Yu-Sibu

As kids, we have all dreamed about becoming superheroes who valiantly overcome hardships and save the day. Our imagination and dreams were full of stories where we had particular superhuman abilities that gave us precisely what we yearned for in life.

But as time passed, the harsh hammer of reality mercilessly came down on us, dragging us back to a somewhat dull reality. However, this doesn’t mean we should let go of our fond childhood memories because they will always have charming positivity.

“I Couldn`t Become a Hero, So I Reluctantly Decided to Get a Job,” also known as “Yuusha ni Narenakatta Ore wa Shibushibu Shuushoku wo Ketsui Shimashita” or simply “Yusibu,” is a 12-episode TV anime series that aired from the 5th of October until the 21st of December in Fall 2013. It was produced by Lantis, Kadokawa Shoten, Rakuonsha, KlockWorx, chara-ani.com, Docomo Anime Store, and Fujimi Shobo, licensed by Sentai Filmworks, and crafted by Studio asread.

Director Yoshimoto Kinji, Assistant Producer and Associate Producer Nakajima Yoshimi, Sound Director Nagura Yasushi, and Episode Director Suzuki Kaoru worked to bring this anime to life. It featured the genres of comedy, fantasy, romance, and ecchi in its 24-minute episodes and received a rating of R+ for its mild nudity.

It is based on the source light novel of the same name, which ran for ten volumes from the 20th of January 2012 until the 19th of July 2014. It featured a harem theme and was the work of author Sakyou Jun and artist Inuzumi Masaki. The anime received a sequel titled “Yusibu: I couldn't become a hero, so I reluctantly decided to get a job. OVA” as a single OVA episode on the 7th of March 2014.

Additionally, there are five special episodes titled “I Couldn't Become a Hero, So I Reluctantly Decided to Get a Job. These lasted 1 minute per episode and followed a comedic style. The specials were released from the 31st of January until the 30th of May, 2014.

Protagonist Raul Chaser has always dreamed of becoming a fearless hero and vanishing the evil Demon King. With this goal in mind, he eagerly enters the Hero Training Program, but everything falls apart when the Demon King ends up defeated and peace returns to their world.

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Due to this, the Hero Training Program goes on indefinite suspension, making it impossible for anyone to become a hero. Two years have passed since then, and our main character reluctantly begins to work at a small electronics store called Magic Shop Leon to get on with his life.

Yusibu | Anime Review | Pinnedupink.com

However, Raul is a former hero-in-training and is extremely unhappy with his retail job. But fate is not done with him yet, because everything changes with the appearance of a new hire. At first, this new employee appears to be a boy with pretty good looks, but it is soon revealed that this being is a female demon named Fino Bloodstone.

She is not some ordinary demon either, because we learn that she is the daughter of the late demon king. Raul is now responsible for training this eccentric new co-worker, so it should be no surprise that his entire life has become livelier than ever!

The story of Yusibu is unique in that it tackles the question of what happens to a world after its greatest evil is defeated. What good are heroes if there isn’t any evil for them to fight? Raul’s decision to work in retail to make ends meet is highly justified because there’s nothing else for him to do now. So no matter how mundane it gets, he must suck it up.

The plot is simple because it follows the lives of Raul and Fino within a small department store. The anime also does an uncanny job of addressing the commercial market, showing us various businesses, competition, products, wages, and leisure hours. All this in a world that uses magic instead of electricity gives us an overall fantasy slice-of-life feel. The pacing is steady and consistent as well. The sheer ridiculousness and relatability of this setting can draw so many viewers in from the onset, showing us the potential it has to become a genuinely enjoyable show.

The story isn’t bad; it's just a bit cliche and generic. However, the ending destroys some of the anime’s charm by becoming a stereotypical "damsel in distress" situation in which Raul must save the day. It is still a pretty exciting series with good execution and originality that offers a somewhat enjoyable watch.

The characters are a mix of good and bad eggs. While some are significantly developed and explored in depth, others exist for fan service and wish fulfillment. Raul gets a great deal of development as he transitions from an ungrateful brat who doesn’t appreciate what he has to someone happy about his accomplishments. He even shows us he can kick ass when necessary as a dude with common sense and low density.

Fino Bloodstone, however, is the life of the show. She is a charismatic and enthusiastic demon girl who always gives her best and finds joy in minor things. While she may initially appear as comic relief, she can turn depressing and sadistic situations around with a few words. She is undoubtedly the show’s main focus, as it emphasizes her position as the Demon Lord's daughter, who builds up familiarity with the human world.

The remainder of the characters are high in number but low in impact. All of them are somehow associated with Raul, adding to either the comedy or story aspects. Expect to see a lot of female characters flaunting cliche archetypes here who hardly amount to anything substantial. But this is okay for an anime like this.

The art and animation are decent. It uses a lighter palette with whiter shades that are both pleasing and easy on the eyes, with good quality as well. The humorous scenes are fun to watch, sprinkled with good ol' exaggerated character expressions. As for character designs, remember that this is a very fanservice-heavy series. While the characters are generally pretty, their body dimensions are highly questionable.

So expect plenty of well-endowed female characters that disobey the laws of physics at every turn. You might think this is standard for an Ecchi, but this anime goes above and beyond. It may become weird and distracting if you’re not highly into this flare.

The sounds and music are average and easily forgettable. The opening theme is "Extra Revolution" by ZAQ, and the ending theme is "Sticking Places" by Sphere, both of which sound similar but are nice. Even so, they are easily skippable. The OSTs and background sounds were just there, minding their own business. Voice acting is good, though, especially regarding Fino, who simply nailed the character and delivered an enjoyable performance.

The over-the-top Ecchi aside, Yusibu is an exciting and enjoyable watch. It has enough substance to keep you watching until the end, satisfying you overall. The story is unique and well-executed despite lacking a vibrant cast. On a final note, expect little romance from this series.

The hinted romance doesn’t go anywhere and becomes redundant, but it was still fun to watch. I recommend this one if you’re a fan of genres and themes! This is not a must-watch title, but it provides some chill, time-killing entertainment with decent comedy to occupy your leisure.