Warning: Spoilers for Re:Monster episode 1The debut episode of the new Isekai series Re:Monster on Crunchyroll likely appeals to many viewers for a slew of reasons, but it specifically brings together two major formulas from other Crunchyroll series that made each of these successful: The Unwanted Undead Adventurer and Berserk of Gluttony.
Although not actually an isekai, The Unwanted Undead Adventurer incorporated a unique instance of monster evolution for its once-human protagonist Rentt, who sought ways to evolve so he could appear more human after reincarnating as a skeleton. Ironically, each evolution ended up bringing Rentt closer to looking like his original self, even though he didn’t actually become more human.
Meanwhile, Berserk of Gluttony introduced the power of being able to “devour” the abilities of those slain by the user to its protagonist, who was never transported to another world or even reincarnated into someone else.
Re:Monster‘s Protagonist Can Fully Embrace His New Identity As a Monster
Based on the light novel by writer Kogitsune Kanekiru and illustrator Yamaada
In Re:Monster, the protagonist Tomokui Kanata dies and is reincarnated in another world as a lowly goblin named Gobrou. However, he keeps his main skill from his previous life: to absorb the traits and powers of whatever he eats. Additionally, Gobrou can also evolve into higher life forms once he reaches a certain level of strength. Both these elements are present respectively in Berseker of Gluttony and The Unwanted Undead Adventurer. The difference is that Re:Monster repurposed each of these tropes for use in an actual isekai. Gobrou might be the reincarnation of a human, but he now lives as a goblin in a very different world, since he originally came from a futuristic one, and this new world clearly takes place in a stereotypical fantasy setting.
Gobrou’s goals are very different from Rentt’s in The Unwanted Undead Adventure for that reason. Gobrou doesn’t need to look how he once did, since he doesn’t have access to any semblance of his old life. In that way, Re:Monster is a typical isekai, while The Unwanted Undead Adventure‘s rejection of the trope where the hero gets transported into another world allowed it to introduce the unique dilemma where Rentt wanted to continue working in his previous profession even though it didn’t allow monsters like him to do so.
Re:Monster Explores Just How Close Humans Are to Monsters
Oddly enough, Re:Monster is very much like The Unwanted Undead Adventurer in how it deconstructs the relationship between man and monster. Similar to how Rentt is eventually regarded as being the most human he has ever been after transforming into what is essentially the antithesis of humanity, Kanata finds purpose, friends, and family after being reincarnated as the most sterotypical fantasy monster, a goblin.
Regarding Re:Monster‘s second winning formula, how Re:Monster incorporates the isekai-esque ability from Berserk of Gluttony is actually what sets it apart from most isekai. Usually, the powers that the isekai protagonist possesses in the anime come from the new world that they have been transported to. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, like My Instant Death Ability Is So Overpowered on HIDIVE, and now Re:Monster can join the ranks of those unconventional series.
However, the fact that Gobrou can steal the powers of those he eats because he possessed a similar ability in his previous life actually allows the series to comply with another stereotype. As mentioned earlier, goblins can’t naturally perform such a feat, thus making Gobrou an overpowered protagonist by comparison, just like his counterparts from the genre.
So while Re:Monster is a pretty straightforward isekai, it will likely gain a high number of fans just because of how it takes monster transformations and the gluttony ability from the two heavy-hitters on Crunchyroll The Unwanted Undead Adventurer and Berserk of Gluttony.
Re:Monster is simulcasting on Crunchyroll
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