Is ‘Ningen Fushin’ Another Trash Fantasy Anime?

The new anime season is here, and that means new fantasy and isekai anime based on light novels. While some of these can be truly outstanding, more often this genre can feel a bit formulaic after hundreds of shows remixing the same tropes. I watched the new Ningen Fushin no Boukensha-tachi ga Sekai wo Sukuu you desu, aka Ningen Fushin: Adventurers Who Don’t Believe in Humanity Will Save the World, and was surprised to find I liked it. Keep reading to see if this anime is worth your time!

What’s Special About Ningen Fushin?

Whenever I start a new anime season, I watch dozens of episodes and take notes on each, sketching out ideas I might want to cover in potential blog posts. I also start a “shows I’m not watching” list, in case I write a post about anime series I dropped for one reason or another. When I started Ningen Fushin, I honestly thought it might end up on this list… but I’m happy I persevered through the first few episodes.

Ningen Fushin is a fantasy anime about four outcasts who have lost their faith in humanity. The four end up drinking at a table together, sharing their frustration at the unfair cards life has dealt them.

First is Nick, a fighter whose pride caused the members of his party to turn on him, followed by his girlfriend breaking up with him… and before he knows it, he’s become an idol otaku. Tiana is a mage of noble birth who treated those around her like trash and became an outcast because of it. She acquired the bad habit of gambling, and now her life is a mess.

Curren is a dragon-human hybrid whose party used her as bait and then betrayed her, leaving her for dead and stealing her Dragon Jewel. Finally there’s Zem, a fallen priest who was falsely accused of an inappropriate relationship with a girl and imprisoned, leading him to become addicted to high-end bars where girls pour drinks for him.

The four beat-down adventurers realize that they all share a mistrust of humanity, and wonder if they might not be able to rely on each other? They form a party and call it the Survivors, and somehow this group of unwanted adventurers is fated to save the world…

The Flawed Characters Make it Good

The best thing about Ningen Fushin is the way the characters are all imperfect, with many faults they need to work on. Far from a generic overpowered hero like Kirito from SAO, these characters are flawed, and everyone needs a big dose of humility if they want to improve. Yes, the writer is obviously taking a page from Shield Hero in his storytelling, but I think it’s a better approach than many works in this genre.

The key to telling a good story is crafting characters we connect to, and Ningen Fushin is trying its best. Each character is potentially similar to us in one way or another, with faults we might possess ourselves. Have you ever gone overboard with an idol addiction, or developed a gambling problem? Or forgotten the importance of bringing empathy into human relationships, to the point that it caused you to lose someone important to you?

The anime is based on the light novel series by Shinta Fuji, which is published in English by Yen Press. Animation is done by Geek Toys, with Itsuki Imazaki of Hensuki fame directing.

Thanks for reading this overview of the Ningen Fushin fantasy anime. What shows are you following this season? Tell us below, or hit us up on Twitter!

J-List is always here to help relieve your personal stress levels with onaholes, ero lotion, and other sexy products from Japan! We’re starting the new year off with tons of awesome new stock for you from Japan’s best companies. Browse them all here!