In case you have not read the first Mashle review this part follows as a continuation. Mashle is a Shonen anime that provides a fun take on the parody genre that has grown in popularity in recent years. Following the awesome success of One Punch Man and the almost equally well-received Mob Psycho 100, the market for parodying in the anime industry doesn’t appear to be slowing down.
Enter Mashle. A story set in a mystical world where magic rules. Human worth and utility are determined by the magic potential of the inhabitants. Consider this the opposite of the Harry Potter universe. Where magic users are the anomaly. However, in this magic realm, magic is essential to life, and those without magic are essential outcasts. Enter Mash. A muscle-pumping youth is bound to prove his critics wrong.
Mashle A Hero without a Hero’s Journey
Let’s get the obvious out of the way. If you are a Harry Potter fan, there is something in this for you. It could be a good, funny, and relaxing take on the magic in school storyline. One that tens of millions of fans around the world have grown to love. The question is: how does this story arc translate into the anime world? And one that is fundamentally humorous in nature? The answer is quite well.
Similar to One Punch Man and a certain Mob Psycho, the protagonist in this story is almost a finished product. To convince a magical world of abilities he does not possess and to do so convincingly requires a host of tricks and illusions that Mash is able to pull off. Retrospective storytelling is used as flashbacks to flesh out the ways in which Mash is able to overcome the magical odds with sheer strength, speed, and agility. No magic. And that is the beauty of the show.
Eccentric Friends and Egoistic Villains
Technically a Shonen anime Mashle does a decent job incorporating the elements of high school life into a story that starts out in an episodic fashion but in time works into a bigger story. There is the usual drama surrounding teen romance, high school bullies and house conflicts. These elements are played off relatively well, as side and supporting characters get their fair share of air time.
Among the more interesting side characters is Dot Barrett, a highly opinionated kid with great hopes but limited potential. At least that is how it seems. While he comes across as the whipping boy in some of the early episodes, there is hidden potential and a big heart in this lad, and his ability to overcome terrible odds in fighting for what is good is heartwarming.
And this is one of the strengths of the Mashel. While Mash is clearly the center of attention, the other characters, both good and bad, get adequate air time with their own side stories and the deeper motivations that guide them.
Big Stakes Big Fights – This is Anime Alright
For anyone concerned that this show is just another ripoff of more popular shows like One Punch Man with a Harry Potter spin that is played off cheap laughs. Hold your horses. This anime can get dark. The villains, led by Abel Walker, are magic supremacists who operate out of weird social Darwinism, where the only fittest (in a magical sense) survive and thrive. This means those powerless enough to resist or oppose their machinations are reduced to mere puppets.
Mashel employs a lot of action, showcasing the unique abilities and personalities of the cast of characters. At the same time, we are shedding light, as we near the end of the season, on even darker forces that are at work. Mashle, though not at the same level as One Punch Man, is certainly a worthy contender in the parody-humor anime. And is well worth a watch.
For More Great Content
Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
