranged attackers. She becomes very close with Yume.
Manato is responsible for healing the group as he takes up the profession of Priest, and becomes the group’s leader for some time.
Yume becomes Mage (spell caster) of the party, dealing damage whilst trapping opponents in her spells. She is very shy and timid.
Moguzo is generally quiet, but loves to cook and carve little statues and animals out of wood. Moguzo takes up the role of Tank in the party as he becomes a warrior.
After some time, Haruhiro becomes the leader of the party and is the resident thief, who is most agile and quick on his feet. He is a person that isn’t particularly arrogant or humble.
Finally, Mary is a priest who appears distant at the start of the series, but gradually opens up her emotions and thoughts to Haruhiro and the others as time goes by.
Over the course of the anime, bonds are bound, broken, and reforged between the party members, who often act as a family unit in order to survive. The voice actors do an excellent job of portraying their character, contributing to each one’s unique identity.
All in all, ‘Grimgar: Of Fantasy and Ash’ is possibly one of the most beautiful and captivating contemporary anime series. It is painted in the most stunning style of watercolours that will catch the eyes of its viewers, and the storyline flows well, working in tandem with character development throughout each episode.
Even more uniquely, the skilled teams at Madman and Funimation have added a one-two minute sequence near the end of each episode, playing music as each of the members walk around the town. It’s a delightful addition to the regular anime structure that helps ‘Grimgar’ standout from the rest.
If you are a fan of the fantasy, RPG and otherworld genres, this is an anime for you.
‘Grimgar: Of Fantasy and Ash’ can be viewed in dubbed, subbed and ad-free if subscribed to AnimeLab or Crunchyroll.
