Anime Review: Mashle
- Very Average Joe
- May 4
- 4 min read
English Title: Mashle: Magic and Muscles
Japanese Title: マッシュル-MASHLE-
Director(s): Tanaka Tomoya
Screenwriter(s): Kuroda Yosuke
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Released: 2023–2024
Season 1 Runtime: 12 episodes, ~23m each.
Season 2 Runtime: 12 episodes, ~23m each.
Starring: Kobayashi Chiaki, Ishikawa Kaito, Kawashima Reiji, Ueda Reina, Eguchi Takuya
Based on the manga of the same name by Komoto Hajime that was published from 2020 to 2023, this is a fantasy comedy that somewhat parodies the genre.
The setting is many respects a typical medieval-fantasy world, although some elements, such as clothing, may be more modern. This is a world in which magic is the norm. Those without the ability are culled.
Mash Burnedead is one such individual, so he lives secluded in the forest with his father. Although having no magic abilities, he exercises constantly and therefore has supreme physical abilities. One day, he is discovered and after physically defeating the cops, he is in effect blackmailed: attend Easton Magic Academy and become a “Divine Visionary” or get arrested.
It is not elaborated why the copper wants Mash to attend the academy but he has no choice. His life and his way of life with his father are on the line. So, Mash attends the academy and deals with every problem using brute force.
The Divine Visionary is a title earned by passing an exam. They form a group that works for the Bureau of Magic that maintains order in society. In order to qualify for the exam, one must earn coins.
The humor is relatively simple but not quite slapstick since the action or violence is typically not accidental nor harmless. Its delivery is absurdist since magic is the norm, relying on the typical hard cuts to character reactions commonly used in comedies.
As expected, the season 1 arc is introductory in nature. Mash has to pass the entrance exam. The Easton Magic Academy has three houses, Adler, Orca, and Lang, and Mash is assigned to Adler. The house rivalry is not particularly strong as the narrative focuses on Mash and a few other characters.
Mash meets and becomes friends with Finn Ames and Lemon Irvine. These two are somewhat like foil characters, neither having strong magical or physical abilities. Finn, however, is the more studious type so he possesses knowledge. Mash also meets and becomes friends with Lance Crown, a highly capable and handsome guy.
Unfortunately, Finn leans too much to being like Zenitsu in Demon Slayer (although not as consistently extreme). Panicking or cowering in the face of danger is understandable, but Finn is simply too passive. One hardly sees him try to use his magical powers. And, unlike Zenitsu, he is not funny. Overall, both Finn and Lemon are under-utilized and too passive when they have the potential to be interesting characters.
There is no shortage of bullies. Mash is absentminded and nonchalant, but he is kindhearted. Whilst having no problems defending himself or those he cares about, he doesn’t hold grudges either. He tries to think well of others even after beating them up. In this way, he is quite disarming, making a few friends and earning a good reputation.
In addition to Mash making friends, he comes across Magia Lupus, a pseudo-secret group of elitist students of Lang led by Abel Walker. They look down on others and go around beating them up. This group is the primary villain in season 1.
The primary villain for season 2 is also introduced and the second season wisely steers away from school bullies, upping the threats to Mash and avoiding repetition by involving powerful criminals. So, there is the simple “good guys vs bad guys” angle.
Season 2 also focuses on the issue of Mash’s secret of being magically incapable. Whilst some characters accept him, others are sticklers to societal norms and laws.
Thematically, it is fundamentally the same throughout both seasons. Those in a position of authority who are inflexible or abuse their power are basically the same as school bullies; it’s just that the former are official.
Related to that is class struggle, those who are not as adept in their magical abilities are looked down upon. And part of the conflict includes those who believe in and practice noblesse oblige.
The pacing is measured. Structurally, it is not quite a “gauntlet run” as Mash does not need to fight the first adversary in order to take on the second. But it is still in effect a series of battles, occasionally shifting to fights that do not involve Mash, because there is always someone picking a fight.
Visually, it is generally well-produced as expected from A-1 Pictures. The linework is a little too thick and crude at times but that is presumably consistent to the humor, much like Mash relying on physical strength. Whilst the environment is rendered very nicely, the colors and graduations in characters and other objects are too plain; it does yield a clean and simple look, but it is too simple.
Overall, it is decently paced and action-packed. The fights do attempt variation by showing how Mash uses his strength differently against different adversaries. In that way, it shows Mash is capable of tactical thought even if he is absentminded. Whilst it is appreciated that there is a strong sense of focus on Mash, the minor characters are under-utilized. Failing to involve them is a lost opportunity for a more complex plot as well as more action and comedy.
The humor is simple and even crude, which is fine in itself, but it could definitely parody the genre more and even include black humor. Mash breaking others’ wands is a good start, but it needs to go further. Despite the weaknesses, seeing him giving bullies what they deserve in deadpan is somewhat satisfying and it is still a moderately enjoyable series so far.
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