It’s a great time to be an anime fan. 2023 was full of great shows, both new and returning. Jujutsu Kaisen returned for an award-winning second season, Demon Slayer reminded fans why they were the best in animation, and One Piece continues to blow us away. And as far as new content, Netflix reminded fans to not count them out when they released Pluto and Zom 100, two of the best new anime. 2024 promises to be an epic year as well.
Re: Monster
- Release Date
- April 5, 2024
- Cast
- Kristian Eros , Takuya Sato , Reshel Mae , Sean Letourneau , Kenta Hosoda
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Studio DEEN
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Of the new anime launching, one of the most highly anticipated has been Re: Monster. There are plenty of anime about a man’s rise from the very bottom to the top, but this new series may just take things to another level. But how can we be sure? Is all that hype worth it? Here’s why we think Re: Monster has been one of the most highly anticipated shows of 2024 so far. Stream Re: Monster on Crunchyroll.
What is Re: Monster About?
The premise of this new anime may appear somewhat familiar to some fans. This is because it’s an Isekai style, which will explained further on. For fans of this anime type, you’re in for something of a treat. Re: Monster follows Tomokui Kanata, a former human who wakes up in a fantastical world after he is murdered in a futuristic city. Death is the end for most. For Kanata, it’s only the beginning. He is no longer a man but a bald, green-skinned, infant goblin. Given the name Gobrou, he’s fortunate enough to retain his memories from his world, granting him higher intelligence than other goblins.
He also has the ability to absorb the traits of the things he eats. With this unique combination, nothing will stop Kanata in this new world, as he thrives far better than he did back home. But that doesn’t mean he’s safe, by any means. This new place is brutal and unforgiving, but full of magic and opportunity. It’ll take all his strength, smarts, and strong stomach if he has any hopes of surviving this action-packed fantasy.
That sounds kind of familiar, right? Based on the light novel and manga series of the same name, this series is basically That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, but with goblins and a lot more weirdness, at least if the anime chooses to adapt the source material closely. Re: Monster premiered on April 4 and already has only one episode out so far. The pilot did a fantastic job setting up our main protagonist, but not as much is known yet about the world. More will be revealed as time goes on, but again, if the series follows the source material, it may not be for the faint of heart.
Why the Hype?
The hype for Re: Monster may have a lot to do with its similarities to That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, as they both follow characters reincarnated in a fantasy world at the very bottom of the totem pole before rising through the ranks to become more powerful. The main characters are also similar in that they can take on the traits of the things they consume. It also has a particular edge to it. It was mentioned that the source material may not be for all audiences, but the manga is considerably tamer. It can be violent and gory, but at a manageable level to where teens can handle it. The light novels were far more gratuitous. Without going into explicit detail, we’ll note that it featured scenes of sexual assault and move on.
Re: Monster is one of the most anticipated anime series of 2024, and it being an isekai also adds to its hype as this genre of anime is very popular. Isekai are anime subgenres that typically see a character dying, and being reborn in an alternate reality and forced to survive their new existence. It follows many tropes, like a powerful protagonist being able to beat just about everyone. It also allows the audience to learn about the world at the same pace as the protagonist, as we will do over time.
Something else to be excited about is the casting. Gobrou (AKA: Tomokui Kanata) is voiced by Takuya Satou of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure fame, where he voiced Caesar Anthonio Zeppeli. Then there’s Ai Kakuma (Miranda, Spy Classroom) as Gobumi, Kana Ueda (Rin Tohsaka, Fate/Zero) as Gobue, and Mai Kanno (Sara Wilson, The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting) as Akagami Short. These are only some of the names, but they have been voiced in some of the most popular anime of the past decade.
A lot of faith is in the cast of a beloved property, and seeing these names on the cast list is sure to put fans at ease. But if Re: Monster isn’t a show fans look forward to after all, there are still plenty of Isekai out there to choose from. But given that this show is still new, keep watching and decide for yourself if it’s worth the hype.
