Anime Reviews (2010-2019): Wise Man’s Grandchild – The Complete Series – Limited Edition (a Neo-Tokyo 2099 Anime on Blu-ray Review)

“Wise Man’s Grandchild” turned out to be an anime series that was much more entertaining than I expected.  In fact, I absolutely loved it!  A great balance of action, comedy and drama, it’s a series which I highly recommend!

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TITLE: Wise Man’s Grandchild – The Complete Series – Limited Edition

ANIME RELEASE DATE IN JAPAN: 2019

DURATION: Episodes 1-12 (300 Minutes)

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, 4×3, English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0, Subtitles: English

COMPANY: Funimation

RATED: TV 14

Release Date: March 31, 2020

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Originally Created by Yoshioka Tsuyoshi

Original Charater Design: Kikuchi Seiji

Directed by Tamura Masafumi

Series Composition: Takahashi Tatsuya

Character Design by  Sawairi Yuki

Anime Production: SILVER LINK.

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Featuring the following voice talent:

Kobayashi Yusuke/Daman Mills as Shin Wolford

Koga Aoi/Kara Edwards as Christina Hayden

Komatsu Shohei/Brandon McInnis as August von Earlshide

Takashima Gara/Cynthia Cranz as Melida Bowen

JMorikawa Toshiyuki/Michael Tatum as Oliver Schtrom

Koumoto Keisuke/Jarrod Greene as Julius von Littenheim

Wakai Yuki/Katelyn Barr as Maria von Messina

Kubota Miyu/Kristin Sutton as Alice Corner

Honnizumi Rina/Lindsay Seidel as Sizilien von Claude

Yamaguchi Megumi/Madeleine Morris as Lyn Hughes

Kobayashi Chiaki/Matt Shipman as Tony Freyd

Shida Arisa/Morgan Berry as Thor von Fregel

Nagatsuma Juri/Morgan Garrett as Yuri Carlton

Hayama Shouta/Orion Pitts as Mark Bean

Hoshino Mitsuaki/Philip Weber as Diseum von Earlsheid (Uncle Dis)

Yara Yusaku/R Bruce Elliott as Merlin Wolford

Komada Wataru/Tyler Walker as Alfred Marcus

Kaneko Makoto/Z. Charles Bolton as Siegfried Marquez

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A young man dies in a car accident and is reborn in a magical new world. The old, yet wise Merlin finds the boy, names him Shin, raises him from infancy, and teaches him combat and powerful magic along the way. 15 years later, Shin is ready to travel the globe on his own, but Merlin forgot to teach him something major—common sense!

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In 2015, writer Yoshioka Tsuyoshi and illustrator Kikuchi Seiji created the light novel series “Kenja no Mago” (translates to “The Sage’s Grandson”).  A manga adaptation would follow in 2016 and then an anime adaptation by Silver Link. which aired on television from April to June 26, 2019.

And now the anime series was released on Blu-ray courtesy of Funimation.

The series revolved around a Japanese salaryman who is killed in an accident and would be reborn in another world which is filled with magic and demons.

When he was a baby, he was picked up by a great sage named Merlin Wolford and was named Shin and raised as the grandson of Merlin and learned from his teachings, making his magical/combat level beyond S-rank.

While Shin learned magic, Merlin felt that he didn’t teach his son common sense.  Diseum, the King of the Earlshide Kingdom recommended Shin to attend the Magic Academy, with the agreement of not using Shin for political warfare.  Shin also learns from Melida Bowen, the Great Guru and ex-wife of Merlin who helped raise Shin and taught him the skill of gear creation.

For Shin, living in the capital, he rescues two girls, Maria and Sizilien, from thugs and would later be inaugurated into a club.  But because he doesn’t have social skills, he learns how to not only develop his magical and combat skills, but to also deepen his friendships among his club members and working as a team.

Joining Shin are:

• August von Earlshide – The son of King Diseum and the crown prince.  Likes to have fun in putting Shin in awkward situations, but both are very close friends.  He has a relationship with Elizabeth who is jealous of the time Aug spends with Shin.  His title is Thunder God and is 2nd S-Rank.
• Maria von Messina – The red-hair second daughter of a Countess and Sizilien’s friend.  Often teases Sizilien of her crush towards Shin and often wishes she will find love.  Her title is Valkyrie and 3rd S-rank.
• Sizilien “Sicily” von Claude – Shy and often called “Saint”, she is the third daughter and fourth child of Viscount Claude.  She falls for Shin and it’s love at first sight.  She excels in healing magic.  Her title is Holy Maiden and is 4th S-Rank.
• Alice Corner – A perky blonde and the smallest physically.  She is childish and has the title of “Eradication Magical Girl”.
• Thor von Flegel – A childhood friend of Prince August and eldest son of a Baron.  Wants to be Knighted and is 6th S-Rank.
• Lynn Hughes – Wears sports glasses and her father is a court magician but has uncontrollable magic and Shin calls her “Unbridled Magical Girl”.  She is 7th S-Rank.
• Yuri Carlton – Taught by her idol Melida and is well-endowed.  She knows enchantment magic and is 8th S-Rank.
• Tony Freyd – A flirtatious guy, excels in swordplay and is 9th S-Rank.
• Julius von Littenheim – Childhood friend of Prince August and serves as one of his escorts.  Muscular and is 10th S-Rank.
• Mark Bean – From a family of blacksmiths and a newcomer.  Dating Olivia.
• Olivia Stone – Runs a popular restaurant and is Mark Bean’s girlfriend.

And while these friends develop their abilities while training each other, Oliver Schtrom, once known as Oliveira von Schtradius, head Duke of a royal family from the Bluesphere Empire has now become a demon and turning humans into demonoids.

Can Shin and team defeat the demonoids and what happens when they confront Oliver Schtrom?

“Wise Man’s Grandchild” is presented in 1080p High Definition and for the most part, the anime series looks great in HD.  Soundtrack is presented in English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0.  Both Japanese and English dub soundtracks are well-done and in terms of special features, included is an episode 8 audio commentary, promo videos and textless songs.

The anime series was also released on Blu-ray via Limited Edition which is housed in a Chipboard Box which contains a fabric poster with a never-before-seen artwork specially commissioned from Japan; 4 bookmarks of the main characters; 6 art cards featuring art from the Japanese releases and 120 page artbook featuring a light novel and short manga that were included in the Japanese releases.

The Blu-ray and DVD version of the series plus a Funimation digital code is included.

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“Wise Man’s Grandchild” is an entertaining anime series which combines drama, action and comedy.  With the series focusing on a powerful young man who is socially awkward, while action is a big part of the anime series, you are more driven towards character relationships.  As relationships is a big part of “Wise Man’s Grandchild”. But you also see a big change in Shin going from awkward to trusting teammate and a person that everyone can depend on.

From interactions and seeing how the team grows in power, they also grow as friends and we obviously start to see characters grow in terms of romantic relationships.

Of course, there is action, especially when you get to the second half of the series as the threat of Demonoids increase and whether or not the heroes can beat them.

I know I’m trying to be vague, but revealing anything would spoil the series.

So, with that being said, I will say that this is a series which everyone can enjoy.  It’s also not a long series with only 12 episodes.  It’s a series that has cool characters but also an addictive storyline, which had me craving for more!

And with the light novels still continue in Japan, one can only hope that a second season is planned.

Overall, “Wise Man’s Grandchild” turned out to be an anime series that was much more entertaining than I expected.  In fact, I absolutely loved it!  A great balance of action, comedy and drama, it’s a series which I highly recommend!

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