Am I Actually the Strongest?
"Hidden Powers in a Comical Isekai Journey"
What better way to cozy up as the winter winds chill the air than with a hot beverage and a deep dive into the whimsical world of Isekai? Today, we’re unraveling the enchanting tapestry of an anime that goes by the intriguing title, “Am I Actually the Strongest?”
Picture this: a protagonist who wants to live their life doing absolutely nothing navigates through a fantastical realm, pondering their own strength in the most hilarious of ways. In the warmth of your favorite blanket, we’ll embark on an adventure where the boundaries between strength and absurdity become as fuzzy as the socks on your feet.
“Five years have passed since I holed myself up to escape bullying in middle school."
The opening line of the anime, “Am I Actually the Strongest?” sets the tone and blueprint for the depraved life of our protagonist. He only wants the classic otaku dream—binge-watching anime until he dozes off. Does it sound like the “it” life?
His grand plan? Just to chill in his room and live a peaceful existence. But fate has its own agenda. Somehow, the guy kicks the bucket and lands in heaven. Yep, there’s a Lady Angel there who hands him cheat powers and promises a serene life in his new fantastical abode, where magic does exist.
So, he gets a reboot, this time as a baby to an Emperor, now known as Prince Hart. It is going to be easy for our baby Hart now, right? No, because with great powers come great responsibilities. Even as a baby, he’s not left in peace. The Emperor orders a sorcerer to measure the little one’s magic power. And here’s where the plot thickens: the celebration for the new heir turns sour when the sorcerer spills the beans: Prince Hart has a measly Level 002 magical ability. Public shame alert!
The Emperor and Empress go to extremes to avoid the embarrassment of having an heir with such low magical prowess. They order servants to toss Baby Hart into the forest, making up a story about his demise right after birth. Little did they, or Hart himself, know that his magical abilities surpass any human measure—he's rocking a 1002 level. But thanks to the mystical oracle showing only three digits, the 002 creates a massive misunderstanding about Hart’s powers, a classic mix-up.
So, in the forest, Hart’s survival instincts kick in. Remember, even though he has a body like a baby's, his mind is still like an adult's. Without wasting a minute, he tests his magic to see how flexible it is. That’s when he stumbles upon a Fox Demon, and I couldn’t help but be reminded of Aki from Chainsaw Man. Unlike Aki’s Fox Devil, Hart’s Fox Demon can transform into a human. They engage in a brief battle, and to nobody’s surprise, Hart comes out victorious.
Witnessing Hart’s power, the Fox Demon thinks he’s the reincarnation of the Demon King. So, she pledges to stick by his side, vowing to protect him at all costs. But hold on, the forest saga takes another unexpected turn. A distant relative of the Emperor shows up, expressing the desire to adopt Hart. Surprisingly, they couldn’t care less about Hart’s low magic level. All they’re after is the warmth of a happy family.
As Hart grows up, life takes some exciting turns. He’s just aiming to chill, you know? But life throws all kinds of curveballs at him, from dealing with royal feuds to balancing demon friendships.
The Japanese light novel series Jitsu wa Ore, written by Sai Sumimori, Saiky deshita, first appeared on the novel posting website Shsetsuka ni Nar in September 2018. Kodansha then purchased the series and started printing it with illustrations by Ai Takahashi. As of July 2023, six volumes of the series have been released.
A manga adaptation, also illustrated by Takahashi, began serialization on the Niconico-based web manga platform Suiyōbi no Sirius in April 2019. As of August 2023, the series' chapters have been collected into ten volumes.
An anime television series adaptation by Staple Entertainment aired from July to October 2023. Tetsuya Yamada and Tatsuya Takahashi co-wrote the scripts for the series, which Takashi Naoya directed. Shōko Yasuda designed the characters, and Yukari Hashimoto composed the music. Kodansha, DAX Production, Avex Pictures, Crunchyroll, ABC Animation, MAGNET, and ADK Marketing Solutions produced it.
The anime series consists of 12 episodes, each with a duration of 23 minutes, and aired from July 2 to October 1, 2023, on ABC and TV Asahi's ANiMAZiNG!!! Programming block. The series falls under the adventure and fantasy genres, with themes of Isekai and reincarnation. It is rated PG-13, suitable for teens 13 or older. The series Crunchyroll licensed the series. Don’t have Crunchyroll. “You know what to do, Rico.”
The story follows a 20-year-old shut-in who is suddenly transported from his apartment to appear before a goddess. She offers him a second chance at life in a new world, granting him overpowered magical abilities. However, when he awakens as the newborn Prince Reinhardt, the prince, who renames himself Haruto, encounters Flay, a Flame Fenrir who decides to devote her life to serving him. Haruto's relative, Gold Zenfis, meets them both in the woods and decides to adopt the child as his own.
Nine years pass with Haruto under the care of the Zenfis family. His mastery over his overpowered barrier magic increases by the day, though Haruto would instead not use it to help others. He practices his magic in secret, preferring to have his family believe that he is weak. However, his younger sister, Charlotte, discovers his strength, and with the assistance of Flay, Haruto protects her and the rest of the Zenfis family from harm. With a shifty plot in the kingdom, Haruto only wishes to stay inside and watch anime, but he must use his magic to keep the family that took him in safe.
Okay, here we have our protagonist, a hikikomori turned fantasy world hero who gets a second chance at life. Hart is missing an element, so his magic repertoire revolves around barrier magic. But that is your average barrier. Hart turns it into a multi-tool- from making clones to bringing 21st-century internet access to the fantasy world, he can do it all. And let’s not forget the superhero gig, where he goes by names like Hero of Justice, Black Knight, and many more.
The main character is overpowered, and he knows it. What I find intriguing is how his initial goal of wanting to ‘live a peaceful life watching anime’ remains unchanged. He had no grand ambitions of saving the world for himself. He simply wants to be left alone. His focus stays the same even amid battles with the Queen or uncovering assassination plots. Haruto, or Hart for short, holds a deep love for his family, and that’s a refreshing aspect of his character. Despite his goofy and laid-back demeanor, he becomes downright ruthless when protecting his ‘family.’
“Surprised attacked my dad? I can’t forgive those who do that!” he said while destroying the attackers.
Remember that single strand of hair standing up in his character design? It’s not just a random detail. Throughout anime history, a character with this quirky hairstyle has often been portrayed as foolish. It’s a fun little trope that adds to the charm of our protagonist. It’s crystal clear from the get-go that our main character is a bit silly. But here’s the kicker: don’t forget, he’s a powerhouse. It’s like they deliberately break down the stereotype that bubbly characters can’t land a punch.
When it comes to character development, not much goes on there. Why? Because he pretty much ticks all the boxes of what you’d expect from a main character.
Let’s talk about this anime's art and character designs- they are pretty solid. But here’s the thing: Hart's alter ego design felt like a direct lift from Code Geass. Considering Hart's love for anime, I get it; it’s likely intentional, a playful nod or parody. Still, for many anime fans, including myself, it felt a bit unoriginal. They could have spiced it up a bit, you know, and added some twists to make it stand out. On the bright side, the detailing in the characters’ art was on point.
The animation, on the other hand, is vibrant. It immerses you in this fantastical realm. Some fans even draw parallels with Eminence of Shadow, saying it feels like Eminence of Shadow with the brightness turned up. I agree with that, but it could have been even better, given the premise's potential. This subtle missing element exists in certain moments, especially during a fight scene. It needs to engage the audience fully.
Now, let’s touch on the sound department of ‘Am I Actually the Strongest?” It’s not exactly heavy on the music. There is no epic, adrenaline-pumping soundtrack. The music does not hit the mark, even during the fight scenes. Personally, I believe a good background score can elevate the depth of fight sequences. Imagine each character having their own introduction music- it sets the mood, and the audience can get a feel for what kind of character they are.
The opening theme song is "Reset Life?" by Lezel, while the ending theme song is "Himi CHU★Pre-Love Magic" by Star★Shiμ'ne!!!. Aside from the intro song ‘Reset Life’ and the ending theme ‘Himichu Pre-Loved Magic,’ no standout track will make you rush to add it to your music collection on Spotify.
My Thoughts: The ending is a cliffhanger—or at least that’s what the creators aimed to make it feel like. The plot is not over. There is a good chance that the show will be renewed for a second season. Fans are all over the map with their opinions. The ending did not quite deliver the hype it was supposed to. There was a lack of that gripping buildup or revelation that would make the audience eagerly anticipate the second season.
For context, in the last episode, Haruto eavesdrops on Schneider via a CCTV barrier, catches the assassins, and frills them for information. He then pays a visit to Schneider, but guess what? Schneider pulls a Uno Reverse, injects himself with a potion, and transforms into this colossal monster. Upon taking Charlotte’s advice, Hart turns Schneider back to normal without taking him out, though the guy’s definitely mentally shaken.
Later, Char brings in CCTV footage of Haruto’s showdown with her Round Table, solid evidence pointing to some secret evil council targeting Haruto. She hatches a plan to infiltrate the academy and uncover these council members. Haruto, once again, watches all these but decides to let Char do what she wants. He keeps an eye on her and her Round Table for safety purposes. The episode ends here—no hyped build-up to make the audience watch the second installment.
Isekai genres have their limitations. I understand that there are constraints to what it can offer, but the love for Isekai is still soaring despite those limitations. But here’s where it gets tricky: there are moments when some scenes and story arcs drag on a bit too much. Take the Academy arc, for instance. Hart’s father insists he joins the academy, but Hart, all about that self-indulgent life, is having none of it.
The suspense builds up and continues to stretch for more than two episodes. And the payoff? They throw in a curveball, making the clone Haruto attend the academy instead; honestly, it is such a letdown.
Now, regarding recommending ‘Am I Actually the Strongest?” here’s the scoop. I would give it a nod if you are a die-hard Isekai fan or if this is your first foray into the genre. Why? Well, the anime dives headfirst into all the plot clichés Isekai offers. It's not necessarily a bad thing, considering the genre’s boundaries.
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Image links: (unlisted photos are personal screencaps) credit: Crunchyroll
