Alto, a talented magic student, accidentally summons a sexy, powerful demoness to be his familiar. How will he handle Vermeil’s overwhelming sensuality?
Episode 1 – “The Desperate Magician and the Imprisoned Disaster”
First Thoughts
Ecchi anime fans have patiently been waiting for the summer season. The heavy metal “Bastard!!” started us off on Netflix for those who like their mature preferences to mix sex, blood, and rock and roll. For those who enjoy the videogame isekai genre, Harem in the Labyrinth of Another World offers three tiers of censorship for fans of culture. Yes, the video track is cleverly censored. But the audio track also redacts the controversial words “sex slave,” “virginity,” and “make love.” Streaming platform Crunchyroll does not offer the uncensored version as it did with Shin Ikkitousen, so those subscribers will need to find Roxanne’s jiggly goodness elsewhere. But if you like older sister-types teasing inexperienced younger men, Vermeil in Gold is for you. The magic academy anime uses creative nudity-blocking techniques that are Blu-ray bait for thirsty collectors.
But is Vermeil in Gold (Kinsou no Vermeil: Gakeppuchi Majutsushi wa Saikyou no Yakusai to Mahou Sekai wo Tsuki Susumu – Vermeil in Gold: A Desperate Magician Barges Into the Magical World Alongside the Strongest Calamity) fun to watch? Yes! The structure of the series is an age-gap romantic comedy with coming-of-age notes. The lead character Alto has rival love interests in his newly summoned familiar Vermeil (Maaya Uchida) and his childhood tsundere friend Lilia (Wakana Kuramochi). There is a mystery to solve in how Vermeil fell into Alto’s lap and what will happen when the demoness regains her missing magic energy. Along the way, enjoy bountiful shots of cleavage, panties, wet kisses, and Vermeil teasing Alto to the limits of his self-control.
Hmm
I enjoy watching competent main characters like Alto Goldfield, voiced by Yuuya Hirose (Takuma Akutsu in Val x Love and Yuuta Hibiki from SSSS.GRIDMAN). Because the story’s narrative tension will come from external issues instead of character-driven ones, Vermeil in Gold will have a lighter and more hopeful tone. Gloomy characters don’t fit into a fanservice-heavy romantic comedy well.
Alto is the most gifted student in his grade. He has the top marks in every subject except summoning a familiar. Alto couldn’t do it at all! Vermeil in Gold showed us that Alto’s problem wasn’t because he was incompetent but that he had too much talent. The magic student is still learning, so he didn’t know that a candidate for a magician’s familiar needed to be compatible in many ways. Alto didn’t know what that affinity entails, such as matching his energy output. The top student might have been kept back a grade because his teachers didn’t tell him that familiars would have been scared off by the vast store of magic inside Alto. Vermeil taught him a lesson outside his curriculum. I’m sure she’ll teach him many other extracurricular activities!
Heh
Ooh. Sexy, horny devil. Alto does the cooking. Hey! They’re kissing in anime! Can they do that? A blonde, busty lady features in the opening credits. She closed a thick, gold-leaf book.
Vermeil in Gold is set in a magic school. It looks like Cambridge or Oxford. There are odd, arch-like structures in the sky. Alto Goldfield, the main character, failed the summoning exam. His teacher gives him a final deadline in producing a familiar before he records Alto’s grades. Otherwise, he’ll be left behind! One of Alto’s classmates summoned a rhinoceros beetle. How difficult could it be for the top guy in the class? Lilia doesn’t like this news.
Alto needs to conjure something weird. How about whatever’s in this odd book that fell on his head? Nothing sketchy there! Alto summoned someone from that antique book! Hey, smoky censorship! The lady demon likes Alto’s cute reaction to her nakedness. More creative censorship here from Vermeil in Gold. Eep. The demoness won’t get away with sexual advances because Alto wants to make a lengthier contract! Boo! Bright light censorship rays. Oho. Alto’s potent mana impresses the demoness. The pair successfully signed a contract, and the seal is gold-colored. Alright! Bring on the magic sucking! The demon has a name, Vermeil. “Vermeil” means “gilded silver or bronze.” I like her teasing attitude. Uh, how did Alto’s clothes get undone? And what is Vermeil rubbing on there? Hee-hee! Aw, what a wimp. I have questions about Alto’s sister and her little black dress. Vermeil wears the Vermeil in Gold version of the virgin-killer dress.
Oh. So that’s why Alto couldn’t attract a familiar. He didn’t try to summon a being strong enough to withstand his “potent mana.” Vermeil likes her mana intoxicating and pure. Vermeil in Gold gives us plenty of inuendoes. All the better that she’s a naughty woman. Are demons not allowed at the academy? How about lewdly dressed women? Leave it to the top student to contract the most eye-catching familiar. Alto officially passed the summoning exam.
Haha! Vermeil should totally be allowed to sit on Alto’s lap in class. The other familiars sit on their masters’ shoulders, heads, etc. Vermeil just wants to follow the school’s rules. “Live life alongside your familiar.” Lilia doesn’t like any part of what she’s seeing. Vermeil in Gold isn’t shy about crotch shots. Does Lilia have a mole on her inner thigh? We need more research. Uh oh. Lilia wants a duel with Alto to make him keep Vermeil in his room. What does Alto get out of this? Whatever it is, Lilia is all for it!
This duel will be televised to the whole school. I didn’t see any flatscreens anywhere, so this is what passes for entertainment at the school. Ooh. Lilia has a wind fairy for her familiar. Welp, there’s confirmation that Vermeil can take a hit. Aw, more censorship blocking from Vermeil in Gold. Now, how does Vermeil counterattack? That didn’t look too bad! Everybody wins! Aw, how sweet. Alto orders Lilia and Vermeil to be friends. Don’t call the demoness “auntie.”
Later, Vermeil explains that she needs to fill up on Alto’s mana. She was almost empty when she popped out of the book. If Alto doesn’t like kissing, she can drain mana in other ways!
The end credits tell an artsy version of Vermeil’s backstory.
Vermeil in Gold (Kinsou no Vermeil: Gakeppuchi Majutsushi wa Saikyou no Yakusai to Mahou Sekai wo Tsuki Susumu) streams weekly on Hidive in Japanese audio and English subtitles.
