Both are not reverse harem anime so I decided to combine the two, The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent and Pretty Boy Detective Club, under 'Related Reviews'. As if two non-reverse harems can magically add up as one reverse harem. Based on Levels of Reverse Harem, they fall under two or maybe three flowers.
The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent - 12 episodes
Sei got home late from working and when she steps inside her home, she goes to another world. They welcomed the other girl that was also summoned as saint and then ignored her. With too much time on her hands now, she began taking interest in herbs and potions, but her creations seem to be more potent than usual... Check the First Impression here.
The anime perfectly captures the essence of the book and executed well. Check here for the reviews of the light novels' first two volumes. It's so relaxing to watch this with the likable heroine and wholesome story. The anime deserves to be part of your self-care day. It is predictable to watch her level up her powers but yet it still left me amazed every time. But the anime fell short due to the limitations of the story. Even though I enjoyed almost the entire series, the ending left me feeling the story didn't have any plot. Her powers progressed but the story didn't. Everything tied up too neatly without twist or conflict. In the author's afterword in the second volume, there were two characters who I thought were going to be villains that were rewritten in the direction that the fans wanted.
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| from light novel illustration |
The rest of the guys didn't progress to anything but they did introduce another bishonen near the end. The early part has this twinges of maybe becoming a reverse harem but the general mood of the latter part felt non-reverse harem that you don't care about the other guys anymore. Maybe a lil but it's all about Sei and Albert from there on out.
The big scenes that I was expecting to be impactful in the anime were just ho-hum. It's probably because I was already anticipating it. Surprisingly it's the little things that I enjoyed. Being caught off guard with those moments that you dismissed as trivial. Her everyday cottagecore life while geeking over potions with beautiful men. That kind of sums up the anime. (lol) One of my favorite scenes is when she goes to her room and she says tadaima and sleeps looking very tired and yet happy as well. That's the best kind of sleep. I don't even remember if it happened in the book.
Seven Seas has also licensed "The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent: The Other Saint" which now shows the story from Aira's point of view. Maybe we'll get more sense of Kyle. His actions are questionable. Now I am hoping (not again!) for a reverse harem because she's been accused of being close to other fiancés. The gears in my brain are turning for a possible category for Stages of Reverse Harem. lol
And still, no magical stats that they can physically see but it makes sense since she did not get isekai-ed inside an otome game or any game for that matter. The opening music Blessing by Aira Yuuki is also now in my favorite reverse harem soundtrack. It also keeps on evoking Hiro no Kakera opening song Nee by Fujita Maiko inside my head. Seinaru kagayaki Abite (Bask in the holy radiance)~
Pretty Boy Detective Club- 12 episodes
Mayumi Dojima is ready to say goodbye to her childhood dream as she turns 14. She meets the Pretty Boy Detective Club, an unlikely bunch of beautiful boys, who will help her to find that one thing that sparked her dream before she bids it farewell. Also check out First Impression.
I imagine this first as a serious story and then afterward the comic reliefs are added. I'm not saying this is how it was written by the author. This is how I compartmentalize this in my head. I love to separate the dual aspects of the story: the wisdom and the humor.
The story is divided into five mysteries. Perhaps I was still in denial when I read the first volume of the light novel (which the only one I read so far) but after finishing the anime I have come to accept the fact that I was not fond of the resolution especially to the star and the casino mysteries. You still would want the resolution to be within bounds of reality and logic which makes detective stories addicting. But then again maybe I've had too much of Hollywood's Sherlock Holmes. The cases were also hinged on Mayumi's gift. The talents of Sakiguchi and Mr. Bare Legs were not used to full potential after the first case which are such as waste. The casino arc is grim and literally gives me the creeps so props for that. The yokai arc is boring but in hindsight it was sweet and so does the painting mystery. These two pull a tug in your heart.
Even though that this is not a reverse harem I love that each boy had a "moment" with Mayumi. Mr. Bare Legs moment was when he saved her. Sakiguchi-senpai's was when he was trying to help her vocalize. Child Genius' moment the most risqué among 'em all. With Mr. Delinquent at first, I thought it was the second hand kiss. But the jealous Mr. Delinquent at the last episode was such a cute moment. His reactions are so priceless! With Leader, it's hard to choose a moment. And my definition of moment implies a romantic delusion but with Manabu I can feel it's platonic but his moments with her are gold and it's hard to choose which one. But he did say 'We love Mayumi' and I'm going to engrave that.
It only dawned on me in the finale... after 11 episodes... of how they use different art and animation styles in each episode. It's a nifty idea that they used this for an anime with a plot that embraced aesthetics and took it to the next level. They saved the best for last too with the recreation of Last Supper and the confrontation between Mayumi and her seatmate. And I hate to say this to Ouran but looks like I found another or maybe an even more aesthetically pleasing uniform there is. And speaking of Ouran, I officially dub Maaya Sakamoto as the gender bender queen with her roles here, in Ouran, and in Fruits Basket.
It's hard to make a comparison between the entire series vs the book since I've only read the first volume. But I love the wordiness of the book. You can read the novel for the writing and watch the anime for the aesthetics. It's a totally two different experiences of their own. Visual overload for the anime and verbosity for the novel. Shoutout again to K from Patreon and Hana and anon from Ko-fi for making the book purchase possible. Please consider pledging or tipping. Thank you!
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Which of the two do you like? Or did you enjoy them both? Saint's Magic and Pretty Boy are at the opposite end of the spectrum. Saint Magic is a very simple anime but you can't deny its pureness while Pretty Boy is super dynamic and fun. I enjoyed Saint Magic except for the end while with Pretty Boy there were parts I didn't enjoy but it ended strong. And having said that, I still want a second season for both.
Purchase titles/ related to the titles mentioned: (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases):
The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent (Light Novel) Vol. 1 https://amzn.to/3hB3S8E
The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent (Light Novel) Vol. 4 https://amzn.to/2SVek2s
The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent (Manga) Vol. 1 https://amzn.to/3AHWGAi
The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent (Manga) Vol. 4 https://amzn.to/3jIWaMl
Pretty Boy Detective Club: The Dark Star that Shines for You Alone (Light Novel) Vol. 1 https://amzn.to/36jwjCJ
Pretty Boy Detective Club: The Pretty Boy in the Attic (Light Novel) Vol. 3 https://amzn.to/3whsBE5
Pretty Boy Detective Club (Manga) Vol. 1 https://amzn.to/36urnLv
Pretty Boy Detective Club (Manga) Vol. 2 https://amzn.to/2SPEMdD
Ouran High School Host Club Box Set (Vol. 1-18) https://amzn.to/36j8Kdi
Ouran High School Host Club - Complete Series (Classic) [Blu-ray] https://amzn.to/3hlkYbo
Hiiro No Kakera: Season 1 [Blu-ray] https://amzn.to/36h25A7
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