In Another World With My Smartphone 2: Disappointing All the Way

Summer 2017 was all about these new titles. It marked the debut of some great new shows with ‘Made in Abyss’ and ‘Kakegurui,’ some of which took over the anime community in an episode or so. But at the same time, the blossoming ‘isekai’ genre had been experimenting with brand new concepts here and there, and it was finally time to add modern-day oxygen,’ the smartphone, into the mix. See what I did there.

Contrary to popular belief, this experiment could have gone much better. Over the years, you probably have not heard the title "In Another World With My Smartphone" mentioned more than a handful of times. But the spring of 2023 took us by surprise when a title appeared that was both recognizable and unfamiliar.

It seemed like things would be different this time around when the "smartphone isekai" returned to compete against the big dogs on our spring schedule, thanks to the support of a brand-new studio. The sequel, however, made things even more problematic for this otherwise novel concept. Let's talk about what the second season of this universe is all about!

THERE IS NO STORY TO SUPPORT IT

When did God decide to start treating humans with such kindness? I do not mean it that way, but the God we know would not offer an apology just because a thunderbolt struck you out of the blue and burned you to a crisp, right?

The gods in 'Record of Ragnarok,' meanwhile, would never miss a chance to show humanity its proper place in the universe. But remember that our goal is to make the apparent choice seem fresh and exciting! God calls on Mochizuki Touya, our protagonist, as "compensation" for his lightning experience just moments earlier.

To make amends, the kind god offers to whisk him away to a fantastical world where he will find nothing but bliss. Just another Isekai, right? The protagonist, being the A-lister of this particular isekai, provides a short answer to one question. You have to understand that Mochizuki Touya does not plan ahead but rather goes with the flow.

However, when asked about what he'd like to take to this new world, on top of his virginity, he asks if he can bring his smartphone. Of course, God agrees to his request. But you know the generous god can't keep it at that now, can he? He maxes out his magic aptitude, and soon after, our protagonist finally wakes up in this new world only to have his clothes bought off by a random stranger.

Throughout the first season, the anime tries its hardest to draw you in with the glorious amount of fanservice it doesn't seem to run out of for some reason. The second season is similar, too, but we'll get to that in a bit. The story is as bland as it gets, and if it weren't for the whole idea of bringing modern stuff into this primeval magical fantasy setting, the show would've fallen flat long before we hit that 12-episode mark.

There's little to Mochizuki's character. He's the biggest NPC that the Isekai genre has seen to date. But when you're an isekai protagonist, do you need a personality or a mouth to speak on that part? You don’t!

SEASON TWO MAKES IT WORSE

You have to wonder where the idea for shows like "In Another World With My Smartphone" came from. But that is fine because we are always up for exploring new things, and trashy anime has its place. At least, that is what I have come to believe. If you ask someone to rank their favorite guilty-pleasure anime, this one might come out on top. 

You better pray to every god in the universe before announcing season 2 six years later and handing control to J.C. Staff. Much of what was good in the light novel and manga is lost in the anime's second season. When the concept of polygamy is central to a harem isekai anime, such as the one starring Mochizuki Touya, it is disappointing that we never learn how he meets his new wives.

There were elements of modern technology in the first season that made us think of the TV show Gate. But in the second season, the fights are almost nonexistent, and the ones that do happen last for no more than a few minutes at most. Not as long as Mochizuki, but much longer than I expected! 

Every other episode or so, the fanservice reaches a new high, which helps viewers get through what might otherwise be considered "empty" or "bland" episodes. But having nothing but cute girls, both new and old, trying to carry the show to infinity and beyond while our main character merely tries to hop on their backs one by one is not how a show makes it to the highlight reel of the seasonal lineup, is it now?

MORE REFINED ANIMATION

Despite many of us remembering J.C. Staff from the ‘One Punch Man Season 2 incident’ where they just butchered both the manga and the series' prequel simultaneously, the studio isn't lacking this time. The animation is similar and even better than what Studio Reed brought forth six years ago, and at least that's some improvement.

  

Some of the fights have some decent scenes, so the show isn't getting held back at all regarding the animation department. The opening and ending themes are well done, and you just can't help but sit through them, humming to the music that's more exciting than the episode you're about to dive into or just finished with.

MORE FANSERVICE

The show's unabashed dedication to fan service elevated some already excellent female characters in Season 1. The second season continues this trend by introducing new female characters and reusing some from the first without providing us with much background information.

Neither their relationship nor the path that brought our protagonist, Mochizuki Touya, to them is explained in the series. That whole thing is one of the main selling points of the light novel and the manga, and when you cut that down in the sequel, you're just not going to end up with a good show.

Why every studio is following in the footsteps of Tokyo Ghoul and The Promised Neverland is beyond me. We have already seen what is waiting for us at the end of that path; it is a catastrophe. However, the studio staff is far more knowledgeable than I am, so I will keep my remarks brief.

The genre of "In Another World With My Smartphone" was unmatched, depending on your point of view. It was one of those concepts that made a lot of fans appreciate Isekai a lot more back in the day. But now it is 2023, and with the main characters reappearing and reincarnating as vending machines and swords, not to mention their crush's dog, you just have to work harder to stay in the picture, right?

After seeing everything this sequel had to offer, it was a rather disappointing run. I have not read the manga or light novels. Still, fans of the series have told me that the source material is far superior in this case and that the studio blew a golden opportunity to make the show something that would make us forget about the failure that season 1 turned out to be. 

I would give it a 6 out of 10. I am curious to see how the manga and light novel differ from the anime and would appreciate any feedback on which is preferable. If you have not seen this series yet and are searching for something visually satisfying, your search is over.

The other Isekai titles on the market will seem better after seeing "In Another World With My Smartphone." Due to the low number of episodes in the series, finishing it in a single sitting should not be too challenging. Have fun!

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In Another World With My Smartphone | Sigh | Season One Review

In Another World With My Smartphone 2 Official Trailer