Anime and manga stories, especially isekai fantasies, usually have an element of escapism. But sometimes, Japan provides an escapist tale that’s too specific. I always wonder whether the author’s inspiration comes from personal trauma at work, school, or private life. Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody was about a game developer who must have collapsed at his desk before his video game missed its deadline. Programmers are aware of the heart palpitations from stress and panic as the studio heads demand status updates every fifteen minutes on the eve of the drop-dead date. We can only guess at the career path Benigashara, the author of Headhunted to Another World: From Salaryman to Big Four!, based his wish-fulfillment fantasy on.
Headhunted to Another World — Job Benefits Include Demon-Girl Waifus
The salaryman isekai is quickly becoming a subgenre of the parallel world fantasy story. We’ve recently seen Sasaki and Peeps, Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill, and The Daily Life of a Middle-Aged Online Shopper in Another World. Those last two titles are even more related, thanks to the online shopping mechanism they share. The difference between Headhunted to Another World (サラリーマンが異世界に行ったら四天王になった話, Salaryman ga Isekai ni Ittara Shitennou ni Natta Hanashi) and the others is that Moped-kun (not Truck-kun) sent lead character Dennosuke Uchimura (voice: Yuuki Ono) to the other world at the instant Maou had summoned him. Coincidence or machination? We don’t know!
Overseas Manager Uchimura achieved results through dogged determination on the Japanese mainland. But his superiors repaid him by sending him to foreign offices to turn results around. His reward for those successes? Another foreign office assignment. For the Demon Lord, Uchimura’s talents were necessary things to transform his budding nation into a powerhouse. Talk about the ultimate foreign office assignment. Local leadership poached the salaryman and immediately turned him into an SVP (senior vice president). Uchimura’s knack for bridging cultural divides and market research made him the perfect complement for the other three Elite Generals. His new CEO gave him an office, a personal assistant, and close working relationships with his colleagues. Oh, and they’re all hot demon-girl waifus. Coworkers-with-benefits!
Dragon Waifu and Harem Concubines for the Salaryman
Headhunted to Another World plays favorites among Uchimura’s harem members. Urmander (voice: Konomi Kohara, Roxy Migurdia from Mushoku Tensei) was the salaryman’s first collaborator and project partner. However, cultural misunderstandings led Urmander to believe she was already his fiancé. Her fiery tsundere personality is the basis for many jokes about jealousy and harem dynamics. She’s a demon with dragon tendencies and red hair.
Uchimura’s administrative assistant, Orle (voice: Chitose Morinaga, Umiko Ahagon from New Game!), proposed to Uchimura first! It was for a political marriage to take over the ogre kingdom, but that counts in harem points for Headhunted to Another World. As an ogre-based demon, she’s taller than the salaryman, and her reddish skin puts her into the tanned waifu category.
The elf-mage Sylphid (voice: Yui Ishikawa, 2B from NieR:Automata) often wears a disguise in public and even fools her Elite General coworkers. Urmander had never seen her face! She plays an elf secretary named Belinda at her office to avoid new assignments and hide from visitors. But she couldn’t fool Uchimura! His tenacity and creative problem-solving caught her eye, which caught Urmander’s jealousy.
Genome (voice: Nene Hieda, Douki-chan from Ganbare, Douki-chan), the demi-human Elite General in charge of a commando unit, has a business-only relationship with Uchimura. So far! Urmander and Genome bicker like sisters, but would these sisters share a man? Not if Urmander has a say.
How a Salaryman Does Business — the Izakaya
Heavy drinking is a primary aspect of Japanese business culture outside the office. Senpai and kouhai form bonds, and potential business partners seal deals at traditional bars called izakaya. A drunk OL (office lady) at an izakaya is the usual scenario for doujins of a beloved genre. So, I’m happy about Headhunted to Another World bringing the izakaya with Uchimura as a type of meditation, visualization, and inspiration. And the salaryman even puts his demon waifu in a business suit there!
The izakaya’s proprietor (大将, たいしょう, taishou) is a mysterious being with pink hair and wears red glasses with different-sized lenses. What does it mean? Who is he? I hope we find out because he is the mascot of Headhunted to Another World. His aphorisms at the end of each episode serve as a cryptic episode preview.
Should You Watch Headhunted to Another World?
This anime is for office drones who wish they had an understanding and appreciative boss. Your colleagues like, love, fall in love with, and flirt with you! Headhunted to Another World is classic wish-fulfillment for the older set instead of the bully victim revenge stories most isekai fodder has been recently.
Do you like looking at belly buttons on taut midriffs and high-waisted string bikini bottoms? That’s the level of fanservice our salaryman often sees. Glasses and peekaboo sweaters are a nice bonus. I hoped we would see the other demon girls in the end credits. But Headhunted to Another World promoted Urmander to the Best Girl position. At least, this is true for the first six episodes.
The plot follows a slice-of-life procedural format on business negotiations, product testing, and market research. Again, viewers familiar with white-collar office culture will feel at home. These corporate actions serve as characterization and relationship-building vehicles between Uchimura and his demon waifus. Our lead salaryman suffers from impostor syndrome and low self-esteem. Maou is the requisite executive officer for Uchimura’s personal growth and self-actualization. How’s that for some HR personality quiz lingo? Headhunted to Another World is a relaxing viewing session each week.
Come for the Demon Waifus and Stay for the Salaryman Vibes
Headhunted to Another World: From Salaryman to Big Four! streams on Crunchyroll in Japanese audio with subtitles in English and other languages.
What do you think? Fiery, redheaded tsundere Urmander gets most of the airtime, but Sylphid tickles my megane oneesan type. Are you watching Headhunted to Another World? Let us know in the comments below.
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