That's what Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash or in it's Japanese title, Hai to Gensou no Grimgar, proved wrong, for me at least and to countless others who believed in it too..

Instead, this anime used it's slow pacing and made it as one of it's strong points.

Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash: Characters (from left to right to right) on top - Ranta, Moguzo, Shihoru & Manato. Bottom Row - Yume & Haruhiro

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar, or simply known as Grimgar, is a Winter 2016 anime adaptation based on a light novel of the same name. Grimgar tells a story about a group of young people who woke up in an unknown place, named Grimgar, full of unfamiliar people and inhabited by strange creatures. These people don't know anything about what they were in their past life and don't remember anything except what they were the moment they wake up. Sounds like a typical fantasy story plot? Some people might think so too. I didn't mind. The thing that got me hooked up to click and watch the first episode was it's theme - an RPG story.

I've always liked RPG games, and I especially loved those games that revolve around choosing different classes and leveling up as you earn game money and as soon as I saw Grimgar's promotional poster and saw the character's designs, I became interested!

I started watching Grimgar sometime during the middle of April, a few months since it first aired and I didn't knew anything about it before I started watching it, so I wasn't expecting anything. But I can assure you that I was excited! This is my first time watching an RPG-like anime.

We were greeted instantly with a fight scene! Great! Time to showcase what these young people can do. You can say I was so stoked to see everyone's individual abilities. And yes, it was shown to us... only to discover that these young people aren't dealing much to the enemy. Everyone was struggling to fight a single goblin. It was crafted perfectly to see how much the group exerts effort to accomplish what is known in their world as "a simple thing to do". Through this way, we got to know the group's weak start. Everything was given a thorough consideration to make up that one fight scene well put together: the little-to-no experience the characters had to their weapons and to the way their individual characteristics and personalities are. It tackled realism so well it made me feel the pain, the struggle and the accomplishments they felt.

The anime was put well together. It wasn't rushed - it took it's time well using it's slow paced nature to good use. It didn't display the usual zero to hero character status in an instant which is good as it was so refreshing for me to see. I've seen reviews on it that stated it wasn't right to label it an "adventure/action + fantasy". Rather it was more applicable to call it the "slice of life + fantasy" type for it's genre. I really agree with that statement. There is literally this one episode from it that basically shows it that way wherein for the duration of the whole episode, it only showed the gang taking a break, having fun & relaxing together with the frequent calming shots of the world of Grimgar,

My dear, dear Manato.

Another important thing I can say that I was so impressed to see was the character development! Again, it wasn't rushed. Everyone took their own time and pace to develop which was a beautiful sight to see being a fan of this show, now. It makes them much more real and more easy to connect with to your heart. Character influence and adaption to new surroundings as plot devices for character development were properly used realistically to produce authentic and raw character growth quality.

I can say that because of this impressive character development, I actually felt teary-eyed like I was a proud daddy to them after I watched the last episode of it. These people changed from what they were when I first saw and fell head-over-heels for them *cough* except for Ranta *cough* just kidding.

Aww Ranta, don't get sad.

I must say though that during the first few episodes, Ranta wasn't at all my type of character. If you want to know who's my favorite, that ought to be Manato. But during the 2nd half near the point of the series' ending, I actually became quite impressed at him! There was something during the last few episodes that got me goosebumps! But I won't spoil anything so you better watch the show!

The anime's OST was also awesome if I do say so myself. The opening theme is bright and colorful. The visuals were creatively put together to get a sense of movement added with high tempo music that got me pumped up for the episode ahead. The ending theme is more simple and calming. The opening notes for the ending theme gives you a sense of thoughtfulness, a small opening for you think back on the episode you just watched. "(K)now Name", the creator of Grimgar's OSTs provided awesome songs for it. Both the opening & ending themes are catchy so I do recommend it for you all to listen to it.

My precious people.