Log off from the daily grind and tune into the boundless virtual world of ‘BOFURI’ with Maple.
There are many reasons to watch anime. Whether for their endearing characters, breath-taking animation or detailed and rich worlds, it’s a medium of entertainment with a multiverse of fictional possibilities.
BOFURI: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt So I’ll Max Out My Defence, though is a mouthful, has all of these in spades. An isekai-adjacent anime, BOFURI is a refreshing gem that delightfully pokes fun at the genre with a lot of hilariousness and heart.
BOFURI began as a light novel written by Yuumikan and illustrated by Koin. It was later adapted into a serialised manga in the seinen manga magazine Comp Ace with art by Jiro Oimoto, since May 2018.
The anime adaptation produced by Silver Link aired in 2020 and its second season aired early this year.
From its endearingly dense protagonist to the over-the-top game world and battle animations, BOFURI is a gleeful surprise that keeps you hooked from the moment you press play.
A VIRTUAL WONDERLAND
Though its genre has been contested, BOFURI, like many isekai animes follows the story of teenage protagonist Maple and her adventures in a new virtual reality MMORPG called New World Online.
Not exactly ‘in another world’ as the genre’s origins suggest, as the characters are literally playing an online game, however BOFURI’s gaming world is still lush and extensive.
The anime does not dawdle, within the first 10 minutes of the first episode, we see Maple having to decide a starting equipment to use. “Does this mean if I raise my defence, I won’t take any damage?” the protagonist quipped as she chose a great shield and invests all her status points to defence.
For all intents and purposes, BOFURI feels more like an RPG-themed comedy however, the depth of its in-universe lore, though often utilised for comedic beats, had a lot of thought put into it and it adds colour to this already vibrant adventure.
It’s a familiar world filled with the usual suspects of weapon wielders and magic users, but made foolhardy with Maple, who without any assault capabilities – due to a general lack of experience in video games – brute forces her way into game achievements and player tier lists.
Unlike other isekai protagonists, Maple is not forging a path of glory, she simply wants to explore everything New World Online has to offer; she just, doesn’t want to get hurt.
This mantra, though innocent causes a series of comical situations, where traditional conventions of gaming are radically exploited to overpowered proportions leading to both ridiculousness and laughter.
HEARTWARMING BONDS
At the heart of BOFURI are its endearing characters, who are led by our unassuming Maple. Throughout her journey, she gathers a cast of companions to join her guild, with eccentricities to rival her own.
From her best friend and partner in crime Sally, a veteran gamer who adopts a swashbuckler class character with high agility and evasion to compensate for Maple’s lack of anything but defence to an adorable turtle named Syrup with the ability to grow gargantuan and fly, the guild members in BOFURI are quirky to say the least.
The relationships formed however is heart-warming as the camaraderie that develops among these characters are genuine. It’s a rose-tinted view of how guilds should be, where members are invested in each other’s growth and strength.
Each setback and victory in BOFURI feels significant and rewarding, and with Maple’s overpowered hijinks, each battle will leave you pumped up and starry eyed.
A KALEIDOSCOPE
Visually, BOFURI is a feast for the eyes, embracing vibrant colours and dynamic action sequences capturing the essence of the game world’s fantastical nature. From Maple’s bewildering defence strategies to the spellbinding magic battles, every frame oozes is a burst of colour and energy.
It’s portrayal of the in-game mechanics is definitely one of the highlights of the anime, as Maple inadvertently pushes the limits of what is possible within the game through her sheer naiveté.
The animation style adapts to reflect the surreal nature of Maple’s actions and it clearly pays tribute to the popular genre anime that precedes it.
Whether she’s blitzing through the screen in a series of flashes after transforming into a fully-weaponised mecha suit or enveloped in darkness while metamorphosing into an eldritch monster that could level mountains, BOFURI never fails to add new layers of fun and strangeness.
BOFURI: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defence is a delightful romp that takes the isekai genre to hysterical new heights.
Its inventive setting, charming characters, and captivating animation is mindless fun and bound to leave a smile on your face.
This anime is a must-watch for its ability to surprise, amuse, and inspire a sense of wonder in the limitless possibilities of virtual adventure. So, gear up, join Maple and her friends, and prepare to dive headfirst into a world where the only limits are the ones you choose to break. – Wardi Wasil
