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Can a Decent Protagonist Save My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's From Isekai Mediocrity?

The anime adaptation of Matsuri Akai's light novel, My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's, is set to premiere in October 2025. Lucky attendees at AnimeNYC's first round of Crunchyroll premieres caught a two-episode screening of the isekai anime. Animated by Sunrise, the initial trailer showed visuals of standard animation with sleek, clean character designs.

The story follows high schooler Akira Oda and his classmates, who end up summoned into another world via a magical circle. They all gain unique powers, which they can check their SP, HP, and skills within a game-like interface. Yet, Akira seems singled out as he gains the lackluster abilities of an unimpressive assassin. His world takes a turn as his status is suddenly elevated to the strongest occupation, he's framed for a murder, and later forced to run away to avoid prosecution.

At first glance, the clean coloring of the character designs looks similar to the shiny edges of Code Geass. Still frame shots of characters are beautifully detailed as they don't move much in the first two episodes due to the exposition and exploration of worldbuilding. Since the two episodes introduce the audience to a boatload of characters, Akira has very little emotional attachment and involvement with them before the situation starts going awry. For now, he's concerned (but not desperate) over how he'll return home to his mother and sister, but he's got bigger problems to address as the royals who summoned him have more in store for him and his classmates.

Although certain shots are visually striking, there's a noticeable overuse of still shots in the first episode. Of course, even the best animated spectacle will find shortcuts–such as panning and showing expansive sweeping views of the landscape–to save budget and focus on important action. But at least one short fight between the two episodes should contain the weight of the animation team's ability. Even when Akira and Amelia fight against a dragon, the whole sequence didn't land its punches as characters would stand still as the camera shakes, and energy beams would do most of the work. Arguably, the strongest asset to the story is Akira as a main character. He's perceptive and quick-thinking, going against the grain of his classmates who fell in line with their new world. When his classmate becomes uncharacteristically unstable, he calls on a mage to dispel the curse on him despite the lack of physical indication that there is one inflicted on him. Despite their assigned roles as heroes, assassins, and mages, he finds common ground with another knight who informs him that the king has ulterior motives. Though their allyship is cut short once Akira is framed for killing his friend, he's forced to retreat deep in the dungeons to level up.

Even though the animation isn't enough to write home about, there's potential for Akira's own character development as well as his relationship development with his classmates. They take matters into their own hands and seek to find Akira rather than staying within the castle walls like NPCs. However, it might take time for them to catch up with Akira as he continues to train and descend into the dungeon alongside his new elf companion, Amelia.

Overall, the RPG elements, such as occupations and special abilities, are well-thought-out and have an impact on the story. They mix in well with the drama of underhanded political plotting, but the scene transitions, like the story progression, are clunky based on the first two episodes. Unfortunately, the presentation and pacing are within the range of expectation for the isekai genre in 2025.