Re:Monster

Awesome monster isekai refreshingly abandons so many annoying tropes!

In a genre that oversaturated with so many cheesy teenaged protagonists, it's so nice to see an adult main character who actually behaves LIKE AN ADULT! So no spoilers, but this MC responds to combat tactfully and then doesn't fall into the trap of "I have to be the only strong one." He first takes time to learn his world and situation, then seeks out to improve it.

And when it comes to female characters, he doesn't grossly objectify them and neither does he treat physical relations like they are the bogeyman. I think this just might ... be the first anime I've ever seen that suggests the existence of a healthy sexual response. He doesn't force desires on others, and on the other side of the coin when consent/interest is expressed he doesn't ridicule or shame the thought of it in return, like how every teenaged romcom does. And at the same time, this anime shows that sex between adults can exist without turning it into a hentai. Honestly, when the topic came up it hardly even felt lewd at all because instead it portrayed more like a sensible respectful fulfillment of everyone's feelings.

There are only three episodes of the show released so far, but I have rated this with top marks and will definitely be watching it to the very end. I think if more shows could move into this direction of a full adult cast and follow these trends then I think it would do wonders for anime as a whole.

The perfect way to describe this anime is "outdated."

From the plot, the characters, the animation, and even the opening song, it feels like they belong in the early or mid-2010s.

"Re:Monster" is supposedly "different" from your average isekai anime because the MC didn't reincarnate as a noble knight, a hero, or any high-ranking caste, but instead as a goblin. Sure, it's not the most unique, because some characters in different anime reincarnated into something more bizarre like a pig, a sword, and a vending machine, but still, it elevated itself in terms of uniqueness compared to your average isekai.But is it, though...?

Apparently not. The MC only ... looks and acts like a goblin only in the first and the first quarter of the second episode. And this is me being generous because even in the first episode, he already isn't acting like a "goblin". He can talk, he has common sense, and then in the next few minutes, he already evolved into something that just looks like a green elf. And if you think that the goblin in this anime is like the one in "Tensura," where goblins are a civilized race of monsters, then you are wrong. The goblin here is still depicted as a loather and pillager, savages that also kidnap female humans that later will have non-consensual "in and out" action performed on them. It's similar to the very goblin depicted in "Goblin Slayer," just taller, more good-looking, and there's a female goblin as well, which makes the kidnapping thing unnecessary. But all of this doesn't really matter because this whole ordeal is forgotten in the second episode when the MC becomes the leader of the goblins, and he forbids this practice.

Every sense of uniqueness is gone in the second episode because it develops just like any anime with an OP MC. The MC gets "cheat", he becomes powerful, and gets a lot of women.

The characters in this anime feel bland and plain both in personality and design. Sure, they're good-looking to some extent, but still too bland as a set of characters. In fact, most of the female characters introduced in the beginning only have "I fall in love with the MC" as their characters. Imagine a group of women getting kidnapped from human civilization by goblins, then somehow the leader of those goblins is being nice to them, and then the group of women falls so hard for the MC to the point that none of them mind being his side woman, despite the fact that the MC is literally THE LEADER OF MONSTERS THAT KIDNAPPED THEM.

The animation is also outdated. It feels like it should be airing in 2013 or 2014, but TV Tokyo forgot to air it until 2024 and then added it to the spring 2024 roster as if the schedule hadn't bloated enough.

So the only selling point of this anime is a decent amount of fan service. There are sex scenes, though not really vulgar, and some nudity is shown.

This is also the kind of anime where everything bad barely happens so you can enjoy it with a peaceful heart because the MC will slay everything that tries to hurt his girls because, again, seeing anime girls get killed sucks.

Overall, if you have too much time to spare, you may or may not give this show a try.

Ah, Re: Monster—a tale that teeters on the precipice of intrigue, tantalizing viewers with the promise of a unique twist on the tired trope of reincarnation.

Picture this: a human soul, reborn amidst the chaos of a fantastical world, not as a noble knight or a valiant hero, but as a lowly goblin. A refreshing departure from the norm, wouldn't you say? But alas, dear viewer, our protagonist's journey takes an unexpected turn as he discovers that consuming just about anything grants him unimaginable powers. Talk about a fortuitous turn of events!

And so, armed with his newfound abilities, our goblin-turned-overlord embarks on a conquest of epic ... proportions, amassing a loyal goblin army and a harem to sleep with faster than you can say "OP protagonist."

Now, for those seeking a testosterone-fueled power trip, this anime may hold some appeal. After all, who wouldn't relish the opportunity to vanquish foes and win maidens' hearts with nary a care in the world? But for those with a discerning palate, the taste of disappointment may linger like a bitter aftertaste.

But fear not, intrepid viewers, for amidst the rubble of shattered expectations lies a glimmer of hope. Whispers in the wind speak of a narrative crescendo, promising untold revelations and climactic showdowns that may yet redeem the series in the eyes of its audience.

So, to watch or not to watch? That, my friends, is the question. While Re: Monster may stumble in its execution, it offers a tantalizing glimpse into a world brimming with potential—a world where the line between hero and villain blurs and where the greatest battles are fought not with swords but with the power of choice.

As for me, I shall remain ever vigilant, for in anime, the journey is often as captivating as the destination.
4/10