No Longer Allowed in Another World episode 4 review: AtelierPontdarc nails the adaptation with Osamu Dazai's iconic moment

Under the production of AtelierPontdarc, No Longer Allowed in Another World episode 4 was released on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. The episode, titled Don't Kill Yourself, saw Osamu Dazai demonstrate his special skill to send Suzuki back to his own world. Interestingly, Sensei was completely oblivious to his powers, which added a comic element to the scene.

No Longer Allowed in Another World episode 4 raised the bar for AtelierPontdarc in terms of animation and production quality. While the episode still had some jittery elements, it was inarguably the best episode of this series thus far from a critical standpoint.

Whether it was the animation, exposition, or voice acting, AtelierPontdarc truly elevated the source material. The episode grandly showcased Osamu Dazai's unique skill, which seemed to activate against Other Worlders, thus suggesting his actual purpose in the foreign land.

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No Longer Allowed in Another World episode 4 review: Focusing on Osamu Dazai's skill, Suzuki, and other narrative points

On the surface level, No Longer Allowed in Another World episode 4 was perhaps the most entertaining episode of the series after the grand premiere. The major highlight of the episode was Osamu Dazai, who obliviously showcased his special skill to send Suzuki back to his original world.

From a production perspective, No Longer Allowed in Another World episode 4 was a sheer visual spectacle. AtelierPontdarc vividly captured the iconic moments from Hiroshi Noda's manga series and brought them to life in animated form.

Whether it was Suzuki turning Annette into one of his pets or Osamu Dazai dropping the "title" in the most elegant manner, every element heightened the appeal of the episode.

Osamu Dazai uses his skill in the episode (Image via AtelierPontdarc)

However, that's not all. From a narrative perspective, No Longer Allowed in Another World episode 4 truly sets the series' tone, revealing that the Other Worlders can become villains. In this respect, the narrative deviates from the traditional Isekai norms, where an adventurer summoned from the Earth is supposed to assume the role of a hero.

No Longer Allowed in Another World episode 4 established that heroic responsibilities aren't easy to shoulder. Those with weak will can often succumb to a detrimental path of no return. They can never become a hero or a villain, but get stuck in limbo. Suzuki's character exemplified these aspects.

Suzuki, as seen in the original world (Image via AtelierPontdarc)

No Longer Allowed in Another World episode 4 revealed that Suzuki had often been bullied by his peers before he was summoned to Zauberberg. Even though he was timid, he found a new purpose in a foreign land. He demonstrated his unique skill to subjugate "pets" to defeat strong opponents.

However, gradually he realized that the other world wasn't that different from the one he was originally from. The disconcerting look of the natives made him recall a similar experience. As a result, he went wayward, unable to focus on his original purpose of conquering the darkness and guiding the people of the Zauberberg to light.

Suzuki unleashes ferocious beasts (Image AtelierPontdarc)

Instead, he sought to become a subjugator, who would rule over everyone to hide his insecurities. However, Osamu Dazai shattered his delusional beliefs in No Longer Allowed in Another World episode 4.

The literary genius wanted to write a masterpiece on Suzuki, narrating the tale of a man who fell from glory after gaining more power than he deserved. Dazai thwarted Suzuki's plans and eventually had him narrate his tragic backstory.

After learning about the Other Worlder's past, Dazai felt the most fitting title for the tale would be "No Longer Allowed in Another World." The literary genius figured Suzuki was neither a hero nor a villain simply because of his weakness.

Osamu Dazai, as seen in the episode (Image via AtelierPontdarc)

What followed after truly surprised Ysha, Annette, and even Suzuki. The pages of Sensei's (Osamu Dazai) novel glowed and surrounded Suzuki to open a portal. Ysha figured it was the same portal that was used to bring the Other Worlders. Sensei's skill transported Suzuki back to his original world.

Undoubtedly, AtelierPontdarc deserves appreciation for elevating the scene from the manga, with wonderful production. Whether it was the background OST or the animation, everything contributed to enhancing the appeal of the scene. Additionally, the sequence suggested that Sensei's actual purpose in Zauberberg might be to fight the Other Worlders.

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No Longer Allowed in Another World episode 4 review: Evaluating AtelierPontdarc's production, adaptation, and voice acting

Without a doubt, AtelierPontdarc hit it out of the park when it came to animating the episode. No Longer Allowed in Another World episode 4 covered the remaining pages of chapter 6 and adapted chapters 7-8 from Hiroshi Noda's manga. As a result, the studio didn't have to rush through the events.

The staff skillfully storyboarded the episode, ensuring the events didn't feel out of place. Most importantly, the episode faithfully adapted the manga. However, one could say that No Longer Allowed in Another World episode 4 could have included some more anime original moments.

That said, the pacing felt perfect for the episode, which centered around Osamu Dazai and Suzuki. In some scenarios, the animation might have been jittery (such as the scenes in the town of Vale), but overall, the animation was way better than the previous installment.

Osamu Dazai, Annette, and Tama (Image via AtelierPontdarc)

Coming to voice acting, Hiroshi Kamiya's dynamic performance as Osamu Dazai was one of the highlights. The seiyuu (voice actor) brought alive the character of Sensei. Especially, the scene where Dazai uses his skill and leaves his concluding remarks for Suzuki deserves appreciation.

Yoshitsugu Matsuoka has also done a fabulous job as Kotaro. Similarly, Nobuhiko Okamoto has done justice to Suzuki. Ysha's voice actor, Mai Nakahara, has also performed well in the episode. As such, the voice actors continued their impressive performance.

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Conclusion

Osamu Dazai rests in a coffin (Image via AtelierPontdarc)

When it seemed the series would go down a spiral, No Longer Allowed in Another World episode 4 helped retain the series its status as one of the underrated gems of Summer 2024 anime.

The episode showcased AtelierPontdarc's brilliant production prowess, as the studio vividly adapted the events from Hiroshi Noda's Isekai fantasy manga series. It remains to be seen whether the esteemed studio can keep up the sound animation for the rest of the episodes.

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