Crunchyroll recently released "Tsue to Tsurugi no Wistoria," and I find myself puzzled by the manga audience's willingness to consume such content. It’s also baffling that yet another anime studio has chosen to produce a title that feels so generic and lacks originality. However, to be fair, the animation quality is commendable, so it wouldn't be right to criticize that aspect.
The series borrows heavily from other franchises, most notably Harry Potter. Our protagonist starts with little to no abilities, only to be mocked by everyone around him. His antagonist/rival is part of a trio that bullies him, which feels like a tired trope at this point. Of course, the protagonist is imbued with the usual plot armor, and—predictably—his memories of the past and an old promise propel him forward. It’s the kind of overused narrative that made my eyes roll so far back, I could almost see my brain.
I have no intention of finishing this series. To me, it’s an insult to my time, especially given how painfully predictable the ending seems to be. The story lacks any real depth. We’re introduced to just two teachers—one supportive, the other dismissive because they perceive the protagonist as weak. Again, nothing original here.
And, as is the case with many pre-teen anime, there's the young love angle, where everyone is infatuated with the protagonist. He remains oblivious, of course, because he’s depicted as gentle, naïve, and pure—a paragon of innocence (it’s enough to make me gag).
I believe the target audience for this series is likely children and pre-teens who are just dipping their toes into the world of magic and fantasy.
