Summary
AtelierPontdarc has a big task on their plate with just their third project, bringing life toNot Allowed in Another World. Thedark comedy/fantasy isekai serieswill be adapted from Mangaka’s Hiroshi Noda manga of the same name, which covers the story of Sensey and his cast of heroes on their journey through ten volumes. Starting in October 2019, Noda’s third story becomes the second to receive an anime adaptation, following in the footsteps ofLove After World Domination.
The first season ofNot Allowed in Another Worldis expected to cover the first two dozen chapters of the manga, highlighting Sensei’s introduction and involvement in the main story’s plot, along with the friends he makes along the way, and the difficulties he faces at each corner. Unlike other isekai of the same nature,Not Allowed in Another Worldwill welcome an audience to a main protagonist that doesn’t want to be there, and a cast of warriors that continue to fight for him to live another day. Whether he is thankful or spiteful towards their aid is another story.
Sensei Breaks The Mold Of Typical Protagonists
A Reluctant Hero With No Will To Live
Sensei is just an average, simple man who is down on his luck and wishes to meet his end. A failed novelist with no future in sight, Sensei and his soulmate, Satchan, agree to perform a double suicide by tying each other’s wrists together and standing in the middle of a road. As a master of literature who continues to avoid success with his work, Sensei agrees to the pact made by Satchan, and the two are struck by an incoming vehicle. While most people who meet such a fate would reach their demise, Sensei couldn’t be any more unlucky under these circumstances.
For a character who wishes for nothing more than to draw his last breath, Sensei sure knows how to find failure. Awakened in a church by an elf priestess, Sensei meets Annette, who is tasked with welcoming new adventurers to the continent of Zauberberg. The audience learns ofa world shrouded in darkness and chaos, where powerful monsters roam at every turn, and those who have met their end in another life are transported to this new world to become a hero. Sensei was struck by a truck, which is explained to him that this truck is what transported him to this new world, and thus begins his new life as an otherworld adventurer.
The juxtaposition in Sensei’s case is that he is not a willing combatant. Hoping to succeed with his suicide, Sensei is now tasked with becoming powerful enough to save a world enslaved by powerful creatures, all while keeping himself alive long enough to fulfill his duty. Playing out like a true video game, Sensei is assigned a divine power and skills, and can gain experience by performing tasks and fighting off monsters. The question remains whether he wishes to complete these assignments bestowed upon him, or if it’s more appealing to walk out into an open field and welcome any monster strong enough to end him.
A Cast Of Powerful Characters Support Sensey
Upon his arrival in Zauberberg, Sensei’s re-telling of his past life and failures with becoming an author and leading a happy life is what captivates Annette. The elf priestess' main objective in Zauberberg is towelcome new adventurers into the world, explain their fate, and wish them well on their way to saving the world. In Sensei’s case, he wishes only to end his own life and cast away any responsibility, which awakens something in Annette. Sensei is the one she was looking to meet all this time, and his intellectual level and pure but drastic wisdom leads Annette to follow him on his adventure.
The hilarity of the situation only gets worse for Sensei as he continues to find new ways to die, only to be thwarted by another unlikely hero. His introduction to Matilda, a cat-like human, thrusts Sensei into combat, where his only wish is to join Matilda in her struggles and die alongside her. Unfortunately for him, Sensei’s hidden ability leads to his unfortunate victory over the first monster he battles, saving Matilda at the same time. As a result of his actions, Sensei meets another companion who joins his party, creating a more versatile troop while improving Sensei’s odds of living.
Throughout their adventures, Sensei, Annette, and Matilda run into different troubles and tasks, fighting as a collective unit to overcome the drastic difference in power. Though Matilda is a martial arts expert with a tenacious attitude, and Annette is the white mage of the party, Sensei doesn’t offer much in terms of power or willingness to enter combat. In fact, the only time he seems to be interested in fighting is when the opponent appears to be powerful enough to kill him. Unfortunately for Sensei, the latent power inside of him is what keeps him alive, despite appearing as harmful to his existence.
The Other-World Saviors Aren’t As They Seem
The Power Balance Leads To Major Struggles
The main idea forNot Allowed in Another Worldis that other-world saviors are transported to this new world upon their death, given powers, and are required to save everyone. While this should be a simple, black-and-white story, those with great power are not always interested in responsibility. Instead, some adventurers choose to abuse their powers and take advantage of a world in need of their help. This is whereNot Allowed in Another Worldturns the isekai story upside down, forcing the audience to learn the harsh reality that those on the side of good don’t always have the best intentions.
Sensei, Annette, and Matilda are not only up against some of the most powerful monsters in the world, but also against those who were originally believed to be the saviors of this new world. With Sensei’s reluctance to be included in each fight, it will be a wonder just how helpful he will be when a new threat looms. Fortunately for his party, Sensei has a special power that will help with dealing with the monsters that try to kill them and the traitor adventurers who oppose them.
