Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero

Imagine a world where interdimensional travel is totally possible and where powerful heroes from different realms come together to train and hone their skills to the greatest heights. Wouldn't you love to be one of these heroes, especially the star who has fans swooning over him or her? Well, it may remain a pipedream for most of us, but it is an overly plausible situation in most anime of the modern age. Surely even they wouldn't throw it all away too easily?

A thrilling anime series titled "Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero", directed by Rion Kujō and produced by Arms, first aired from July to September in 2012. Following Sony's acquisition of the platform, Crunchyroll took over the streaming rights to the anime, which Funimation had licensed for distribution in North America. The Blu-ray releases also included seven special short episodes, collectively known as "Hajirai Ippai.”

Under the direction of Rion Kujo and the production of Hisato Usui, Ryūji Sekine, Shinsaku Tanaka, Takuro Hatakeyama, Tetsuya Dobashi, Yoshiyuki Ito, and Ryunosuke Kingetsu, Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero ended up becoming a 12-episode series based on the light novel series of the same name. The series falls under the action, fantasy, and ecchi genres, with a focus on Isekai and Super Power themes, and is catered to the shonen demographic. Each episode of the series has a runtime of 24 minutes and is rated R+ for mild nudity.

From May 1st, 2010, to February 28th, 2013, Hobby Japan published the light novel series by Tetsuto Uesu and Tamago no Kimi in eleven volumes. Additionally, from January 20th, 2012, to June 21st, 2013, Hobby Japan's web magazine Comic Dangan serialized a manga adaptation with illustrations by Haiji Nakasone. The serialization later resulted in the compilation of three volumes.

The world of "Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero” is one where we follow the story of Akatsuki Ousawa, a hero who returns from an alternate world with a powerful sword and a mission to protect his friends. For the past 30 years, ever since the discovery of "Samon Syndrome," numerous young individuals have ventured into alternate fantasy worlds.

Though only a handful have returned, those who manage to do so retain the unique abilities they acquired during their time in those parallel universes. After defeating the Demon King in the fantasy realm of Alayzard, Akatsuki, the "Rogue Hero," decides to leave behind his serene life and return to Earth.

Accompanying him is Miu, the daughter of the defeated Demon King, whose true identity must be concealed by posing as his younger sister. Together, the two enroll in Babel, a specialized school for individuals who have acquired exceptional abilities and magic powers during their sojourns in alternate universes.

Although Babel appears to have been established with the intention of training young interdimensional travelers and leading them towards a path that benefits both humanity and themselves, the main purpose of the school remains ambiguous to both Akatsuki and Miu. They soon find themselves at odds with the powerful and antagonistic student council, and as they struggle to overcome their opposition, they must also unravel the mystery of the hidden forces operating behind the scenes at Babel.

Akatsuki Ousawa is a male protagonist who deviates from the typical meek male MC by having a daring and self-assured demeanor. In contrast to many other heroes who gain abilities in parallel dimensions, Akatsuki makes good use of his enhanced abilities. He may be a pervert at heart, but he is surprisingly generous and wise for someone in his position. Because of this extraordinary amalgamation of qualities,

Akatsuki stands out as one of the most interesting and compelling characters in the show. It's understandable that his overpowering nature may not be to everyone's taste, and the show's focus on fan service elements such as the female form can be off-putting for some viewers.

"Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero '' has a promising premise, with vast potential for world-building and exploring the lore and politics of the fantasy realm of Alayzard and the interdimensional school of Babel. However, it's unfortunate that the creators did not fully utilize this potential and instead chose to focus more on fan service elements.

While this may cater to a certain audience, it also detracts from the overall quality of the story and limits the show's potential appeal to a wider audience. This series would’ve been much better off if they put more effort into balancing the fan service and substantive storytelling to create a more well-rounded and engaging viewing experience.

It's true that good character designs and beautiful animation can greatly enhance the viewing experience of an anime, as they serve to attract and retain more viewers. Unfortunately, this show suffers from excessive fan service and ecchi elements, becoming a turnoff for some viewers. It’s evident that the studio wanted to push the boundaries of what is considered acceptable, but it only ended up ruining the overall reputation and audience reception.

So if you’re not a fan of fanservice and sexual humor, devoid of any other comedy, this isn’t your show. Its sad attempts at compensating for its weak writing or lackluster characters only make things worse.

The sound and music departments of "Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero" are farily well-done, greatly enhancing the viewing experience for action and fantasy fans. However, the opening and ending themes are neither catchy nor memorable. The opening theme is "Realization" by Faylan, and the ending theme is "Ai no Sei de Nemurenai" by Aki Misato. The music for the anime was composed by Kayo Konishi and Yukio Kondo, also known as MOKA☆, so you expect more from the OSTs, and the voice actors also do a decent job.

Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero will appeal to fans of shonen stories who do not mind a lot of ecchi and comedic elements. Depending on your personal tastes, you may or may not enjoy this.

Also, do not go into this anime with too high of expectations; you will most likely be disappointed. If you enjoy the aforementioned themes and genres, I highly recommend this one. If not, it's best to steer clear!