Akashic Records of Bastard Magic Instructor “judging a book by its cover isn't the smartest thing out there.” Now that we've rewound time more than just a couple of times already to comprehend what's written in the former part of the title, let's move on, shall we? With this one, I'm pretty sure only a handful of you would know the name in question, given it's one of those rare finds that you have to search out. But that doesn't mean that it's terrible by any means, no sir. “Appearances are often deceptive,“ “there's always more to everything than what meets the eye,” we've heard these phrases more than just a couple of times already, and with the world being itself, I'm pretty sure we've got more than just a few experiences to add to the credibility of those phrases existing since the advent of time itself. Okay, a little too hard on the ‘life lessons’ section, no? Akashic Records of Bastard Magic Instructor takes you on a journey. Plain and simple, magic-making. It is a journey that starts like any other magic school anime out there. Sure it sets the stage for the performance that's about to make that climax one to remember, but it's the progression, the persistence, and the oblivious nature of the show that makes it a hidden gem in anyone's collection of shows out there. With that being said, the question still stands as to what? Why? Just where does the title make the most of magic to transform itself into a show that, despite qualifying as an “otaku-only” title, is something that's equally enjoying, equally entertaining, and equally impressive as any other big name out there? So, let's dive into a universe that's straight out of someone's dream, a figment of imagination that puts every other mind to shame in a heartbeat at most! “Animation that makes the mythical universe shine at its very best.” The first thing that hits us when we're picking up any anime out there is the art style, the animation that brings us the best storytelling there is. Akashic Records of Bastard Magic Instructor makes sure animation is one of its most vital points, taking everyone by surprise since the first episode. The art is crisp and blends in so well with the whole magic theme that it's almost scary how the theme in question can make the show achieve that next level, that next buff from the get-go. This is only made better later on in the show when those transitions, those lightning-fast scenes make blinking a real pain in the neck, but the animation makes sure we keep up with the hassle throughout the entirety of its runtime. The scenery, the empire, the characters, every one of them made to look so good that it adds to the show’s charm. “Care, kindness, and love that makes any sibling bond bite the dust the moment these faces come to the screen.” It's so incredible how some anime titles make us all feel incomplete with the bonds they feature at times, proving the fact that, indeed, blood is thicker than. I mean, we saw the ONE “son”’ who happened to be brothers, Ritsu and Shigeo, exhibit a bond that gave all the families a run for their money real quick. Well, if that was what made Mob Psycho 100 rank so high on your list, then we've got good news for you since there's a lot where that came from when we're taking Akashic Records of Bastard Magic Instructor into account. Sistine Fibel brings the most textbook and ideal character anime has ever seen. Her quest to figure out all that this castle has to offer introduces this mystery that serves as the perfect thing to look forward to, making the whole room get enveloped by this nostalgia since Laputa: Castle in the Sky is there in your head, making you remember the good old days. Such ambition, harboring such a drive to learn all that the unknown, all that magic has to offer, makes her innocuous character all the more loveable. But that's only made perfect by her caring nature, looking after Rumia as if she were her mom if I’m honest here. The two are always there for each other and make sure they see each other through thick and thin, even if there's a certain eccentric that manages to find their way into their happy lives. Seeing the growth of the bond they harbor is so wholesome that it melts you inside out while envy takes control, making you remember the natural world instantly. With all these other faces to boot, Akashic Records of Bastard Magic Instructor isn't lacking one bit about the characters. With the big three already there to make the kid My Hero Academia cry all alone in the corner of the basement, the anime's sure got a lot up its sleeve. Let’s just say that. “A magical Onizuka that's the same yet totally different from the one we love and remember.” Let's stand up and give a round of applause for the man himself, the guy who showed us the best teacher there is in anime, Onizuka Eikichi! Thank you very much! Make sure you leave the room quietly if you think Kakashi deserves the spot way more. Now, where do we start with the magical Onizuka, aka Glenn Radars? The guy's just a little too cool for an anime this underrated, I tell you! Seeing him suddenly fall into the duo’s life we talked about earlier makes one deem him a substitute that won't even be there for long. Once that iconic introduction is made, one could see the Onizuka episode playing in front of their eyes since that's just how much the sensei means for us. Let me give you a word of advice, though. Don't write the guy off as a troll who just wants to mess around and slack off for the most time since if there's any character that makes the “appearances are often deceptive” phrase seem all the more accurate; then it's this guy, Glenn Radars himself. What I love the most about the guy is how mysterious he is. Suddenly, he's here in the middle of everything without telling the characters or any of us as to who he exactly is and what he's attempting to gain from playing the role of a teacher. The trio would become your favorite in an instant and would make binging the show the easiest thing in the entire universe. But it's what follows that blows us all away and gives us a taste of that ”‘jack in the box” reveal we've been craving all this while, given how anime has been toning them down a lot this year. Love surprises? Love magic pulling strings in an empire where nothing's set in stone and evil lurks around every corner with the only defense trying to rest almost the entire time? Well, look no further, for we've got a cast, a plot, and a universe that's there to let you believe in magic once again. Akashic Records of Bastard Magic Instructor is a show that got slept on by many fans back in 2017, given how it had tough competition back in the day. That's fair and all but that doesn't mean that the rising upstart won't get a chance. The people who've already watched it know that the way the show incorporates the mystery element into the plethora of genres it features already makes the show stand out compared to its peers. If you haven’t already, get that perfect magical dose that anime has to offer with this title that’s there to make sure you aren’t missing out on the good stuff. Trust me, the trio would steal your heart in an instant, and with Glenn Radars being Glenn Radars, preventing the guy from stealing that very top spot might be the hardest thing in the entire universe. That just means you enjoyed the show a lot, so what’s even wrong with that?
