Problem Children Are Coming from Another World, aren't they?

Once and a while, it is nice to come home to an isekai where the protagonist is a badass, though not an extreme OP. He’s not a so-called Giga-Chad, but he can still hold his own. Throw in two heroines who aren’t the least shy and will get their hands dirty, and this might make for a refreshing entry into the ever-growing isekai landscape. Oh, did I mention our resident male protag doesn't flail about waving his hands, nor does he spew blood from his nostrils when he comes in contact with the opposite sex?

Problem Children Are Coming from Another World, Aren't They? Also known as Mondaiji for short or its longer form Japanese title, “Mondaiji-tachi ga Isekai Kara Kuru Sō Desu yo?” is a ten-episode anime based on the light novel of the same name. Tarō Tatsunoko wrote the light novel, and Yū Amano handled illustration duties. The Diomedea animated work aired from January 2013 to March 2013. Sentai Filmworks currently licenses the anime, and, at the time of writing, Mondaiji is streaming on Crunchyroll. Mondaiji is rated PG-13.

Isekai have the burden of at least being creative when sending their victims to their new worlds. Whether it’s via death or transportation, we’ve got to have a means and a reason to get you there. Mondaiji uses a simple letter to transport our protagonists from their mundane lives to a world of fun and adventure. Our protagonists, Kodou Asuka, Sakamaki Izayoi, and Kasukabe You, are sent to Little Garden, where tasks are completed by playing games. When they arrive, they meet a rabbit-eared game host, the “Black Rabbit,” who looks more at home in a casino than in a fantasy world.

Black Rabbit offers our three protagonists an offer they can’t refuse. Bring your psychic powers to this world and compete in games of chance. The chance may cost you your life. Black Rabbit holds an essential position within Little Garden despite her furry appendages. Black Rabbit, also known as Kuro Usagi, is a Judge Master enforcing the rules of the games. Though an excellent offer, their initial meeting doesn't go as planned. These are no ordinary kids.

Like most isekai, Mondaiji has a set of rules based on a game or games. The trio harasses Black Rabbit and immediately wins the first Gift Game. The “Gift” refers to the powers the trio has received from various divine agents. For the sake of simplicity, Mondaiji revolves around gambling set in a world replete with western and eastern mythology and spirituality. Players can bet simple things like poker chips, their abilities, lives, or even pride. Players must belong to a community, and Black Rabbit’s gaming community has been destroyed unbeknownst to our trio.

Tired of lives of boredom, the trio craves excitement. But not just in the literal sense; they crave purpose, belonging, and acceptance. Kasukabe desires friendship. She is a zoolinguist and is accompanied by her cat, which fits well with the inhabitants of Little Garden. In addition to the earlier mentioned abilities, she can take on the skills of the animals around her. Sometimes shy and reserved, she is a counterbalance to Izayoi.

Izayoi would probably be at home in a shonen anime, more so an isekai. He is cocky, impatient, and courageous, but underneath his bad-boy persona, he is brilliant and honorable. Though a bit of a flirt and a self-confirmed hedonist, especially towards Black Rabbit, he is not bogged down by the typical harem building in most isekai. He craves action. No spewing blood from this guy unless it's the blood of his opponents. He is the trio's strongest in most scenarios though Kasukabe and Asuka are equally capable combatants. Like Yusuke of Yu Yu Hakusho, Izayoi lives for the “fun of the game.”

Asuka is one of my favorite characters in Mondaiji. She hails from an affluent WWII family. She comes off as arrogant and uncompassionate though that is not the case. Asuka’s gift is “Authority,” which causes the recipient to obey her. This ability works on humans and birds, as seen in episode two when she bends Galdo Gasper to her will. With the aid of Black Rabbit, Asuka grows her abilities, moving beyond the gift of Authority.

Agreeing to join the “No Names,” the name of the community headed by Jin Russell, the community Black Rabbit belongs to, the trio is tasked with rebuilding the community. Fans of Isekai will immediately recognize where this series is headed if they are fans of the Realist Hero series or that excellent TenSura series.

The No Names were, once a great community whose prominent position was destroyed by a Demon Lord, are partially flush. There are members besides the "Problem Children" who grace this community, including Lily, Black Rabbit, Leticia Draculair, Black Percher (Pest), Merun, Gry, and Shirayuki-hime. Several of these characters become members via defeat as the show progresses.

There is much to cram into Mondaiji, including a Japanese kimono-clad loli named Shiroyasha, who is as much a hedonist as Izayoi. Such a trait would be boring, yet it adds to the flavoring. The characters' personalities add to the comedy, drama, and suspense. It is a plus with minimal pacing hiccups. Several scriptwriters probably aided this plus, under the watchful eye of Noboru Kimura.

If there are issues, it would be from parts of the adaptation that were left out, but there is enough exposition to explain things. These are strikes quickly overshadowed by the voice acting, which was stellar. There are two many names to list though Shintarō Asanuma (Izayoi), Sara Emi Bridcutt (Asuka), Satomi Arai (Shiroyasha), and Chiwa Saito (Pest) are a few of my favorites. And the latter not because she voiced Yona, of Yona of the Dawn. Many of the VAs have worked together on multiple projects, which is a plus when building chemistry.

Unfortunately, the chemistry sometimes boiled over into the animation, which while colorfully vibrant, sometimes appears blurred or fuzzy, as I'll call it. Some CG works but sometimes needs to be put in the right place. An artistic point is the End cards at the end of each episode. They were a creative plus, and seeing each artist's take on the episode was superb. Regardless, music and art go hand in hand, and Diomedea did an excellent job immersing me into Little Garden's world.

Mondaiji is an anime that, if it were a shot of vodka, goes nice and smooth with a slight burn. It winds its tale with a great mixture of mythologies, including Griffins, fairies, and the Pied Piper, all set behind the backdrop of the Black Plague. It doesn't lose itself in dialogue, nor does it lack emotional content. It has excellent main characters and side characters, and villains. Though at times rushed and three episodes short, I felt satisfied. "Problem Children Are Coming from Another World, Aren't They" definitely gets a recommendation!!