Farming Life in Another World
“Where Isekai Meets Harvest Moon”
You must agree with me when I say this: the isekai genre has taken over the anime scene in recent years. We have people reincarnating as swords, vending machines, slime, you name it. But even amidst this played-out setting that's been milked to infinity and beyond, it's nice to see a new take, a new twist to the genre every now and then. Farming Life in Another World was just that new Isekai show last year, and saying that it's one of the better Isekai titles in recent times won't be anything wrong at all. But is it a show for everyone? Will each and every one of you enjoy it? I don't think so! Let's see what this farming simulator is all about and just what happens when you add farming to the isekai mix!
Reincarnated to live the countryside life
Most of these isekai titles feature protagonists who are living miserable lives in the real world. The creator takes pity on them solely because of this, and that serves as the catalyst for their grand reincarnation.
Hiraku Machio, our protagonist, is the same. Living a life full of pain and misery because of his body, the man finally dies at the age of 39. But when he's asked where he'll want to be reincarnated to have another shot at a life he never had, he chooses the unexpected. Who even chooses the farming route, right? I only know a few real-life Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley fans!
Anyway, just as that wish is weird, I'm pretty sure it's the easiest to fulfill, even if you’re the useless Aqua from Konosuba. So, the days of Hiraku Machio began as the new farmer of this fantasy world. Plus, he's not just any farmer, I tell you. Having been granted the AFE, or all farming equipment, as the perfect added bonus, farming using any tool or technique is really going to be a walk in the farm!
Of course, with this being an isekai, there are going to be all sorts of characters, all sorts of different species. But the show's primary focus is building this empire from a barren land. Overall, seeing someone build something from nothing is surprisingly a very fulfilling experience, even in an Isekai anime where anything goes!
One thing that I didn’t like about the anime is how the adversaries or invaders don’t feel like themselves. Indeed, they can act better, right? It’s so easy to talk them into becoming the good guy and have them on board with them, forgetting why they came up to Machio Hiraku in the first place. But then again, this is a farming experience, and something that doesn’t define a farm is violence and bloodshed, right?
Too many girls?!
Let's be honest and not play dumb here. Many of us were brought to this title because the poster features a girl with ripe melons holding some less ripe tomatoes. Sure, Tia is one of the highlights of the show and probably the best girl for a lot of you horny Isekai fans out there. From the wings to the eyes, you know what? The character design is great, but it was only improved thanks to the voice acting performance.
But this anime isn't lacking by any means when it comes to beautiful and hot female characters. Also, assuming this to be a harem/ecchi isekai blend that hits us every other season would be a huge mistake. If you’re coming into the show with that mindset, you're bound to get disappointed in a heartbeat.
It's totally wrong to pick up girls in this farming simulator, and surprisingly, our protagonist is as loyal as it gets this time. Machio Hiraku isn't distracted by any of these girls or their assets, focusing on farming and renovating this empire that he's gifted with. But he does end up marrying once, and that's it. Rurushi Ru, who a lot of you won't like for reasons rather obvious, is his wife, and he doesn't answer advancements from any other female character.
Fans of the light novel would find this to be very strange since the source material features a far hornier Hiraku Machio, one who marries more times than our hands can count, combined, that is. The anime doesn't end up following the source material, and I'm not only talking about the romance or marriage aspect of things.
But if you're willing to see what happens to these different characters down the road, you're more than welcome to read the light novel. I've seen some decent translations. Plus, they’re not very hard to find, so you won’t get lost on a totally cryptic light novel and manga website while you’re at it.
Zero-G Cutting Around The Edges...
Now Zero-G, the anime studio, is known for doing a half-assed job only sometimes. I think it’s also the studio that has probably the most diverse-looking art style, in my opinion. Some shows look grand and impressive, while others look like they’ve been done by the toddlers of the very people who made the studio’s most prominent projects the masterpieces they are today. But then again, that’s also a budget thing, and the higher you go, the better the quality.
The studio was behind the total gem Grand Blue Dreaming, and we all remember how fine and crisp that show looked. Saying the same about Farming Life in Another World would be taking it too far. The animation is decent, but it's just every other standard Isekai animation. Nothing too crazy going on anywhere. But it gets the job done, and that's all that matters. The show's primary focus has to be the whole farming simulator thing.
Trust me, it's the perfect example of "I came for the hentai but stayed for the story". Everyone loves stuff like Harvest Moon, Rune Factory, and Stardew Valley. These games are as relaxing as gaming can get, and seeing an Isekai-themed anime featuring this beloved setting is like a dream come true for many of us, including me. If you ask me, I didn't know anything about this title beforehand, which made the experience all the sweeter.
Moreover, the anime also made its debut when ‘Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill’ was airing, and imagine just how crazy it'd have been to get a crossover out of the blue. Unfortunately, it did not happen, but looking back on winter 2023, these two shows were unquestionably highlights, and the year made them appear among the best isekai titles available.
Plus, this was the time when shows like Vinland Saga, Trigun Stampede, Tokyo Revengers, and Bungo Stray Dogs were airing. So yeah, the fact that Farming Life in Another World held its ground shows that it's not your average isekai!
MUSIC THAT FITS...
The music adds a lot to the charm of these farming settings. A relaxing setting can only be made full use of when great relaxing music is playing in the background, adding a lot more meaning to the show we’re watching on our screens. Now, it’s nothing grand like Stardew Valley, the score of which has amassed numerous awards over the years on top of getting an entire orchestra performance not that long ago. But the music is good and not lacking by any means. If we look at the opening and ending themes, surely the ending wins for me.
The isekai genre has become a total mess. We have titles copying each other from start to finish, losing themselves in the process. The shows are getting carried by the harem/ecchi elements for the most part, and even becoming a dog doesn't bother anyone anymore.
But Farming Life in Another World has been a breath of fresh air, the fresh take that we needed on the genre, and it's wild how underrated this show is still. It’s better to discover it before its fanbase mutates into something totally obnoxious, and what better time to do that than right now when everyone is super drunk on Rudeus and his weird adventures? While you’re at it, also check out Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill since both shows bear similarities that would make you pick up the light novels right after you’re done with the anime.
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