Farming Life in Another World (2023)

[異世界のんびり農家]

Director: Ryoichi Kuraya
Studio: Zero-G
Starring: Atsushi Abe, Shino Shimoji, Aya Suzaki
Episodes: 12

Synopsis:
A man who dies under unfortunate circumstances is given a second chance at life in another world, where he seeks to become a farmer with the help of a divine artifact.

Impressions:
If nothing else, I appreciate this series for actually sticking to its premise, unlike some other series that will be left unnamed. The main character wants to farm and, by God, that's what he does. Some people have called this the Minecraft anime and it certainly gives a similar vibe. There is other stuff going on in the wider world, but little of it affects the main character beyond expanding his massive harem. Speaking of the harem, this version of the story plays coy about the amount of action our protagonist gets, which is a bone of contention with some fans of the original source (though even there it's pretty tame as I understand it). Some of the haremettes stand out more than others, but there are no particularly strong personalities, in keeping with the rather chill tone of the story. The comedy might give you a bit of a chuckle, but it's not played up too much. Comparisons have also been made to the early stages of Tensura, when Rimiru was first establishing Tempest, so if that sort of thing appeals to you, there you go. If you're looking for some relaxed viewing, this isn't a bad choice, but the absence of any truly compelling characters or conflict will probably just leave it coming off as dull to many viewers, which is why I can't give a stronger recommendation. Take it or leave it.

Rating:
50/50