Series Review – Kono Danshi, Mahou Ga Oshigoto Desu
“I got straight up vodka with a dash of goddamned MAGIC because that’s what wizards DO”
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I find that it’s very, very easy to glaze over short anime. This one was especially odd because it started airing midway through the winter season. Based on this and the lack of information I had, I wasn’t expecting much and I almost did glaze over it. But when a single episode is a scant 7 minutes long, I’m more willing to take a chance. Despite all these negative thoughts going in, I ended up liking this gay wizard show enough to blog about it! |
So yes, this is indeed one of those boys love series (I know you’re all probably wondering why anaaga isn’t here instead of me). There are actual several anime starting off with “Kono Danshi,…”, but this is the first time I’ve caught wind of this little franchise. This 4 episode “series” in particular, is about a wizard named Kashima who works himself to the bone because magic is the only thing he thinks he is good at. The only reprieve he allows himself is an evening of solitude (and good drinks) at a cozy bar he frequents. One night, he runs into Toyohi, who immediately takes a shining to him. In fact, the two are dating by the second episode, whether Kashima wants to admit it or not. From there, the two grow closer and Kashima learns that he’s good at things other than magic.
It’s a fluffy, feel-good series that wraps everything up in a neat package due to the obvious time restraints. I usually distance myself from boys love anime because they turn into toxic, rape-centred relationships. It’s pretty gross. Kono Danshi manages to not fall into that trap, although you do get the trope of one of the guys being so far in the closet that they’re practically in Narnia. I mean, Kashima fully goes on dates with a guy who directly confesses his love to him and still doesn’t realize he’s in a relationship! However, this small grievance aside, the rest of the show is rather sweet. A major part of the second half of the show is due to a misunderstanding that could have been solved if the two had talked it out much sooner (which is mildly frustrating), but thanks to the length of the series, this doesn’t carry on for very long.
I also like that Kashima’s lack of self-esteem is a very relateable story. We’re often praised as children growing up for being smart and getting good marks, which can sometimes make you stop and wonder what people would think of you if you suddenly stopped getting good marks. This drive and fear to perform well in school causes a lot of students to have various degrees of mental breakdowns as they go into high school and then university and the bar keeps raising higher. The end message of Kono Danshi is that you are a very important person not because of the skills you have or the things you can do, but just because you are you. Okay, now I sound like some sort of motivational speaker, but I thought it was a really touching message to end the show with.
Yes, I would be traumatized by wearing those little short shorts too.
Kono Danshi is a very pleasant show to watch. Despite being so short, there is still ample breathing room and establishing shots of cherry blossoms or the couple just sitting quietly in the bar. There’s a good sense of pacing and rhythm here. Unfortunately, it never really has enough room to really become something amazing because there’s just no time. It’s content being a cute little vignette, and it hits the mark.
One thing this show does go above and beyond on is the art style. The animation is stilted and movement often looks like cheaply animated sprites in a game. You can almost see the motion blurs as they move from one sprite to the next. However, the stylistic choices, the colour palette, the shot framing, and just about everything else that has to do with the art direction is drop dead gorgeous. It honestly makes up for the low budget animation to the point where this is one of the best looking things I’ve seen in a while.
The entire world looks like it’s constantly glossed over in a starry mist, and the colours look lush and vibrant without being so garrishly bright they burn a hole in your retina (such as Prince of Stride). The backgrounds are all very detailed as well. Pretty much everything works towards distracting you from the lack of motion – including cute little pop-up bubbles that animate their thoughts with words and pictures. They really make the most they can out of what looks like a paltry budget. As a result, the visuals end up being the best part of the show despite the fact that hardly anything is actually…well..animated.
So if you want a sweet, atmospheric romance about a gay wizard and some rando he meets in a bar…Kono Danshi is for you. The story is very simple, but I found it to be rather effective given how short it is. At the very least, just enjoy these screenshots so I can show you how pretty this show is…
“Take my hand and click the spoiler button.”
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About Overcooled
A neuroscience graduate, black belt, and all-around nerd. You'll either find me in my lab or curled up in my rilakkuma kigurumi watching anime.
