Hai to Gensou no Grimgar

Fear, survival, instinct. Thrown into a foreign land with nothing but hazy memories and the knowledge of their name, they can feel only these three emotions resonating deep within their souls. A group of strangers is given no other choice than to accept the only paying job in this game-like world—the role of a soldier in the Reserve Army—and eliminate anything that threatens the peace in their new world, Grimgar.

When all of the stronger candidates together, those left behind must create a party together to survive: Manato, a charismatic leader and priest; Haruhiro, a nervous thief; Yume, a cheerful hunter; Shihoru, a shy mage; Moguzo, a kind warrior; and Ranta, a rowdy dark knight. Despite its resemblance to one, this is no game—there are no redos or respawns; it is kill or be killed.

It is now up to this ragtag group of unlikely fighters to survive together in a world where life and death are separated only by a fine line.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Haruhiro Main

Hosoya, Yoshimasa Japanese

Merry Main

Anzai, Chika Japanese

Yume Main

Komatsu, Mikako Japanese

Manato Main

Shimazaki, Nobunaga Japanese

Ranta Main

Yoshino, Hiroyuki Japanese

Shihoru Main

Terui, Haruka Japanese

Moguzo Main

Ochiai, Fukushi Japanese

Barbara ing

Noto, Mamiko Japanese

Renji ing

Seki, Tomokazu Japanese

Chibi ing

Cook, Justin Producer

Saitou, Masaya Producer

Harada, Naoki Producer

Nakamura, Ryousuke Director, Sound Director, Episode Director, Script, Storyboard, Key Animation, Series Composition

Reviews

May 30, 2025

Rigga

Recommended

I am normally very critical of shows I am reviewing, and I go into depth on the issues the anime faces with production, pacing, artstyle, etc. None of that applies to Hai to Gensou no Grimgar, which has exceeded my expectations in every manner possible.

I usually hold reservations and judgement for after I finish the show, unless it fails in obvious manners, but it was hard to not be excited moving into this show given the reputation it has in the culture. From the execution of its premise to the unflinching brutal reality faced by the characters, this show feels nothing like a conventional story ... / anime. We are taken along for the ride, able to witness how survivors manage to scrounge by, in a manner which I have not seen done this well before.

My only gripe with the show is that the show ends so soon. It feels as if a disservice has been done to the audience by the industry as a whole, since there is currently no news or plans for a second season after 9 long years. Fans of this show are disappointed for good reason -- this show manages to do everything an Isekai should given its focus, and do so with such style, flair, and realism that it remains unparalleled in the genre. I genuinely was devestated when I found out that there was no S2, and there are only a few shows that have dissapointed me in this way before. Let me be clear, this show will hook you in and keep you present for the entire cour, and you will feel just as disappointed afterwards. Definitely a first world problem, but nonetheless it is frustrating beyond belief.

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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May 30, 2025

BigDongDantes

Mixed Feelings

Story – 4/10
Grimgar sets out to portray a more grounded and emotional take on the fantasy genre, but it often feels empty. The pacing is slow, and the worldbuilding is minimal to the point of being confusing. While the premise had potential, most of the episodes feel like mood pieces rather than actual story progression.

Characters – 4/10
The cast is balanced in of RPG roles, but their behavior doesn’t match their supposed training or the danger of their situation. They struggle with even basic coordination in combat, and their reactions to life-or-death encounters often lack intensity or urgency. There’s some growth over time, but it ... takes too long to get anywhere meaningful.

Animation – 6/10
The watercolor backgrounds are beautiful, but the actual animation is limited. Combat lacks impact, and there are too many static shots used in emotional moments. It’s visually pleasant but not very engaging in action scenes.

Sound – 5/10
The music is calming and matches the tone, but it’s often used in place of actual storytelling. Voice acting is decent, but some scenes could’ve used more emotional range to feel authentic.

Enjoyment – 3/10
While the show has an interesting atmosphere and artistic direction, I found it hard to stay invested. The pacing is slow, the emotional beats didn’t land for me, and certain choices (like misplaced fanservice or inconsistent logic) broke immersion. It left me feeling more frustrated than moved.

Overall – 4/10
Grimgar has a strong aesthetic and an interesting concept, but it doesn’t follow through on its potential. If you’re looking for something slow and introspective, it might work for you — but if you want solid storytelling or impactful character development, this might leave you disappointed.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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Jan 10, 2025

kirinamaterasu

Not Recommended

First of all, it's really weak as an anime.
Boring dialogues, meaningless conversations, and poor environment design are all points that discourage you throughout the anime.
But most importantly, the wrong choice of voice actor for the main character. The main character, Haruhiro, is a young boy with an average physique, while the voice chosen for him is a relatively mature voice suitable for young people with a larger physique and older age. This inappropriate choice makes it impossible for you to feel a connection with the main character throughout the anime, and the inconsistency of this voice with the character bothers you.
Perhaps if this were not ... the case and a voice actor suitable for the character's appearance was chosen, it could cover the other weaknesses that I mentioned at the beginning, but unfortunately it was not.
Apart from these issues, the fact that the story had no beginning and end anchor was also annoying. Compared to anime like Sword Art Online and Log Horizon, this anime is really weak, with annoying characters and a boring story.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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