Isekai genre has been a fan favorite for years, whisking viewers away on adventures alongside everyday characters who suddenly find themselves in mind-blowing fantasy worlds.
However, a new series titled “I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability” is making waves not just for its lengthy name, but also for its unique approach to character design.
Produced by Tsumugi Akita Animation Lab, this anime surprisingly boasts fluid animation but anime fans are rather interested more in the hero’s character design.
The story follows a sorcerer who deeply loved magic but was born a commoner, lacking the pedigree and natural talent to pursue his passion. After an untimely demise, he finds himself reborn as Lloyd, the seventh prince of the Kingdom of Saloum, now blessed with a powerful magical bloodline and innate abilities.
Retaining memories from his past life, Lloyd sneaks into a forbidden library and accidentally awakens an ancient demon who controls forbidden tomes. Armed with this second chance, Lloyd uses his extraordinary magical skills to master the arcane arts that eluded him in his previous life.
While the premise may sound familiar to isekai fans, it’s the character design of the protagonist that has sparked discussion among viewers.
On Crunchyroll, fans have been quick to point out the distinctly feminine appearance of the male lead. One commenter humorously remarked, “Can we plz get my boy some longer shorts even like a inch more fabric,” drawing attention to Lloyd’s notably short attire.
Another viewer quipped, “Somebody in this family isn’t telling the truth because this MC is totally a princess not a prince, I’ve seen many an androgynous design for an anime character but this is something else, lol.”
The androgynous design has led some to question the artist’s experience in drawing male characters. “I get the feeling whoever drew the kid has never once had to draw a male before, and only did females in the past… just from how he looks, how he stands, sits, not just the body design,” speculated one commenter.
Another simply stated, “art style or not, they definitely made him look like a girl.”
The discussion surrounding Lloyd’s character design even spilled over to X (formerly known as Twitter), where user @TopGyaru posted a still image from the anime. The tweet quickly went viral, amassing over 36,000 likes and sparking a lively debate among fans.
Why is he built like that? 😭 pic.twitter.com/XXoA4wMQR9
— Maririn~ (@TopGyaru) April 2, 2024
Despite the unconventional character design, many fans are embracing the series as a guilty pleasure. As one viewer put it, “as much as this seems like a generic isekai, it’s one of those guilty pleasures for me, one of those so bad it’s good. And this looks like it’ll be a pretty fun ride.”
With its fluid animation and quirky protagonist, “I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability” is shaping up to be a memorable addition to the Spring 2024 anime, even if it doesn’t quite conform to traditional character design norms.
Source: Crunchyroll, X
