Since their days as students, Tsukasa Jinguuji has had incredible luck with women due to his good looks; Hinata Tachibana has had almost none, overshadowed by Jinguuji's brilliance. However, while Jinguuji has never shown interest in the opposite sex, Tachibana is always desperate for a girlfriend. Despite their polar differences, they continue to be best friends even in their thirties as salarymen.
One night, the two are returning home from a mixer where Jinguuji was the center of attention as usual. In his drunken rambles, a frustrated Tachibana inadvertently wishes to become a beautiful girl with irresistible charm. As if the heavens were listening, a goddess suddenly shows herself before Jinguuji and Tachibana, transporting them to another world to defeat the Demon Lord and simultaneously granting Tachibana's desire.
Tachibana—now in the body of an impossibly perfect woman—has become so attractive that even Jinguuji is captivated. Moreover, Tachibana grows aware of Jinguuji's stunning appearance, finally understanding his popularity. Before they fall in love with each other, the duo must complete their mission or risk remaining prisoners to their infatuations forever.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Comentários
SpRayquaza11
Fabiniku is a comedy and parody anime first and foremost. also don't be one of them who treats the isekai label as a derogatory symbol, you d be missing out. Gives strong Konosuba vibes from start to finish, the comedy tone is more about isekai and games tropes rather than character-based and welp it is downright hilarious if you know the context. Cringe comedy is also huge here, the guy is a girl and gets tonnes of attention. there is also an overpowered kirito Clone who acts like an edgelord (Who would have guessed XD). the only character who isn't very strong is probably Jinguji , whois kinda always playing the straight man.
The comedy hits, almost always, it'll make you cringe laugh, or just laugh or at least smirk at the tropes being torn down then and there XD a long-time RPG and isekai fan is sure to love it.
Plot (7/10)
Well, standard adventure from point A to B or/and defeat demon lord, but the fact that is so self-aware and is able to reinvent its jokes without over-reliance on it is really good, but it isn't a plot based comedy it's mostly a trope killer or sometimes a character-based one, so it is understandable the plot isn't too deep.
Characters(9/10)
Has real good character development for a comedy anime too! jinguji seems strong but is just a worry-wort, Tachibana has a big inferiority complex yet his goodness is able to outshine it. The comedy is also character-based and it certainly does come pretty close in terms of chemistry to konosuba.
Sound and VA (9/10)
The jokes hit perfectly due to the really talented cast, Tachibana, jinguji, Swartz, and especially the elf girl have really good delivery of their lines xD that goes way beyond just good. this is certainly some quality dialogue delivered. The ed is pretty good and my favorite between the two .
ART and animation(8/10 )
good enough for comedy anime, a lot of fight scenes are done quite competently but are one sided so end quickly. the character art really hits when it comes to comedic timing it certainly is a well-made production by the new OLM team!
A great watch! is also not very disrespectful to gay people so don't be worried, give ita shot and it'll cam certainly be as good a laugh as was konosuba
Rachiba
In every season there is always that weird show whose synopsis can make a lot of people disgusted or bothered by one or two things and although a show like Fantasy Bishoujo Juniku Ojisan to (Life with an Ordinary Guy Who Reincarnated into a Total Fantasy Knockout or abbreviated Fabiniku) is like one more isekai on the list, the “gender bender” element scares a lot of creatures who… don't even know what this is about. However, to point this out is to miss out on things that a comedy like this unexpectedly offers the viewer. Created by a married couple made up of wife YuuTsurusaki and husband Chibimaru, this romantic comedy tells us about a man and a man who used to be a man: Both are teleported to a fantasy world thanks to the "blessing" of the Goddess of Love ; Jinguuji, a handsome but proud man is given a power buff while his normal friend, Tachibana, is turned into… a young blonde girl. To make matters worse, this half-naked goddess places a curse on them that the two of them will be romantically attracted to until they defeat the Demon King.
Fantasy Bishoujo is not the first existing anime where a character is transferred to another world with a change in their sex. - and that has been adapted - As isekai we can talk about cases like Kenja no Deshi wo Nanoru Kenja and Youjo Senki. Everything that makes up this anime is nothing more or less than the familiar tropes and gags of a normal isekai: mmorpg system, magic, experience, superpowers, etc., which, however, goes in a different direction than one normally assumes in this genre. This is also added with a story element that not even the writers themselves took the seriousness of doing since here and there the entire program is made up of a world, let's say, strange and chaotic; from the way in which the Gods and Legendary Creatures of this world are portrayed to the attitude of the secondary characters and villagers (Especially those who venerate the Goddess of Love and Beauty).
With animation by OLM, this program cannot be visually compared to one like Odd Taxi or Komi-san Can't Communicate (Both studio productions), but it maintains the graphic quality per se despite how 'generic' it may look. Character designs remain similar to those of the manga and although there are some modifications (such as Tilolilo Lilili's clothing) in general this adaptation doesn't affect the most important elements of Fabiniku. There are some narrative omissions compared to what is presented, but these omissions are nothing more than a few more or not so important scenes for the context they want to present. Writers manage to efficiently “cut” and “paste” the show's dialogue and keep the jokes intact without altering everything that is intended to be presented.
We have an OP “Akatsuki no Salaryaman” by Yoshiki, a decent pop-rock song that isn't bad it's not that brilliant due to its low audio quality. However, the video sequence perfectly describes what the program came to do with the viewer. If you found some screaming faces, explosions, Tachibana's cute face, and Kirito hanging around funny, then you can already get an idea of what happens in the rest of the show. On the other hand, his ED “FA"NTASY to!” is more of a very catchy J-Pop song whose video introduces us to Tachibana as the protagonist of this sequence, dancing, thinking and questioning herself about her relationship with Jinguuji.
As a manga reader something I didn't expect from Fantasy Bishoujo is that it was as funny as I could remember! And even less did I expect that this comedy manga would also be entrusted with a decent budget than one expects in these types of adaptations; starting with the casting of well-known actors and others that have been taking shape for years: starting with Mao (Pecorina from Princess Connect! and Iris from Fire Force) and Satoshi (Ainz from Overlord and Saito from Zero no Tsukaima) in the voices of Tachibana and Jinguuji respectively. The chemistry between these two works and makes the jokes come naturally. We can also talk about Junichi Suwabe as Shen who I admit I didn't expect him to play the role of this mysterious villager, as well as Rie Kugimya in the voice of the Goddess of Love and Beauty and Eri Kitamura as Lucious, etc. Overall, everyone manages to do a decent and confident job of the character assigned to them.
However, not everything is jokes and laughter because the program also at a certain point adds specific flashbacks from the past of the two heroes, presenting a preview of how their friendship has been before so that the viewer has an indication of how deep the friendship is. Is likely that many expected more background to this or feel concern that this could "kill the character", but since the intention of the program is to make us laugh, this remains as a secondary element without any problem.
But, the most remarkable point is its characters: with the pair of best friends as the center of the plot, they will be accompanied by other secondary characters that the series doesn't throw away and discard when it feels like it. As a consequence, much of the potential of each of them is taken advantage of and they complement the chemistry of the program very well; Better yet, it's that it's not satisfied with appearing in a mini-arc either and it's common for them to have a series of cameos or return to prominence at certain points in the program after their first appearance. An example of these is Schwartz, the Kirito archetype, whose dialogues and actions are a clear satire to all the typical protagonists who look "cold" and can use swords; or Tilolilo Lilili, an elf proud of her beauty who is jealous of Tachibana...
On the other hand, as I said at the beginning, many may have some guesses with a program that sells you the premise of a "man turned woman" and it's understandable how uncomfortable it can be for a fan who has little adapted to this type of contents. However, Fantasy Bishoujo is a seriously funny series that offers its audience a lot of smiles everywhere and a 180-degree turn to what we normally understand of a conventional isekai, similar to what another comedy like Konosuba does.
If you liked the show, I recommend you continue on the manga.
lezvie
This is definetly the surprise of the season for me. First of all, with a synopsis like this, i really don't know why people didn't hype this one, over the other isekais of the season. If you look at distance, it seems like a generic power fantasy parody isekai "with a twist". But honestly, it felt quite unique for me, as the most important thing here is the relationship between Tachibana and Jinguji. And, for my surprise, it is an Isekai that actually makes the "past life", or "life before being isekai'd" important. If Jinguji was a solo protagonist for an isekai, he would probably beas boring as the "Cautious Hero". And if it was Tachibana, she would probably be the side annoying character. The anime works because their chemestry is amazing. The side characters are okay-ish, with exception of "Discount Kirito", AKA Schwartz von Liechtenstein Lohengramm, AKA best character of the show.
Now for drawbacks. It touches the "queer" topic in a somewhat irresponsible/ignorant way. I mean, it is the case for almost all anime that tackle trans/gays related topics, but i find it weird how the show seems to make you think it is more "unacceptable" for them to be a couple because they are both guys, than because Tachibana's body is of a child/teenager. In other words, it is okay for 30 year olds to have a relationship with a loli, but it is not okay for two men have a deep (i didn't even say romantic) relationship.
What i like, tho, is how Tachibana develops to accept he is now a woman. And how, sometimes, the show is aware of its own prejudice, as there will be a whole arc touching on how it is normal for guys to feel jealous, or compliment each other, AS IT WORKS IN REAL LIFE.
Another drawback for me was how the show sometimes forget it is a comedy, and focus too much on a plot that isn't the main focus.
Overall, best isekai/fantasy show of the season, definetly a surprise for me. If you like stupid shows like Konosuba, you will like this one.
CrowTheCryptid
What the hell dude? I came into this show expecting low tier humor with homophobic undertones that I could cringe at, where did this genuine exploration of gender, relationships and identity come from?? Jokes aside, I'd heard that this show was pretty funny, but I didn't expect it to be so emotional and introspective as well. Our two protagonists have incredible chemistry and are both interesting and flawed characters. The art is really good, the humor is as great as I thought it was gonna be and while the worldbuilding appears a bit simple/cliche it definitely feels like there's more that we don't know, which keepsus hooked and hoping for an eventual sequel. As much as I'd recommend this show for the hokes and humor I'd praise it's heartfelt moments just as much, they really did a great job of creating relatable and interesting characters with understandable challenges that they must face, as well as a vibrant world filled with a really memorable cast that makes the show even more fun.
TL;DR: well written story, great art, good music, great pacing, relatable and charming cast, 10/10 would recommend to a friend.
KirbyCoded
Full disclosure, I went into Life With an Ordinary Guy Who Reincarnated Into a Total Fantasy Knockout expecting it to be bad. I love trash TV, and I love dumpster diving for shows that look like not very good, trashy fun. But the thing about dumpster diving is that among the garbage, occasionally you’ll find treasure. Life With an Ordinary Guy Who Reincarnated Into a Total Fantasy Knockout (which I’ll be shortening to Fabiniku from here on) is that treasure. Fabiniku is, of course, an isekai with an overly long, overly descriptive title in both English and Japanese, but you don’t quite get what it sayson the tin. It’s not *just* the story of a normal salaryman (Hinata Tachibana) getting reincarnated in a fantasy world as a hot blonde woman and getting told to go kill the Demon King, because he’s not the only one reincarnated in another world—he gets to bring along his cool, sexy, and aloof best friend Tsukasa Jinguuji as his overpowered weapon.
The dynamic between Tachibana and Jinguuji is the main driving force of the story—it is a romcom, after all. While Tachibana is almost completely average outside of his above average people skills, Jinguuji is the exact opposite. He’s a loner who’s not only good at everything he does, but constantly overshadows Tachibana, and it’s established early on just how jealous Tachibana is of Jinguuji. But despite any jealousy or animosity, they love each other deeply, which makes them an extremely shippable leading couple. They compliment and contrast each other as characters, and they play off each other extremely well. Together, they’re more interesting leads than either character would be on their own. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
The writer of the manga has gone on record saying that she wanted to create something that “isn’t bound by terms such as [boy’s love] or [transsexual],” which led to a surprisingly nuanced take on both gender and sexuality. It’s pretty heavily implied that at least Jinguuji was into Tachibana before the magical gender swap, and he had zero interest in women despite Tachibana’s best efforts to get him hitched (since he kept stealing all the girls he liked by being cooler and sexier), meanwhile you could easily interpret Tachibana as a closeted trans woman since he wished to be a pretty woman while drunk, and drunk actions are sober thoughts—not to mention that he really seems to enjoy being a woman and doing feminine things, all things considered. At one point Tachibana asks Jinguuji if your real gender is based on your body or soul, and his answer is that he thinks whatever you feel is right is what you are, which is not the nuclearly based take I was expecting from a trashy isekai. Unless they end up elaborating on their individual identities later into the story, it’s a safe assumption that it’s left open ended on purpose, so whatever your individual interpretation is is completely acceptable. They’re yaoi, they’re het, someone more creative than me could probably find a way to make them yuri too, they’re everything all at once. I see no difference! Love is love. <3
There’s a “curse” that the characters assume is to make them attracted to each other, but it’s never explicitly stated what the curse actually is, so it’s up for debate on if they weren't attracted to each other before getting to the new world, if they always liked each other and just never realized, or if it’s just a curse messing with their emotions. It doesn’t help that Tachibana’s only real skill he got upon entering the other world is being so hot that people would fight and kill for just a chance to have his hand in marriage, which throws another wrench in why they’re attracted to each other now. It’s all pretty open ended.
As it’s a comedy, I’d recommend you watch dubbed. Even if it weren’t a comedy, I’d recommend you watch dubbed, because the dub cast killed it. Tachibana and Jinguuji in the dub are voiced by Laura Stahl (mostly known for voicing young boys like Ray from The Promised Neverland or Iruma from Welcome to Demon School Iruma-Kun, but has voiced women like Mami from Rent-a-Girlfriend) and J. Michael Tatum (who regularly voices the tall, dark, and handsome type, like Kyouya from Ouran High School Host Club or Sebastian from Black Butler) respectively, and they sell both leads as extremely charming, funny characters, while also selling their dynamic, both romantically and as friends. If Tachibana were voiced by anyone else, he might’ve come off as whiny and obnoxious, while if Jinguuji were voiced by anyone else, he might’ve come off as a bit *too* standoffish. Perfect casting, which extended to most other characters—some highlights being Dallas Reid as Schwartz and Jamie Marchi as the Goddess of Love and Beauty.
Unfortunately, I can’t stay positive about everything in this show. Outside the two leads, there’s only really two characters I loved, with two characters I actively disliked. Everyone else was… fine, but nothing more than that. Most of the cast either wasn’t given enough time to develop beyond their initial gimmick (though the gimmicky characters, like both of the currently introduced goddesses, were consistently pretty funny), or they were so generic I find it hard to remember a single thing about them.
Characters like the weirdly homophobic take on an explicitly gay man or the elf whose only personality trait is obsessing over how hot people find her weren’t funny to me, and I’d argue they were actively poorly written—the gay man especially was jarring for a show that seemed to have a nuanced take on sexuality up to the point of his introduction—but your mileage may vary.
The best characters were the ones that managed to break out of their gimmick, like the stock light novel protagonist parody, Schwartz von Liechtenstein Lohengramm, who’s really just an average chuunibyou avid light novel reader. He could’ve easily just been a way to mock one of the standard archetypes of the genre used for a cheap laugh, but he’s not. He’s a real character who undergoes development, with surprising emotional depths that I won’t spoil due to being one of the funniest, most heartfelt scenes in the entire show. Schwartz is a perfect example of how, despite being a loving parody, Fabiniku (mostly) doesn’t let itself fall into the trappings of its genre but with plausible deniability because it’s being tongue in cheek about it.
A lot of loving parodies, like KonoSuba—which this show (rightfully) gets compared to a lot—and The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You, use their status as a parody to just do the tropes they’re supposedly making fun of guilt-free. While Fabiniku is absolutely not immune to this—(especially with elements such as the fanservice) it manages to avoid some of the worst trappings of its genre. Bland protagonists with nothing going for them? They don’t just subvert this in three different ways (and even more in the manga), they deconstruct it and comment on it late into the show. A past life that’s completely irrelevant now that they’re in another world? The leads knew and loved each other in their old life; it’s the driving force of the narrative. Cheating superpowers? The ones they actually get hurt them just as much as, if not more than, they help. Harem of archetypes? This is a romcom, so having a harem was never even an option. That’s not to say standard isekai tropes can’t be used well, but in this case they’re consistently subverted and defied in unique and interesting ways.
Fabiniku has no right being as good as it is. I went into this expecting a trashy, low quality show that might be fun to recommend for a watch party, and I came out with a genuinely funny, surprisingly heartfelt isekai romcom with some shockingly apt takes on gender and sexuality. If you like power fantasy isekai, you’ll like this as a loving parody of the genre. If you *don’t* like power fantasy isekai, you still might like it for its deconstruction and defiance of the usual tropes. If you told me going in I’d hold so much genuine love and respect for this show prior to watching it, I’d call you a liar. This should not be as good as it is.
“Better than the sum of its parts” is how I’d sum up my experience with the show overall. All its ideas, on their own, could be a pretty decent joke in a worse show, but when you mix them together it ends up being a great experience that I could recommend to almost anyone. It’s so much better than anything I could’ve expected from a show with a title like that.
Please drop a second season, it’ll fix me forever.
KANLen09
Dear Yuu Tsurusaki (the author of this show), I really wanted to like your work that features a gender-bender Isekai about two men being summoned into an Isekai world, and that the unpopular one is turned into a peerless, beautiful girl just because of the Goddess's mischief to see both genders hooked up together for a not-so-gay relationship before the world is destroyed by the Demon Lord. It's just that I have a problem. And that is that I've experienced this before, but way better. Of course, I'm talking about Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy. This Winter season on Tuesdays, we are presented with 2 gender-bender Isekai: mangaka Yuu Tsurusaki'sFantasy Bishoujo a.k.a FabiNiku, and novelist Hirotsugu Ryuusen's Kenja no Deshi. Obivously with the tipping Scales of Justice, there will be one good and one bad show, and this is the good one that can be easily recommended. The reason for mine however, is that Tsukimichi (aside from KonoSuba) tops Isekai parody comedy in the finest of ways that set a bar too high to ever see other series work the way they did. But, of course, there's merits and flaws to be seen in every work, and let's see what makes Fantasy Bishoujo a lil' different.
This is the case of the classic "I'm popular, you're not popular" sorta childish argument that existed during the youth of our days, and both MCs Tsukasa Jinguuji and Hinata Tachibana stem their relationship in this way. Both guys are childhood friends, and while Jinguuji has always been the popular boy growing up, being fawned by classmates, girls/women and co-workers alike due to his good looks, he has a quirk: he never shows any interest in the opposite sex. As you would expect, Tachibana's the total polar opposite of Jinguuji, all he ever wanted in life was to get a girlfriend. And boom, therein sets the plot that this Goddess of Love and Beauty "heard" his wish, decimates both Jinguuji and Tachibana while in their drunk capacity to reincarnate them into another world. And if you think the problem is settled there, oh no. This blatant mischief of a Goddess, on top of the "be heroes, defeat Demon Lord/King, save the world and what-have-you" generic treatment, curses Hinata to gender-swap him into a pretty girl that literally forces Jinguuji to be tempted to Tachibana's Unparalleled Beauty until the world is saved, or will the infatuation take over forever. Yeah, literally taking the "bros before hoes" phrase into context.
From there, it's nothing but absolute hilarity as wherever Hinata goes, she (from a he) becomes the fragrance marker of every men in the vicinity, good or bad, all in the viable attempt to be as popular as Jinguuji, and she got all the publicity that she wanted. The problem is, now that Tachibana is in a girl's body, she sees Jinguuji as a girl too, and those aren't just mere friendship hijinks anymore, but relationship woes as well. And given the power system in the fantasy world, since Jinguuji's the popular kid, he is made OP while Tachibana has to start from scratch, and that sets as the journey forward as both male and female wander the distant lands to come across kingdoms and people...with a bit of eccentricities that add to that hilarity.
The first they encountered is this weird, boorish, extravagantly "beautiful" lady of an elf chieftess, Telolilo Lilili Lu, and their guardian who's been killed just for food since it harassed them in the first place. She acts like a Tsundere when praised, and acts the total opposite of being a nuisance when she isn't given her "rightful" treatment. And honestly, she is kinda of a throwaway character meant to clash with the male and female since it's their first time in another world. But the next character is easily the most parody-worth hilariousness, and that's the dark swordsman Kirito...er, I mean, Schwartz von Liechtenstein Lohengramm, even with the sword to match and his boisterous claim that he too like Jinguuji and Tachibana was summoned to be a hero worthy to fight the Demon Lord. He is easily the reason why I continue to stick to Fantasy Bishoujo, because he has all the hallmarks of being a joker: a knock-off, discount, German version of the SAO lookalike, one that's very heavy on the Chuunibyou that never ceases to make me laugh like mad. Really though, I've never seen a Kirito parody THIS GOOD, and props to Yuu Tsurusaki for inputting this balls-off-the-wall character to add immense,yet enjoyable hilarity. Alas, all the other side characters feel like side cheddar that only added a pinch of salt into the mix, and honestly I could let go of one or two of them.
It's a surprise that OLM's Team Yoshioka is producing this, but take note that it's not the same staff team from Odd Taxi, aside from in-house director Sayaka Yamai whom's once the episode director, return as director of Fantasy Bishoujo. And I have to say that they did a good job retaining Yuu Tsurusaki's quality that's a 1-to-1 replication of the manga. And yes, the pacing of the episodes may feel rushed because of the short length of the manga chapters, though I can assure you that this adaptation is very faithful to the source material. A few things changed here and there, but it isn't enough to break the enjoyment of the anime.
Sadly, I find that the music here is quite on the average side. No offense to renouned music artist Yoshiki Fukuyama of JAM Project who's been composing theme songs for the Macross 7 series, but from this OP to the last work he's ever worked on, it's been a full decade ever since. Though he was once a legendary singer, his best days are probably behind him, but, I'd like to at least give props for Yoshiki Fukuyama, inching a single after being MIA for so long. Luce Twinkle Wink☆'s ED on the other hand...it's not so good, and sounds quite repetitive. It's definitely a noticeable drop from their last ED song for last Winter's Tatoeba Last Dungeon (which I really love to bits). Just...really kinda meh for this.
When you see a comedy show like this, it's easy not to take this seriously, because it's meant to poke fun in the most mild of things, and indeed Fantasy Bishoujo has done all that. Is it a watch though...that's up for debate, because while the comedy here can become stale somewhat, it switches tactics so that it doesn't disguise the viewer to expect what's to come. That's the literacy of a comedy work, and for all the right reasons, Fantasy Bishoujo is a good show to watch and just have a fun time for the Average Joe. I could've enjoyed this as much as Tsukimichi, but the gags of the latter were more fluent than this, and so, gets a good pass from me. And as I always say, if it looks good to you, why not try it out, you just might have some fun with it.
Ricih
Fantasy Bishoujo Juniku Ojisan (Fabiniku) made me give the first 10 for an anime, and it sure deserved a higher score and popularity than it has! Being a show that delivers exactly what it proposes, the characters guide the plot in a natural and funny way with engaging interactions without taking themselves too seriously. It's perfect for those who like the "characters carry the show" style, because everything — and then some! — which you will receive has almost no plot/objective development initially set (in a comically generic way, but still), so be warned! Story: 7/10 Fabiniku's setting is the most generic thing you canthink of and expect from an Isekai: Random teleport to another world, body swapping, extremely generic and unattractive locations that every low-budget Isekai would surely offer you, and of course, a demon lord. This one who is described throughout the entire anime as the worst enemy, extremely powerful and frightening and doesn't even appear in any way, because the way to him is long. So how does this get a 7? Can such a generic plot bring something good or minimally innovative to an Isekai? The answer is yes and no. The story itself is weak (on purpose), but the situations that surround this plot and the characters that carry it make the adventure so fun! You almost feel like participating in this world, just because everything looks so amazing. The idea of turning a man into a beautiful girl is not new, but the execution here makes you enjoy it as if it were the first time.
Of course, the MCs' backstories and flashbacks are very well constructed and the show knows well how to manage this development as well as the emotional moments without killing the comedy. The plot flows naturally and consistently, and fulfills its role, bringing fun characters that take the story forward with absurd situations as they advance on their long journey. Not to mention the additional romance, which develops little by little and still doesn't take itself completely seriously so as not to get lost in the story.
Art: 8/10
The art isn't overly special or in any flashy and different style, but like most things on this show, it's consistent and flows well throughout the episodes. They use the right angles, the right expressions for the right moments and abuse the most simplistic and generic scenarios possible, which contrasts with the flashy design of the characters that make up the place. They all have their own characteristics and expressions, along with the colorful art style makes the comedy look richer, putting a lot of emphasis on the beauty of our MCs. It works well for the anime style, especially in body language. I felt like I could fall under Tachibana's charms that way too!
The animation by OP and ED is also worth mentioning and lots of kudos. It's just hilarious and captures every character's personality without you even starting to watch.
Some creative choices like censoring the more daring clothes from the manga, replacing them with a friendly version made me really curious, but it's not like it's something important to the plot at these times.
Sound: 10/10
The sounds are magnificent. The VAs really put effort into their roles and seemed to be having a great time. From the comically exaggerated reactions to the emotional lines, all the characters managed to sound genuine and still sound great! There were great choices of VAs here, fitting their characters well and their polished lines.
OP and ED are contagious and got me hooked for weeks! Both bring a similar vibe and rhythm to the songs used in older anime/vocaloid era, which instantly brings a sense of nostalgia. A very smart choice! Well, in addition to fitting very well into the show, it still sticks in our heads with that false nostalgia that's fun to navigate. Simply fantastic. OP's singer is amazing and both OP and ED are super fun to watch alongside the visuals as well as listen separately. Quite striking and characteristic. It brought an extra touch of identity, without being a forgettable and/or generic seasonal anime OP and ED.
Damn, I usually skip EDs and avoid them like hell, so if this is one of those animes that makes me watch it and get a taste of “I want more”, it already deserves a lot more of my attention.
About the OST, we had good solid and weather use during the episodes. Nothing to complain about, and some are really good to listen to in isolation. Highlight for the use of the OST in episode 12! Very good and that also contains the identity of the program, without sounding generic or overused.
Characters: 10/10
It is in this topic that Fabiniku hits even harder! Instead of tailoring the characters to the plot and just putting a set of standard features and jokes, this show makes the characters guide everything that happens, as well as innovate in the distribution of jokes and new things shown on screen. All the characters, even though they don't take themselves seriously either, feel so real — I mean, I'd like to go on an adventure with them. The main development of the MCs, from the first moment of reluctance, to the discovery of motivations and the hints of the past left here and there make you really care about them! Even though you know nothing will happen you feel a pang in your stomach because the show made you care, the show showed how important they are to each other.
Not only does it hit the nail on the head in development, it makes them full of personalities. I was surprised to realize that the characters aren't pieces of cardboard with just basic features like in half of the Isekais. Even the secondary characters or those who only appear once manage to make you laugh and be present with their diverse personalities. My girlfriend just watched the last two episodes of Fabiniku and was able to sympathize and understand the characters' personalities, as well as relate to an emotional ending that you normally wouldn't get if you hadn't seen all the episodes, or at least a good portion of them. They are consistent characters, who can win you over even if you watch just one of the 12 episodes.
Enjoyment: 10/10
I enjoyed every moment and looked forward to the next episode. I hardly ever catch myself laughing out loud in comedy anime (my favorite genre, by the way!), but this one I didn't just laugh once or twice in specific episodes — for me the fun was continuous, with no breaks. Watching two elderly MCs trying to get used to the fact that one of them is an extremely beautiful blonde girl while trying not to fall in love is the last thing I thought I needed, but I am so grateful for existing.
It's a light comedy that made me laugh, get emotional and have fun with even the smallest characters. Every episode was a highlight, with the exception of episode 9, which left me with the slight impression that they cut out the best parts in order to speed things up, but still had its funny moments. The ending was left open for a sequel and I would love to have one in the future. The characters and the good music are worth the journey! And I confess I'm curious to know where else they will end up on this journey and what other fun characters they will find. Well, manga time!
(Small highlight for the messages of support for the LGBTQ+ community and the fact that it is a married couple behind this story, which made my heart warm. It's hard to find these things in anime.)
I don't know if it's accurate to point this out, but if you like anime like KonoSuba (although the comedy isn't so over-the-top in Fabiniku) or the romance between the MCs of Kaguya sama: Love is war, I think you should check this one out! It's definitely very funny and at the end of it all, a story about friendship.
Overall, it's a great comedy with a genderbend element and bonus romance. I think you should try it if it resonates with your taste! Honestly, even if it doesn't resonate because I watched episode 1 uncompromisingly, not expecting anything from an Isekai (definitely a genre I don't really like) and left laughing out loud, curious about the next happenings and in love with the characters. Really try if it catches your interest! The premise is simple and might be worth your time.
Spirit_Chaser
This series is essentially what it says it is at the start. A romantic comedy between an old guy and someone who used to be. Tachibana and Jinguuji are two best friends who aren't very honest with each other despite them being decent models in human society. They suddenly get placed in an absurd situation where they get sent to a different world by a troublesome goddess. Tachibana gets turned into a woman and a curse gets placed on them as well. As a result, they are forced to critically look at their friendship and resist trying to fall in love with each other bytrying to defeat the demon lord and break the curse. As they go on they struggle with the dangers of this new world. Maybe they think it's a curse, and maybe they are both acting out on natural urges because Tachibana is a "fantasy knockout" now, but it's clear what they really appreciate are each other's personalities and journey of being together since they met. Slowly, they start opening up to each other due to these strange circumstances.
This "boys love" type series was made and drawn by an actual married couple. That explains the sincerity behind it. It wouldn't surprise me at all if this is a sort of autobiographical representation of their own feeling for each other placed into an anime. What surprised me is that this has become my favorite isekai. And honestly, that's not saying much about that genre. It doesn't take itself seriously at all, and it comes out funny as a result. Still, the comedy in this series is great. Lots of jokes are thrown everywhere, and it's easy to miss many of them. Despite it's full of generic looking characters, their personalities more than make up for it. Most notably is Schwartz von Liechtenstein Lohengramm: A bland Isekai main character looking man who despite that, is so funny and sincere with himself it more than makes up for the way he looks. From the start, I really enjoyed the opening sequence song and it has stuck with me since.
What can be expected here is a lot of teasing and tension in that regard. Jinguuji is ridiculously overpowered, though it isn't as easy as it looks. Tachibana seems useless but has a nearly unbeatable ability to charm. In this fantasy world, They run into what you'd typically see. There's a cast of elves, bizarre monsters, a joke of a kingdom, and religious cults among other things.
The tension in this series goes over the top. Tachibana and Jinguuji try their best to fight their urges for each other in often comical ways, or try to take advantage of it to have the edge over the other. Maybe the animation isn't the best, but it does excel in telling an entertaining story with memorable characters. Satoshi Hino's voice makes Jinguuji's character several folds better. It's an amazing performance. The ending of this series is notable as one of the most honest moments I've ever seen between two people.
I was worried about this series halfway thru, but it kept me laughing and on board it's rollercoaster of emotions between the two main lead characters. I'll definitely miss it.
Triggerfish124
This anime is hilarious. I first was skeptical when I started, I'm not a fan of gender bending but I am glad I decided to watch this. In many ways this anime reminded me of Konosuba, from the type of enemies (or rather their relation to the main antagonist) they faced to the fact most of the problems originate between characters rather than between protagonists and antagonists. My only issue with the anime is that I wish it explained certain things more in detail, like how many gods are in this world and why a specific one is so popular as a deity. However, thisanime more focuses on comedy than fantasy. The story, characters, and problems blended together so well and I only have fond memories of this season. I hope it gets a sequel.
PixelB
This show is isekai junk-food comedy. What do I mean by that? Isekai as a genre is so pronounced in anime and manga that coincidentally, comedies that poke fun about them naturally will also pop up. The most notable one that I can think of is Konosuba, and honestly, this show doesn't quite match up to Konosuba in terms of premise and comedic timing. The show, I'll be honest, was something that passed time, but not particularly that great. Most side characters are actually pretty entertaining to watch, whether that be the elf, Lucius and definitely Schwarz, which is basically a parody of Kirito from SAO.Even the so-called villians in the show add to the comedy and that's pretty on par for course for a comedy.
However, the main characters are kind of a let down in terms of how the show is set up and also, how seriously they treat their relationship sometimes in contrast to the premise that they're dealing with. Genderbending into a beautiful girl as a guy is not particularly a new idea, but the duo that is Tachibana and Jinguuji definitely is. I honestly like their relationship, but a lot of moments get ruined because of the curse that forces them to find each other attractive.
First off, Jinguuji and Tachibana had a pretty #nohomo relationship even before Tachibana turned into a girl, so I just find it strange that there had to be a curse for them to fall in love to begin with. This rom-com setup would have worked anyways regardless of the curse anyway. What about if Jinguuji was actually in love with Tachibana to begin with, and then he turned into a girl? Plus, the main problem I have with the curse that it doesn't actually function unless comedic moments are required. It's like the curse is only active for one party at a time. Most of the time, you have Jinguuji getting flustered over Tachibana, but stop and think for yourself: was that funny? Do you find something like that being repeated over and over again to be that funny? I actually found most of the funny things to be other things of the show. On the other hand, you have Tachibana seldom getting the same flustered treatment with Junguuji, but it happens at a much, much lower rate despite supposedly having the same curse with each other. That basically seems like a regular rom-com scenario. Was the curse thing really necessary?
Of course, the curse does facilitate most plot, character interaction, and story progression, and it would mean that the show would actually have to think about creating new scenarios, but honestly, a lot of the episodes in the show would have worked with a little bit of tweaking, but would have been executed a lot better if not for the curse.
And again, the last arc is all about both main characters empathizing with each other, and recognizing their flaws, which kind of ties back to the fact that they probably could have been slowly falling in love with each other anyways without the curse, which only cheapens the relationship. Even Junguuji's turmoil about being jealous about a guy friend is "not normal" but eventually coming to terms with himself signifies that.
The show's just a bit lazy about the whole "curse" thing, and if it really wanted to go that route, it shouldn't have made the relationship between Jinguuji and Tachibana so serious. They show flashbacks, talk about their feelings about each other, and in general, that kind of drives the entire story forward, so I just find it weird that the curse is present in a show that tries to paint their relationship with each other in weirdly detailed and realistic light.
raucous
Very quick review on this one: Stupid, but very well executed. Probably one of the best friendship anime I have seen in a few years. Less quick, but still short. No real spoilers other than the mood you can expect: I expected most of the character interactions to end up being one off jokes for the sake of a laugh without any substance, but the continuity impressed me each time something came up again episodes later. Characters with little impact early on are brought back later, each having developed in some way rather than being put in a vacuum to just wait for the MCs to interactwith them again like you see in so many other anime.
The guys here actually go into the feelings that can make a guy uncomfortable and this does a good job of showing how easy it is for guys to ignore or hide how they really feel. I was especially impressed with how many times they could have easily followed typical tropes but took a refreshing break from normal story beats to give a little genuine character interaction or development here and there.
In the hazardous sea we currently navigate of copy-pasted isekai, this one does a great job of being fresh and interesting in several ways without feeling like they are trying too hard.
I recommend this with 1 manly tear shed.
-_Tess_-
In my opinion this is one top tier underrated anime. I love a good comedic romance anime which is why I looked into this one in the first place. Honestly, this show left me shocked. In terms of how the characters get introduced to the new fantasy world, it could’ve been done better; but, frankly I couldn’t care less. Once they got to the new world it was fun and silly from the jump which I loved. Heading into the show blind, I expected it to be weird and probably drop it, but it ended up being a great watch! I liked the relationship betweenthe two characters and how it tremendously continued to grow. I also deeply appreciated the fact they actively mention that one of them used to be a guy instead of just brushing over it and allowing them to fall in love without addressing anything. Most of all, I just wanna say I love how the show highlighted the beauty and simplicity of loving the small things about somebody (at the end of the season). Brilliant watch, recommend to those who enjoy silly laid back romance anime. Love you guys and enjoy they watch! 💝
SooBasicc
Life With an Ordinary Guy Who Reincarnated Into a Total Fantasy Knockout is my anime guilty pressure for 2022. I could never admit that I enjoyed this show publicly. The concept was absolutely genius, and I had a blast casually watching it. Story: 6 Two friends get isekai'd. One stays the act same as he was in the real world, while the other receives a gender-bender. The story's primary conflict is that they try to avoid falling in love. I think they are also supposed to defeat the Demon-Lord, but that'll probably never happen for a show like this. It doesn't have the best story, butthe other aspects make up for it.
Art: 6
Pretty generic art with a hint of cute.
Sound: 7
The soundtrack, sound effects, and voice acting are solid. It amplified the enjoyment aspect of the show.
Characters: 7
I thought that Tachibana and Jinguuji were solid main characters. Both are funny, and their friendship develops a lot towards the end of the season. I didn't care about any of the other characters besides Schwartz, who is a carbon copy of Kiritio from SAO. His power is tied to his whininess which makes him even more hilarious.
Enjoyment: 9
This show is pure enjoyment and very light-hearted. How they played around with Tachibana becoming a gender-bender was interesting. They executed that concept perfectly. Every episode at least had a moment that left me either in awe or cracking up!
Overall: 7
It's a reasonably decent comedy isekai. I might even pick up the manga in the future to see where the rest of the story goes.
FenrirBlack22
Despite what the narrator says this is NOT a story a romantic comedy about a guy and a girl who used to be a guy, but a story about two life long friends going on an adventure. A buddy comedy would be more accurate to call it than a romantic comedy. A road trip in another world with a lot of baggage. This is a satirical isekai fantasy and does not try to pretend or delude the audience by pretending to be anything but that. Between mocking romantic tropes one would find in a traditional rom-com to obvious cracks at more popular isekai stories, theshow is full of jokes designed to make the most harden isekai fan laugh. And it does a good job. The characters are where the show shines with its straight-laced lead of Jinguuji and its wacky gender-bent "heroine" Tachibana, the two are a classic comedy duo trying desperately to avoid catching feelings for one another until they get their real feelings sorted out. While the show lacks a deep or meaningful plot, it makes up for that by showing the audience a pretty deep look into the complicated relationship between childhood friends. Like I said this is a buddy comedy. If you've been friends for someone for long enough there will be hidden resentments and envy on both sides. This show does a good job consistently hinting and flashing those resentments throughout the season until finally the curtain is pulled back and the two leads are forced to face each other and come to terms with the fact that, like a romantic relationship, even a platonic friendship is complicated. Jealousy, envy, how one is raised, how one grows up, and of course gender dysphoria form a labyrinth for the characters to navigate which at times can be more daunting than any demon lord.
There isn't much of a plot beyond traveling to the demon lord and the shenanigans that ensue due to Tachibana's beauty so I'm not going to say much beyond that is the shows weakest point. If you want a deep fantasy tale with original ideas and concepts, look elsewhere. If you want to laugh at two 30-something year olds acting like teenagers in another world then this is the show for you.
Lastly I want to give a few shout-outs to Schwartz and Lucius who came through in the end. At first you look at them both and think they're just one-off jokes. HAHA look at the Kirito character, laugh at his foolishness. Yes he is foolish but he is far for a one-off joke character. He actually grows and matures more than even many main isekai protagonists you see in other shows. He had a more than significant place in the story and that is in no small part thanks to Lucius who serves as a much needed buffer, teacher, and support for Schwartz which allows him to grow from a painfully obvious joke character to a real character.
I want to give a nod to the door to Tachibana's apartment. You see something that silly and think okay that's cute but whatever. But it actually was used as a real tool than just a cheat skill which deserves praise.
This is a satirical isekai comedy but the characters make it so much more. Tachibana gives the audience a look at the complexity of gender identity which is never an easy subject to examine. Jinguuji is a refreshingly intelligent and sturdy no nonsense character that is nice to see in this genre. Schwartz is an example of how even the most obvious of gags can be so much more if effort is put into development them. The elf queen was fun to watch as well. So this is a story that while disgusted as a rom-com about two dudes trying to avoid falling in love with each other and more about two dudes who are trying to work together to achieve a common goal while preserving and unraveling 20 years of complicated friendship. That to me is worth watching.
Lionzero
Two bros sittin in a hot tub, 5 feet apart cause they're not gay! : The anime. This was a hidden gem for me. I passed on it at first because it was an Isekai. Oh it was a romcom too? Ok. I was already watching SO MANY others. Couldn't be bothered. Then I watched it recently. Out of curiosity. Well... IT WAS AMAZING! I am upset with myself that I waited sooo long. So if that old meme reference didn't sum it up, then here is the basic plot: Tachibana and Jinguuji are two bros. Tachibana is the fun loving, friend making, gets no bitches having,people person of the two. Jinguuji is the hard working, perfect, good looking, strong, women attracting, woman hating, awkward best friend to Tachibana. One night they go drinking and Tachibana strikes out while Jinguuji passes on all women in order to get a drunk Tachibana home.
In his depressed drunken stupor, Tachibana rants that he hates how awesome Jinguuji is and that if Tachibana was a cute girl then he would totally be a knock out that even Jinguuji would finally get a girl. Jinguuji laughs it off and just wants to see Tachibana home safe while also giving him the bedroom eyes. Then they go home and nothing happens. The end!
Yeah right. Literally out of no where, while Tachibana is passed out drunk, a goddess shows up and grants them their wishes based on drunken stupors! They are summoned to another world and Tachibana is now a knock out babe with BIG BLUE EYES! and Jinguuji is even stronger than he already are. The pair must, say it with me now, DEFEAT THE DEMON LORD AND SAVE THE WORLD!
So whats the twist? The bros must do everything in their power... To NOT fall for each other. Mind you, Tachibana is now biologically female and a Fantasy Knock Out (Get it). Tachibana is now, more or less, Jinguuji's ideal woman. With charm effects, curses, and other hilarity that ensues... Will these two complete the task before they fall for each other? Is it gay to love your homie if he was magically turned into your ideal girl?
FIND OUT!
Story: 8 - Not perfect, but it is basically Konosuba with more will they won't they jokes.
Art: 8 - There are some frames that seem off, but it is still extremely solid animation! Love it.
Sound: 10 - The opening and ending are absolute bangers! Busou Renkin opening singer Yoshiki Fukuyama knocks it out of the park with the opening! God it's so good to hear him again after so long!
Characters: 10 - Perfect. Sword art, Elf isekai, Reverse Trap and Horny kingdoms all have the best characters here!
Enjoyment: 10 - If I didn't have to go to work I could have binged it in one go. It's that good.
Overall: 8 - Not a perfect anime but it is definitely worth your time! I would love to read the manga and soon as I can get my hands on it :D Gonna need to bluray for my collection too. damn!
Steamwood
A show carried by its main characters and the fun conceit - what if your best friend was the cutest girl in the world? It's a little awkward at times but is mostly very charming, especially due to the acting of the two main characters (I watched in English). Fun fact, Tachibana is voiced by a romantic couple which I think has only happened before in Pop Team Epic. It's a fun friendship/romance/???? angle that you don't see much in standard anime! This is only my second Isekai and it is not a genre I care about typically - that is still the case here. Themost dull parts of this show are the weird RPG elements that make no sense given they weren't sucked into a game or something, the literal NPCs having no personality, and the played-out fantasyland world. Extremely shoehorned and would be better without them imo! If it's supposed to be a parody then it should maybe have those elements be actually humorous!
Animation was fun enough, though I didn't care for the songs in the OP or ED.
Worth a watch for the interesting main characters & fun central idea, but the rest is pretty mediocre!
Injenss
Fantasy BJO is a surprisingly entertaining anime. It's far from perfect, but it's very funny and approaches the Isekai genre from a unique angle. It's basically a rom-com that focuses on two men struggling to accept their feelings for one another. It becomes much more difficult when one of them is blessed by the goddess of love to turn into a beautiful woman in a fantasy world. Outside of this unique angle, it's completely low-stakes fluff and not at all different from any other generic isekai anime you've ever seen. The final boss is a giant robo bunny, so that should be all you needto know about whether or not this anime should be taken seriously.
In spite of it's very middling world building, supporting characters, and animation, I still enjoyed it. Nothing was particularly terrible about the anime, but nothing was truly stellar, either. It just had some funny moments and an interesting MC duo. There's a lot wrong with the anime, of course. The story is completely generic. "Defeat the Demon Lord". The cast outside of the main two are completely forgettable. It will be a challenge to remember Schwartz or The Premier 3 months from now. There's nothing really memorable about the anime, no surprise swerves or amazing fights, or truly memorable jokes. The jokes were funny, but it wasn't a classic comedy or anything. It was just an entertaining, funny and unique take on a long over-mined genre.
Moeruattack
- Slight spoiler - There's a word from Gigguk that says: "Sometimes it takes a real man to become the best girl" For those who wondering, wtf is this anime is for? Good question, but I wonder I should ask the same. Basicly, boring ass "Kill the Demon Lord", except you mess up shitty godness and end up getting cursed of getting homo with homies who turned into girl. Tachibana, 32 yo old man turned into a Blonde-haired Gurl who basicly full-on Cute and Jinguuchi, a very handsome man with OP strength, decides to go adventure and defeat the demon lord, before both of them turn into homo. I gotta saythe mangaka/studio really shipped them really hard
Character, yeah usually some "bad" isekai just Flat Character with zero emotion and just Direct-IQ of "I can do it" or "Don't worry, I will protect you" cliche, well this series had complete opposite, and they just make a fun out of the cliche. Even Fake-ass Kirito make his appearance.
VA really having a field day in this series, and OST really good.
Art, surprisingly it fits perfectly, even included messy drawn out of nowhere, just like manga but way better.
I'll say I really had a laugh a lot on this gender-bender comedy, like you can't even expect the cliche at all, it just fit well on all episode and Jinguuchi is like Alpha Male of the whole series,
Overall, I enjoy a lot on the series and really wish for both of them to get married, so when season 2?
8/10
iwoply
Fantasy Knockout is a tsundere gender bent boy’s love that is basically an Isekai version of Love is War. Whether or not it’s on par with the aforementioned depends on your comedy & character preferences, and due to the frequency of jokes & gags, these preferences will make or break the show. The show is surprisingly mature regarding sexuality, masculinity, internalization & societal norms for a Romantic Comedy however at times the aforementioned maturity gets undermined by gags & jokes while topics used for jokes like slavery & body visuals are left in the wind to be ignored. The main duo work well together although their hijinks& characters start to get a tad repetitive & regressive as the episodes continue, only being refreshed with the introduction of side characters. The side characters start off like they were ripped straight from the Isekai template and while most of them remain like that, there are a few who reappear with development, growth and insight that evolves them beyond the gags which was refreshing.
The comedy, mature takes & personal moments between the characters made the entire show entertaining even with its faults & a frustrating half of a main character. I think those that enjoy slow & obvious romance or enjoyed the comedy & format of Love is War will enjoy Fantasy Knockout. Those looking for other aspects that the Isekai genre provides should look elsewhere.
