English Dub Season Review: Wistoria: Wand and Sword Season One

Overview (Spoilers Below):

In a world where magic reigns, Will Serfort (Corey Wilder) can’t cast a spell.  Though hardworking, Will’s classmates think less of him for it.  However, he has a secret strength: his sword.  Can Will defy expectations with muscle over magic and blade over wand?

Our Take:

Wistoria: Wand and Sword is an anime adaptation of a Japanese manga series written by Fujino Ōmori and illustrated by Toshi Aoi.  It was written and directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara and produced by Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures.  Sayaka Ono handled the character designs, and Yuki Hayashi composed the music.  The opening theme song, “Fire and Fear,” is performed by Penguin Research, and the ending theme song, “Frozen,” is performed by True.  

About a year ago, I was introduced to an anime that involves a muscular man surviving a magic academy with only his muscles.  That anime was Mashle: Magic and Muscles, a fantasy comedy that parodies the fantasy magic tropes we’re familiar with and is another example of a fun OP protagonist storyline.  While we await Mash’s return via a sequel, another magic academy series appears to be taking the pages from Mashle, including its title pattern.  However, instead of a muscular mushroom-headed protagonist surviving the academy, this series has a student defying the odds with his swordsmanship skills.

I’m not joking.  Wistoria: Wand and Sword seemed to be equivalent to Mashle on paper.  In addition to the titles being familiar, the shows both have magic-less protagonists relying on their seemingly ordinary skills to make a difference in a world reliant on magic to survive.  I would quickly call it out as a rip-off, but, under further inspection, my doubts have been thrown out the window.    While similar regarding the concept alone, Wistoria has enough differences to deviate from Mashle, including its tone.  This show has more of a fantasy action adventure element than Mashle, which was elevated by its light-hearted parody vibes.  Additionally, its protagonist, Will, uses his sword and knowledge of magic and dungeons to exceed people’s low expectations instead of his own body.  Regarding his physical appearance, I don’t exactly see Will as a bodybuilder.  Finally, the series started with Will already in his sixth year at Rigarden Magical Academy instead of having him as a first-year student like most magic academy anime.

Those differences help Wistoria: Wand and Sword provide some tolerable merits in the genre, even though its formula lingers in its familiarity.  This is primarily the case in its first few episodes, where they offer plenty of elements that I usually expect from other Magic Academy anime.  One example is Will Serfort, the series’s protagonist.  In addition to his magic-less skills and vast knowledge, Will also strives to graduate from the academy to reunite with his childhood friend, the Magia Vander Elfaria Albis Serfort (Kelsey Cruz).  I could name plenty of other anime protagonists who share those pursuits, but I don’t want to waste my time with that.  Fortunately, Will has enough likable traits to overshadow his familiar ones.  While flawed in specific ways, Will’s generosity and perseverance push him through those who doubted or bullied him.  Those traits were suitably portrayed by Corey Wilder’s vocal performance, which balances gentleness with benevolence and vulnerability.

As for the supporting characters, I enjoyed only a few of them the most, including Colette Loire (Corey Pettit).  Colette is one of Will’s only friends who accepts him for his magic-less talents and seemingly has a crush on him.  In other words, she’s one of the characters with the most common sense in the scenario regarding her supportive and occasionally humorous personality.  The others, on the other hand, mainly Will’s tormentors, were the opposite, but not in a good way.  Sion Ulster (Brandon Acosta) has a fiery personality similar to Bakugo from My Hero Academia, in which he bullies Will for his lack of magic to the point of having a one-sided rivalry with him.  Unfortunately, instead of being someone I love to hate, Sion is one of the characters whose first impressions make me wish they’d just shut the hell up and get over it already.  The reason behind his hatred in “Between Pride and Passion” was understandable, but Sion’s fire was just too big for me to withstand.  Also, do not get me started with Julius Reinberg (Aaron Michael) and his racism against dwarves.  

However, upon reaching the show’s second half, its narrative started to improve for the better.  Its flaws were still present throughout the remaining season, but they’re not as bothersome as they were in the first half.  One reason is the animation produced by Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures.  Regarding the dramatic scenes, the art style illuminates the vibrancy and textures of the genre’s fantasy elements and character designs.  However, the show’s action sequences are when the animation truly shines.  It’s no groundbreaking achievement, but I’m genuinely surprised at the effort put into the style and immersion when the characters are in battle mode.  One of the best examples of this presentation is the seventh episode, “Twelve Secret Ice Magics, El Glace Frosse”, where Will battles Julius during the Grand Magic Festival.  Regarding its framework and textures, the animation emphasizes the immersion and liveliness of the episode’s fantasy action in an enticing way, whether through Will’s swordsman skills or Julius’s ice magic.

Overall, Wistoria: Wand and Sword is a surprisingly decent combination of skill and magic whose visual finesse compensates for its familiarity.  During the first few episodes, I was concerned that I would be constantly reminded of the other anime it took notes of, including Mashle.  However, I started to turn around for the better when I reached the second half of season one.  I wouldn’t be quick to call it a masterpiece in the genre since it has plenty to improve in its just-announced second season, especially the supporting characters.  Still, it’s a suitable start that benefits from its English dub voice cast, likable protagonist, and surprisingly solid animation.  It’s enough for me to recommend it to those who enjoy anime involving a magic-less protagonist, and it even got me intrigued with its direction for the upcoming season two.