Hello and welcome to Project Nitsuj. When it comes to isekai anime, authors have had to find different ways to stand out from the pack. For most authors it’s making the MC unique or different. Whether it’s turning them into a vending machine, a sword, a demon lord, a slime and now a skeleton. Oh wait, they’ve done that before. Well let’s do it again! Skeleton Knight in Another World was written by Ennki Hakari. It started off as a novel in 2014 before becoming a light novel in 2015 and then a manga in 2017. Over the years the series would steadily start to build-up a following until it finally got an anime in 2022. Produced by the relatively unknown Studio Kai and Hornets, I decided to check this anime out and see how this skeleton compared to the other skeleton I know and love. Let’s see them bones work. This is Skeleton Knight in Another World.
Opening and Ending Theme
Our opening for this anime is “Aa Waga Roman no Michi Yo” by Pellek. If that name sounds familiar then you might have heard of him. He used to do cover songs of animes on Youtube, so it’s cool to see him finally get a chance to do an opening for an anime. The song has a high level of energy and passion behind it. You can tell Pellek is having fun and the song matches up well with the personality of the MC.
The ending is “Bokura ga Oroka da Nante Dare ga Itta” by Dialogue+. One of my favorite openings from 2022 and the song that introduced me to Dialogue+. The melody is great, the singers are great and has a unique sound that honestly reminds me of anime endings from the 90s.
Episodes 1-4
So the anime begins on a pretty controversial note. A young noble girl named Lauren and her maid Rita are about to raped by a group of bandits (well it won’t take this anime long to get cancelled). Just before the anime can get anymore unsettling, a strange knight by the name of Arc voiced by Tomoaki Maeno (White Blood Cell from Cells At Work) arrives and kills the bandits with one attack (scene here: https://youtu.be/L9ZKS6D8zjQ?si=BpcaBWBaTHBv2APW). We then get a flashback where we find out Arc is just a character in a videogame created by a player from our world. While playing the game late at night he fell asleep and when he woke up he found himself in the body of his avatar. He quickly figures out he’s stuck in the game with very good skills and armor and couldn’t be happier (he’s an OP character in a game he loves. This is like every gamer’s dream). The only downside is he picked the skeleton skin as his avatar which means he’s a walking talking skeleton (he’s basically Brook without the afro. Yohohohohoho). He makes it into a town where the first thing he wants to do is eat (not sure where the food will go. Questions for later) but he has no money so he decides to become a mercenary. In order to become a mercenary he has to bring back the dead bodies of beasts. Arc manages to defeat three beasts and this leads to him coming across the rape scene we saw at the beginning of the episode. Once again we see him save the two (where he sure took his sweet time contemplating what to do before saving them) and then accompany the two back into town. Arc returns to the guild hall with his spoils and gets his mercenary license as well as money. He goes to an inn to rest and celebrate his new life in this fantasy world.
Episode 2 sees Arc take on the request of accompanying a little girl named Marca during herb collecting. We find out that this used to be her father’s job but he died a year ago and her mom does a lot of the work around the house and outside of the house. Wanting to help out, Marca sent a request into the guild (and I don’t think she was expecting someone like Arc to answer her request. It feels beneath him). As the two journey through the forest Arc heals and befriends a squirrel/kitsune that he names Ponta. As they journey further into the forest they run into a basilisk where Arc is able to defeat it (scene here: https://youtu.be/jTQ_flZh17I?si=VFaXW_80moB3VjGp), but he asks Marca not to tell anyone as he wants to maintain a low profile. They return to the village and present them with a wild boar to eat (we grilling tonight) and Arc returns Marca to her mom who was worried about her safety. Later on, we see some knights defeating another basilisk and they discover the one Arc defeated earlier (probably should have disposed of the body).
In episode 3 we start with Arc defeating a group of bandits in a cave and taking their treasure (he’s still the hero right? Because this honestly looks like a bear playing with its food before it eats). After he leaves the cave he gets attacked by Arianne a beauty of an elf voiced by Fairouz Ai (Power from Chainsaw Man) who mistakes him for a bandit (given his personality, maybe). Ariane stops her attack once she sees Ponta who we find out is a spirit creature and highly revered by elves (scene here: https://youtu.be/v_4EZUMzw4s?si=n25mxX1gBoLF0QJW, is it because they’re small and cute?). We find out that Ariane has been on the hunt for slave traders who have been capturing young female elves in the area. While Arc found some cages in the cave, he says that the elves were already gone meaning she’s too late. Arc offers to help her, but she says no as she doesn’t trust humans. The next day, Arc decides to help out and comes across the slave traders by chance deep in the forest. Just when he’s about to save the elves, Ariane attacks first and Arc lends a helping hand (or lariat in this case). They save the elves with Ariane warming up to Arc (scene here: https://youtu.be/bB2Urp7dvmc?si=Yt5q7-fHE8y4CyrS) and even asking him to help her save the other captured elves which have been taken to a nearby village.
Episode 4 starts with Arc and Ariane arriving in Diento where they meet up with another elf named Danko (scene here: https://youtu.be/HztwJ3BLZQ0?si=24IANS6Qjazbv1Ec, so elves are Canadian? Does that mean dwarfs are Dutch?). He tells them where the elves are being held captive and once nighttime rolls around the three enter the slave house to rescue the elves. After sneaking in via teleportation, they find a few dead bodies meaning someone else is also here causing havoc. Arc comes across the other intruder who is an animal ninja girl (Yin-Yang: Hey, that’s my stick). She infiltrated the house looking for something but didn’t find what she was looking for. She does tell Arc where the elves are being held captive, tells him about two more elves being held captive in a mansion, and gives him documented evidence that shows the lord of Diento is behind all these elf kidnappings (so he’s a certified lolicon. Seeing as how all the elves kidnapped our little girls instead of grown women). The ninja takes her leave saying they shall meet again (scene here: https://youtu.be/5QbRt9CyOFY?si=7EYqNhqYLQ5EXInj). Arc tells and shows everyone his discovery, and they rescue the other elves with ease and teleport them to a save location. Danko offers to watch over them while Arc and Ariane go to rescue the two elves in the mansion.
Episodes 5-8
In episode 5 we start where we left off in the previous episode. Arc and Ariane try to sneak into the mansion but are quickly discovered (looks like they need to work on their stealth skills a little more). Despite this small setback they still manage to find and save the captured elves from the noble (scene here: https://youtu.be/vS9VgO4xaOk?si=laMr5OjOAMW9YcFk) and Arc manages to find a hidden room full of treasure (gotta love these hidden rooms. They have the best stuff). He convinces Ariane to take the treasure with him and the two escape along with the elves and corrupted nobles just as the place starts to blow up because of bombs that were most likely placed by the ninja from last episode. With all the elves set free the mission is complete and Ariane thanks Arc for his help (all this treasure says that was the best mission ever). Ariane says there are other elves that have been captured throughout the area and she would like his help in saving them. She says she’ll grant him access to the elf lands as a reward. Arc is hesitant to help as this would mean he would have to show his face, but once Ariane swears that she will never attack him no matter what he looks like he reveals his true face to her (he’s bald. AHHHHHHHHHHH~). Sure enough she’s shocked by what she sees but can sense no evil coming from him (possibly perverted, but nothing evil). Arc makes up the story that he was cursed, and Ariane says there’s a good chance the elders can help him break it (scene here: https://youtu.be/wYl-5s5xG70?si=0Hs3c_HVSMJ8VLzH). Thus the two become partners and head out for the elf lands. The second half starts in the capital of Rohen where Diento is located. The king and his children have heard about the attack on the noble and his illegal dealings. They’re now going to investigate to see if it’s true and if it is their kingdom is in violation of the treaty they set up between the elves and could have serious consequences on their trade with them. Back with Arc and Ariane, the two are making their way to Lalatoya’s elf settlement where they reach it by the end of the episode.
So episode 6 sees Arc gain access into the elf settlement (it only took him half a day) and meet the elder Dillan and his wife, Glenys (Baron: MILF alert) who just happen to be Ariane’s parents (woah, Ariane’s been holding out on us). Ariane already filled them in on Arc’s condition (he’s bald~) and they’re totally okay with it. After telling them about the lord of Diento being the head figure in the slave smuggling and having the papers to prove it, Dillan gets ready to report this discovery to the council of elders tomorrow with Ariane joining him. The next day while Dillan and Ariane are off playing politics, Glenys shows Arc around the village and spars with him (scene here: https://youtu.be/verK972BC1Q?si=-iI7NhW6IWNZEemF). At the meeting we see that the council is kind of split on the matter at hand. Some want to go to war and others want to bring this news to the king. The one thing they all agree is that they need to continue searching and freeing captured elves in the area. After the meeting we get to meet Eevin the older sister of Ariane (again, she’s been holding out on us). Once she returns she walks in on Arc taking a bath (making it all the sadder he’s missing the one bone that matters the most). After that awkward (yet funny) event, Dillan officially hires Arc to investigate the names present on the documents and free any of their captured kin. As a reward for his help, Dillan talks about a spring in the Lord Crown which is said to break any curse and could return Arc to his human form. Arc gladly agrees to help and that night he starts to believe that he might in fact be cursed. He decides to test this theory out by using his uncurse skill on his arm and sure enough it changes to an arm with skin meaning he is cursed to some degree.
In episode 7 Arc and Ariane head out for Olav the capital of the Rhoden Kingdom to find the people listed in the trafficking papers. The trip is mostly uneventful as is the rest of the episode until Arc comes across Yuriarna the princess of the Rhoden Kingdom who was attacked and killed by some brigands. Arc fights off the brigands and manages to revive her, her maid as well as her soldiers who continue on their quest investigating the elf trafficking. As the episode ends the two make it to Olav where they run into the animal-girl ninja once again.
Episode 8 starts with Arc introducing Ariane to Chiyome the animal-girl ninja. Much like they’re on a quest to free any elves that have been captured by humans, Chiyome is on a quest to save her fellow beastpeople who have also been sold into slavery by humans (geez, this kingdom is just pissing off everyone). Chiyome requests Arc’s help in freeing her people in exchange for information, but he’s currently employed by Ariane and can’t just go off and accept another mission. Ariane agrees to help her and the three head to the Etzat Market the largest slave market in the capital. After this not much happens. We do learn that Chiyome’s clan of ninjas was found by real ninjas from our world who were transported here through mysterious circumstances. That night, Arc and another beastman named Goemon attack the market and cause a distraction while Ariane and Chiyome sneak in (scene here: https://youtu.be/_lIUSQEaSR4?si=1ovCZHH6FnuzaZhb).
Episodes 9-12
In episode 9 Arc and Goemon’s distraction works perfectly and allows Chiyome and Ariane to free the beastpeople safely. They even return to give the dead a proper Jedi funeral (may the furry be with you). We see that the mastermind behind this whole slave trafficking is Dakares the second prince of Rhoden Kingdom and Yuriarna’s brother who tried to kill her (wow, you are just the embodiment of assholery aren’t you?). Once he finds out his slave markets have been destroyed his advisor Cetrion kills him as he was in league with Sekt the first prince and brother of Yuriarna and Dakares. Sekt always knew Dakares was behind the slave trafficking and wanted to take him out to cease the throne. We also find out that he also tried to assassinate Yuriarna (wow, her siblings suck). With Yuriarna now MIA, Sekt plans to pin her death on Dakares and use their deaths to ascend the throne. The next day comes and before Arc and Ariane leave, Chiyome tells them that the elves were taken to the Holy Revlon Empire in the east with their emperor, Domitianus the true conductor behind everything. We also see that Yuriarna arrive in the duchy of Limbult where she reunites with her older sister (finally, a sibling who’s not an asshole). Her sister tells her everything about what has happened in Rhoden and she decides to use her death to her advantage.
Arc and Ariane travel to the Holy Revlon Empire in episode 10. In order to get there, they have to cross through a desert where we see Ariane is trying to keep a low profile because unlike in Rhoden, capturing elves isn’t illegal which means she could be kidnapped and nobody would bat an eye (that’s sad). They get approached by another elf named Carcy who gets along quite well with the humans in the town they’re in which Ariane finds puzzling (humans and elves living together. Mass hysteria). Carcy works as a biologist and wants their help in studying some animals that are too dangerous for him to approach alone. In return, he offers them a map of Revlon and a book detailing all the creatures he’s studied so far (knowledge is just as valuable as money). Arc and Ariane accept the request, and they agree to head out tomorrow. That night, Ariane and Arc drink where we see Ariane gets hammered quite easily and causes quite the racket (not to worry. Nothing sexual can happen seeing as how our knight is missing the bone that matters the most in this situation. Still, that won’t stop people from making their own assumptions. Scene here: https://youtu.be/SUtgqEuyElw?si=kHQ_TXgVsN05LyXz). The next morning, they head out with Carcy and his friend to find a sandworm which is the creature he wants to study. They manage to find one (it just popped out of nowhere) and Arc manages to subdue the creature allowing Carcy and the others to capture it. As they leave Carcy tells Ariane how he truly does believe a time will come when elves and humans will co-exist together which Ariane is hesitant to accept as her relationship with humans has been anything but stellar (despite forming a good friendship with Arc, but he’s an exception).
In episode 11 Arc and Ariane make it to Kaysehk the border town of the empire. In order to keep a low profile, they split up and see what they can find about the missing elves. While Arc doesn’t fine any information about the elves he does learn about strange screams coming from a fortress at night, monsters appearing in the area, and people mysteriously vanishing at night (nothing but a bunch of side missions). After Arc saves a prostitute from some shady guys we get to see the yandere side of Ariane come to light (scene here: https://youtu.be/276pk7JwRmI?si=GcfhlR1ajQIYb3U9, never took her for the jealous type). They then head to the fortress where the screams have been occurring as apparently elves were brought to the place months ago. They sneak in and come across a monster tamer (or sorcerer) named Fumba who is working for the emperor. He managed to trap Ariane in an illusion and she starts attacking Arc (no doubt this is payback from earlier). Arc casts dispel on her, but it doesn’t seem to be working until Ponta exposes the true culprit behind the spell, an imp. The imp was hiding inside Ariane’s cloak and casting a spell on her. Arc destroys the imp which causes Ariane to fall unconscious and then focuses his attention on Fumba who reveals that the elves were used in experiments or as food for his monsters (scene here: https://youtu.be/QinTzluPf08?si=aYnIuNnOTUSTlmrC, well you just made a big mistake). He summons his army of monsters where Arc starts slaying them all and even receives help from Chiyome and her clan who protect Ariane and clear out the area for Arc. However, Fumba summons his strongest monster yet, a hydra to fight.
In the final episode Arc and Chiyome take direct hits from the hydra. Fumba thinks they’re dead, but they survived thanks to Arc. The hydra then makes its way to the town where it plans to destroy and eat everyone. Ariane regains consciousness (she is mad) and wants to make Fumba pay for everything he’s done. While Ariane and Chiyome search for Fumba, Arc goes to fight hydra. With the help of his summoned beast, Arc is able to destroy the hydra (swinging it around like Mario in Super Mario 64) and Ariane kills Fumba in a satisfying way (scene here: https://youtu.be/5HG2Ah7eWaw?si=3ygRQopwbpav4nD4). After the battle, they receive a message from Danka saying that Yuriarna made contact with one of the elven elders. She takes full responsibility for what happened to the elves and vows to find any who are still missing. She also asks for their backing in the battle for the throne so that Revlon’s methods and teachings don’t spread further and should Revlon invade elven territory then the Rhoden Kingdom will come to their aid. With this matter resolved, Ariane gets taken off the mission to help in the search and turns her attention to helping return Arc to normal. Meanwhile, we see Revlon and the heirs of Rhoden get ready to play their own mini version of Game of Thrones.
Final Thoughts
This series was decent. It started off a little slow and mediocre but started to get interesting by the third or fourth episode. The search and rescue of the elves allows us to explore the world and the political battle going on in Rhoden along with the threat of Rhoden, which also adds a layer of intrigue into how the actions of the characters are affecting the world around them. One big driving force behind this series is the characters. Arc is just a lovable guy. He’s like the yin to Ains’s yang. He’s OP, but he has a good personality to go along with it. Something a lot of OP characters are missing. Despite being OP he’s pretty humble, easy-going, wants to help others, and loves the sense of adventure this world has to offer. Just like we’re interested in this world, so too is Arc and he exemplifies our passion and excitement for it. I also liked Ariane. They don’t just make her a pretty face who’s just there to fall in love with Arc. She’s strong and can hold her own in a fight. She also deals with her own problems, such as her prejudice against humans, which I like and understand. While she’s not necessarily against elves and humans living in harmony, it’s just something that feels so far off with everything going on that she has her reservations about it and never thought she would see it happening in her lifetime. I’m curious to see if they’ll continue to explore this in the future. Ponta was cute, and every time she was on screen, she stole the show. She’s like Grogu from Star Wars, just having them there and being cute is all you need to get them over.
Sadly, while the story and characters are good, the animation leaves much to be desired. It’s not awful but it just doesn’t match up to the level of energy and excitement the characters are giving off. As a result, the fight scenes don’t feel that special. The best comparison I can give is One Punch Man S2 and S3. You know the story is good, but the animation just isn’t up to the standards of the manga and the whole anime suffers because of it. The music is decent and even though the fantasy world isn’t anything special or new from other fantasy worlds we’ve seen, I do like that they take the time to explore it and its citizens.
Final Score
The final score for Skeleton Knight in Another World is a 5/10. A decent but enjoyable fantasy series with good characters and a story to go along with it. I know this series has quite the following and I’d be lying if I said the anime didn’t get me interested in it as well, so hopefully the second season will pull me in with better animation. Until then, thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time on Project Nitsuj.
