That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Review: Season 1

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime isn’t the first isekai to take the wholesomeness angle, but it does commit much harder than other shows are willing to. The protagonist will take the diplomatic route whenever possible, but that doesn’t stop them from fighting if needed. This balanced mix between social and combat progress allows for richer character development. Even the side characters have their own supporting arcs that make you feel invested in their lives. Everyone loves and respects the protagonist, which enables them to bring different races together and cooperate as they attempt to build up their small goblin village into the capital city of the Jura Tempest Federation.

The art style matches the aesthetic of the characters and story line; it’s clean, lighthearted, and vibrant. Even the spookier, moonlit or lantern-lit scenes remain pleasing, while also conveying the vibe they’re going for. The fight scenes are animated very well, but they also spent time animating the more impactful non-fight scenes as well – reinforcing the balance.

Music is often underrated in anime, but it adds a lot to this show. Most of the songs are in a major key to help accentuate the upbeat wholesome angle. The songs enhance the current vibe and are never overpowering or dissonant. Similar themes have the same song to immediately signal what’s taking place.

If there’s one downside to That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, it’s the off balance pacing at times. The first and last few episodes are a little slow when compared to the rest of the season. The duration of some scenes doesn’t match their significance, but every slower scene or episode was followed up with something exciting and important. If they keep following this pattern, the beginning of Season 2 will be something you don’t want to miss.