Review of Akashic Records of Bastard Magic Instructor

Because magic is such a foreign concept grounded in the limits of one's imagination, the possibilities for stories based around magic are virtually limitless. So what happens when you combine the concept of magic with an arcic harem setup? Well you get this show. Whoever thought this was a good show idea is a bastard for sure. Story: Glenn Radars is a man without any motivation for anything. With his guardian, Celica, threatening him and forcing him to get off his ass to do something with his life, he ends up at the magic school that also serves as Celica'sworkplace, and ultimately becomes a magic teacher much to his chagrin.

Akashic Records is a very arc-heavy (or as I refer to as arcic) show. The series itself is split into 4 arcs spanning roughly 3 episodes each, with the general focus of each episode being Glenn saving and involving himself with one of the three main girls in the series: Rumia, Re=L, and Sistina in that order. General arc flow involves something evil plot relating to each of the three girls, things get dire, and Glenn saves the day. Rinse, repeat, do it again.

As a result, the story for Akashic Records becomes monotonous and quite predictable. It's not bad per-say, as the presentation for each arc gives the audience some more world building and a better look into the mysterious past life of our main protagonist, but because each arc is just another rehash of a story setup done countless times, it's very hard to be invested in it, especially since each arc is so short and there's very little buildup before we end and move onto the next girl.

Another problem I find is exposition. In order to educate the audience about aspects of the magic concepts that they didn't know before, the show inputs heaps of exposition in various parts of the series from character introductions to new magic studies and research. As a result, the flow of the series feels slightly choppy because we're given what's essentially a wall of text to tell us who this person is or what kind of magic that's being put at the forefront right now. Doing this makes it clear that it's important to this section of the story (and nowhere else), so it just makes it all the more easier to know what's coming the audience's way.

Overall, Akashic Records's story is average at best. With a predictable arc-heavy setup as the formula for its story telling, the story ends up becoming very easy to guess and as such, relieves a lot of the built up tension the show attempt to create. Not only that, but the 'Akashic Records' that's in the title is barely even mentioned. Pretty sure it's the end-all be-all of the series, but since we only got a small bit of the whole story, the fact that we're led on that it plays a part kinda sucks.

Overview:
+/- Worldbuilding through exposition
+/- Arc heavy storytelling
- Extremely predictable
- Very little tension despite alluding to it

Characters: You're either Glenn or the 3 main girls. If you're not, you're unimportant.

Glenn Radars is a cocky, selfish, self-congratulating bastard of a teacher. (I mean the show is called 'Akashic Records of Bastard Magic Instructor' in translation after all.) As a character, Glenn plays the duality of roles of being the series's main asshole, as well as the show's secret badass. Haunted by a past that he doesn't like talking about (Cause everyone has one of those), Glenn's character changes as the series goes along from a jerkface to someone who genuinely thinks positively of being a magic instructor while at the same time, fixing all of the series's conflicts because "I'M THE MAIN PROTAGONIST" and because he wants to be a 'mage of justice'. (Archer would like to talk to you btw.) While the characterization is nice, it's how easy all of the problems are solved which is the problem. As mentioned before, Glenn solves literally all of the conflicts that this series has, and as a result, makes the show very predictable and kinda lackluster. There's not any serious loss that the series shows us on-screen, so any potential weight that the show might have dissipates because the main character is always there to say the day.

Then there're the three girls: Rumia, Re=L, and Sistina, better known as the kind, understanding girl, the kuudere loli, and your typical tsundere. As far as personalities go, this is about the extent that these girls have. While true we do get a better idea of them and their past as a result of the show devoting an entire arc of equal length and time to each of them beyond their devoted arc, they don't really do or get anything. If anything, they sink back into the background while the one currently in front gets the spotlight and their respective damsel in distress story. Oh yeah, they also really like making at least Rumia a damsel in distress. It's actually really annoying considering she's the only girl of the 3 that's even slightly annoying sometimes.

The rest of the cast involves members of the imperial mage corps (who barely get any screentime), some other teachers in the magic school, one-off villains who you won't really remember cause they get defeated so quickly that we're already on the next arc, and the rest of Glenn's class who're only there to...be a class of students. These characters are only there to make some kind of meaning or worth to the conflicts that the series presents or 'expand' the world in a way that it feels like there're more people that're important than there really are. Also, the evil organization known as the 'Researchers of Divine Wisdom' that the show says are scary, really aren't? I mean obviously they're just building their resources or knowledge up for the series finale, but the lack of tension really makes it hard to see them, frankly anyone, as a threat.

Overview:
+ Some characterization for the main cast
- Main girls really are just tropes beyond their arc
- Side characters are just screen fodder

Art: Produced by Lidenfilms, the art for Akashic Records is...standard. The art itself doesn't stand out that much, as everything looks like a brightly colored show that's slightly muted in its color palette. Action is semi-fluid only because of the varying shots they use to choreograph the fights, but most of it is just magic blasting out of their hands after they spend 5 second chanting. The magic circles however are nice and detailed, so that's a nice little detail they do consistently.

My biggest complaint with the art however is the design of the school uniforms, particularly the female uniforms. I know it's there for fanservice, but dear lord the girls look more like strippers than students of a magic academy. With skirts shorter than hotpants, straps just wrapping their abdomen and lower body, and different gloves on each hand, the design for the female uniform in particular is just a clunky, incohesive design that's only there to make up for the lack of bath scenes or other classic fanservice moments that the show lacks. I just...don't like it. (And it doesn't help when the male uniform is completely covered and everything.)

Overview:
+/- Art is standard fare
- Terrible, terrible uniform design.

Sound: The sound for Akashic Records is nothing special. The OP, "Blow Out" is an action song that starts out sounding interesting, but quickly turns into any other high energy song that many other shows have. It's honestly quite good, but it just doesn't have anything unique about it to make it neither special nor memorable in the sense that you'd want to listen to it over and over again.

Its ED, "Precious You" shares the same problem. Sung by the girls' seiyuus, the song is a cheerful and bright song that while sounds good, really has nothing great going for it. Its only real draw is the fact that it's the seiyuus singing it, but that's about it. Overall, the soundtrack just suffers by not being anything special or unique, resulting in a decent, but not fantastic OST.

Overview:
+/- Average soundtrack that's not really memorable

Personal Enjoyment: While currently at the time of this review, Akashic records is one of the more popular anime this season, this show just...doesn't really do a lot for me. I've seen this plot, this concept, and many aspects of it time and time again, and seeing it again with another coat of paint on is just really, really dull. I don't hate this show, as nothing about it is really aggravating, but nothing about it makes me want to give a damn. Oh, there's a conspiracy...oh no...a hidden fiancé we didn't know about appears...oh dear...what're we gonna do...

Did I like this series?

Not...particularly. I read some of the source material, so I ended up watching this. There're far worse things out there, but I didn't really find any specific enjoyment while watching this.

What didn't I like about this series?

If anything, it's the fact that Rumia was a damsel in distress character. She doesn't come off as one, but since the series knows that she's super important, they relegate her to that role. It's not fun seeing a character become a damsel, so if anything, that'd be something about this show I hate.

Would I recommend this series?

If you're looking to kill time or for a magic show without much investment, than Akashic Records suits the bill. The show itself knows what it is, and doesn't really aspire to be more than what it presents us in the first couple episodes. As a result, while the show may be kinda dull, it's consistent, and if you're looking for something with consistency and a really heavy status quo after every couple episodes, than this is probably something that you're looking for.