Image via Crunchyroll, Liden Films, Kodansha, and Hekiru Hikawa
Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life is one of those situations in which a comedic send-up of isekai situations absolutely succeeds, especially when it comes to the new anime adaptation on Crunchyroll. Namely, as a result of the execution and focus on the characters and their personalities in this release. By really playing up the positions former Demon King Ryusei Narukami and former hero Meteor Hanaori held and their current roles in their new life, as well as the anime direction choices Liden Films went with, it really highlights the contrasts and comedic situations.
Editor’s Note: There will be no major spoilers for the anime adaptation of Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life below.
In his previous life, Ryusei Narukami ruled as a demon lord. He had minions and power, but eventually found himself defeated by a grand hero. After he died, he reincarnated, but the isekai element here meant he turned up as an ordinary human in our modern day world. It also meant that he didn’t possess any of the ill will and instead wanted to live peacefully as a human. That means he stays at home, much to the frustration of his little sister Moe, playing video games. And he’s happy! And peaceful! And quiet!
That is, until Meteor Hanaori turns up. In her previous life, she was the legendary hero who defeated him. Coincidentally, after her death she also reincarnated in the modern human world. Except while he wants to relax and savor that ordinary life, she still feels a call to duty and is initially convinced that he is still an evil force to be reckoned with. So much so that she actually seeks him out determined to fight him again. She still 100% believes he’s up to something.
It’s that encounter that does lead to some action on Ryusei’s part. He then gets a job as a teacher at Mitsurugi Girl’s High School. Which turns out to be Meteor’s school. And he ends up as her homeroom teacher. That leads to her thinking there are still ulterior motives and he could be plotting something. Which, again, leads to her trying to catch him in the act. Antics ensue.
In a way, it can almost feel like a comedic set up where we have one person acting as the outrageous “funny” individual and the other as the normal one reacting to and trying to bring reason to the situation. Ryusei and Meteor play off of each other perfectly both in the Liden animation choices and in the Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life anime. The choices when depicting certain scenes or playing up awkwardness and enthusiasm work out so well. Part of this is a result of the chosen voice actors. Jun Fukuyama (also Lelouch in Code Geass and Joker in Persona 5) and Akira Sekine (Lilisa in Rock is a Lady’s Modesty and Akira in Street Fighter 5) are fantastic as the leads in Japanese and nail the patter and banter down perfectly. While I know dubs aren’t for everyone, Mauricio Ortiz-Segura and Kelly Greenshield are also perfectly suited as the deadpan “villain” and reactionary “heroine.”
The supporting cast characterizations also aid in acting ensuring the humor in the Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life anime hits too. We’re constantly getting asides and input from fellow Mitsurugi Girl’s High School staff and students like Sakura, Mako, Matsurika, Mana, and Minto. Their responses either as commentary or equally absurd or over-the-top maintain the tone and ambiance. Likewise, as we start to see how this modern human world ends up relating as an isekai experience and what other elements come through, it also enhances the elements of Ryusei and Meteor’s past and those other cast reactions too.
The Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life anime is a lot of fun and really plays up the contrast between the characters and past lives. It handles this particular kind of isekai situation well. Then, by highlighting who these people were in the past and how that dynamic changed and evolved in the new situation, we get these fantastic takes caused by misinterpretations, character growth, and the new setting. Likewise, the personalities and depictions of Ryusei, Meteor, and the supporting cast, as well as their performers behind them, help sell it all.
The Hanaori-san Still Wants to Fight in the Next Life anime adaptation is streaming on Crunchyroll. Seven Seas Entertainment handles the manga.
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Image via Crunchyroll, Liden Films, Kodansha, and Hekiru Hikawa