Wistoria: Wand and Sword anime review: The next masterpiece from Tatsuya Yoshihara after Black Clover?

Wistoria: Wand and Sword anime review (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)
Wistoria: Wand and Sword anime review (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)

Based on author Fujino Omori and illustrator Toshi Aoi's shonen manga, Wistoria: Wand and Sword anime concluded its 12-episode run on September 29, 2024. Produced by Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures, the anime assembled some of the biggest names from the industry as staff, with Tatsuya Yoshihara at the helm.

As a director, Yoshihara-san is noted for his incredible contributions to Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and Black Clover anime. Therefore, the anticipation surrounding Wistoria: Wand and Sword anime was immense ahead of its premiere. As was expected, the production studio and its staff members didn't let the anime fall from the hype ride.

With stunning visuals and animations, the joint production studio surpassed fans' expectations and transformed a generic or cliched narrative into something beautiful. It's as if director Tatsuya Yoshihara incorporated his learnings from Black Clover into the adaptation, and elevated it tenfold. Yet, despite the comparison, Wistoria: Wand and Sword has already achieved its own identity.

Disclaimer: This article contains potential spoilers from Wistoria: Wand and Sword anime.


Wistoria: Wand and Sword review: Exploring Tatsuya Yoshihara and other staff members' vision for the series

Elevation of the generic narrative with stunning animation

Will Serfort, as seen in the anime (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)
Will Serfort, as seen in the anime (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)

The anime community has already been exposed to the Black Clover school of series, where a protagonist beat all odds stacked against them to reach their goal. In Yuki Tabata's series, Asta doesn't have magic and is ridiculed by his peers (except his friends). However, he gains an unfathomable power to change others' perspectives toward him and perhaps the world.

Likewise, Hajime Komoto's Mashle: Magic and Muscles follows Mash Burnedead, whose lack of magic is seen as an abnormality in a world governed by the same. However, he exercises his raw strength to show everyone that his muscles can beat magic.

Wistoria: Wand and Sword anime follow a similar formula. Protagonist Will Serfort lacks magical abilities and thus gets absconded by his peers. He receives insulting nicknames, such as "No Talent" or "Flunkee," because of his incapability to cast magic. Yet, the boy's excellent sword skills change everyone's perception around him and keep his dream to climb the Towers alive.

Will looks at the Tower (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)
Will looks at the Tower (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)

Therefore, comparisons to Black Clover, Mashle, and other series that follow the same format, were bound to hurt Wistoria: Wand and Sword anime adaptation's chances of success. Yet, Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures, producers, and the staff helmed by Tatsuya Yoshihara knew how to elevate the cliched formula and turn it into something memorable.

With proper and consistently good animation, Wistoria: Wand and Sword anime reached the pinnacle of success and emerged as one of the hit titles from the Summer 2024 anime line-up. The anime proved how a cliched formula can offer sound entertainment if the series gets backed by top-notch production.

Tatsuya Yoshihara learned from his past mistakes in Black Clover as the director and ensured not to repeat those in the anime adaptation of Fujino Omori and Toshi Aoi's manga. While the animation quality of an anime project depends on multiple factors such as the number of animators, time, and planning, direction is also key to a show's succession.

Will Serfort defeats an Evil Sentinel (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)
Will Serfort defeats an Evil Sentinel (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)

From the onset, Tatsuya Yoshihara showcased his mastery as the director, ensuring every frame kept the manga's essence. At the same time, Tatsuya-san utilized the anime's impressive animators to elevate certain moments from the manga.

It was a challenge to do justice to Will Serfort's battles in the dungeon. However, the excellent episode composition, storyboard, and animation skills highlighted those moments, providing a fascinating experience to the viewers. Aside from Tatsuya Yoshihara, the anime features Hideaki Nakano, one of the brilliant animators in the industry, and Morihito Abe, who provided their input in storyboards.

Julius in the anime (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)
Julius in the anime (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)

Likewise, Ayataka Tanemura, Masashi Ikeda, Itsuki Tsuchigami, and others chipped in with storyboards for different episodes in the anime. Under the helm of Tatsuya Yoshiara, the production team handled those storyboards and created enthralling episodes every week. Besides them, Sayaka Ono's contribution as the chief animation director and character designer deserves a mention

The star-studded staff at the joint production of Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures studios reimagined Fujino Omori and Toshi Aoi's manga to create a fabulous visual spectacle. The studio first hooked fans with Will Serfort's battle against the evil sentinel in the dungeon in the first episode, and then dropped an even better second episode, showcasing his unyielding resolve against Professor Edward Serfence.

Will Serfort's Wis (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)
Will Serfort's Wis (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)

By this point, the studio made it clear that Wistoria: Wand and Sword anime would be arguably one of the best anime of Summer 2024 in terms of animation. However, fans still had doubts over the narrative, as it felt generic. While it's not the fault of the producers/staff members, they had one job to do: Elevate the narrative.

Rightly so, they did it with eye-popping animation. Wistoria: Wand and Sword anime truly garnered fame once it entered the Grand Magic Festival Arc's adaptation. Will Serfort's magnificent effort at the Crown Attack competition was met with surreal animation and episode direction. The episode truly outdid the manga, with stunning additions and visionary brilliance by the staff.

Will Serfort takes a test (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)
Will Serfort takes a test (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)

The animation quality reached its culminating point in the Dungeon Attack Arc. Episode 11 was the turning point of Wistoria: Wand and Sword, not only the anime but the franchise in general. The episode's production quality brought in numerous fans, who appreciated not only the visual appeal but the narrative.

In some ways, the visuals complimented the narrative, enriching it for the audience. Will Serfort's Ignis Wis has become one of the most iconic scenes from the anime, given how impactful it was. While the final episode didn't have major scope for such belligerent animation, it nonetheless remained true to the manga, providing an excellent finish to the season.


Wistoria: Wand and Sword anime review: The impact of the anime original scenes

Colette, as seen in the anime (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)
Colette, as seen in the anime (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)

One of the most prominent highlights of the Wistoria: Wand and Sword anime was the dexterous usage of the anime's original sequences. Those scenes didn't let the anime become unapologetically reliant on visuals and animation quality alone. Rather, those scenes added to the lore and enriched the characters & their motives.

For instance, the anime original scene featuring Colette and a student in the second episode, while Will Serfort was in the Dungeon, contributed to her affection for the boy. She knew Will loved Elfaria, and she could never replace the girl. Yet, she admired Will and had feelings of affection for him.

Likewise, ahead of the Grand Magic Festival, there was an extended anime original scene, where Colette and Will Serfort discovered a hidden room. Upon entering, they found several students gambling on the expected winners for the Festival's games.

Sion Ulster in the anime (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)
Sion Ulster in the anime (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)

The scene also featured Sion Ulster, who revealed how much he looked forward to proving himself in front of everyone. Undoubtedly, that original scene offered something to every character. For example, the scene alone hyped up Julius, Wignall, and Lihanna, as the three strongest students of the Rigarden Academy.

Besides these scenes, the Wistoria: Wand and Sword anime featured many other anime original bits to enrich the narrative. Yet, the series deviated from adding those original sequences from episode 7 onwards, only to return in the final episode.

The finale's anime original scene was perhaps the most important to the series, as it served as a round-up to the Dungeon Attack Arc, something Fujino Omori missed adding in the manga. The scene featured Lihanna's party at the Rigarden Academy's infirmary, recovering from the injuries they sustained at the Dungeon.

The infirmary scene in episode 12 (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)
The infirmary scene in episode 12 (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)

They recalled their nightmares and discussed Will Serfort's unique powers. Additionally, the scene gave fans interesting details about Finn, one of the most mysterious characters in the series.

Besides the infirmary scene, the finale also showcased another scene, where Will Serfort's fast recovery and resolve to push on rubbed off on Sion. Even though he was injured, Sion practiced his magic skills with Will. These anime original scenes added layers of complexity to the narrative and offered a beautiful experience to the audience.


Wistoria: Wand and Sword anime review: Sound and voice acting

Elfaria, as seen in the anime (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)
Elfaria, as seen in the anime (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)

Sublime animation alone can't make a series great; it needs impressive background music as well. Luckily, Wistoria: Wand and Sword had Yuki Hayashi, one of the best music composers in the anime industry, noted for his contributions to famous titles, such as My Hero Academia, Haikyuu!!, Death Parade, and others.

Background OSTs of Wistoria: Wand and Sword anime truly elevated the viewing experience, with enthralling animation. Whether it was Will Serfort's battle against Julius or his Ignis Wis scene in the penultimate episode of the season, background OST heightened the show's appeal.

Colette and Rosty (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)
Colette and Rosty (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)

Likewise, the theme songs were equally impressive in this anime. The opening theme, Fire and Fear by PENGUIN RESEARCH, set the tone of the series, while the ending song, Frozen by TRUE brought calmness to every episode. Both songs contained the show's essence. While the first one embodied Will Serfort's Will, the second one was all about Elfaria's affection for WIll.

Besides the music composition and the theme songs, the production was enriched by the voice actors, who did a phenomenal job of portraying the characters. Kohei Amasaki, known for voicing Otto Suwen in Re: Zero did a fabulous job as Will Serfort's VA. Likewise, Elfaria's VA, Akira Sekine, embodied the character well. Other voice actors too had notable contributions to the anime.


Conclusion

Will Serfort dreams to climb the Tower (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)
Will Serfort dreams to climb the Tower (Image via Actas and Bandai Namco Pictures)

Wistoria: Wand and Sword anime was an experience marked by visual splendor. The anime exceeded every expectation, with outstanding production quality. Tatsuya Yoshihara's direction brought dividends to the anime, as the show surpassed its source material.

Yoshihara, who has worked as the director of Black Clover anime, ensured the anime adaptation of Fujino Omori and Toshi Aoi's manga received the same applause, if not more. The esteemed director rectified certain directorial mistakes from the previous series, such as setting the proper storyboards, and ensured the titular series wouldn't follow them.

Undoubtedly, the production team's combined collaboration has turned Wistoria: Wand and Sword anime into a masterpiece, following in the footsteps of Black Clover.


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