Review of "The Executioner": A story of a girl torn between life and death

A comprehensive review and recommendation of The Executioner's Way of Life - The Virgin Road of the Executioner

■Overview of the work

"The Executioner's Way of Life" is a TV anime series based on a light novel by Masato Sato. A total of 12 episodes were broadcast from April 2 to June 18, 2022, and were available on TV stations such as TOKYO MX, BS11, and AT-X. It was also distributed on many online streaming services such as ABEMA, d Anime Store, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video, and was enjoyed by a wide range of viewers. This work is the story of Menou, an "executioner" girl who executes "lost people" from another world, and Akari, a lost girl whom she is about to execute. Menou sets out on a journey to Garm's Cathedral to ensure that Akari is executed, but on the journey, a change comes to Menou's own heart.

■ Story

The "Lost Ones" once came from Japan and brought great disasters to the world. Because they brought about disasters that could destroy the world in the past, they were designated as "taboo" and had to be executed in secret. One day, Menou, an "executioner" who makes a living by executing "Lost Ones," meets a Japanese girl named Akari. Menou tries to carry out her mission as usual, but fails due to Akari's "certain ability." In order to ensure Akari's execution, Menou takes her to the Cathedral of Garm, where there is a ritual site that can destroy any otherworlders. Something began to change inside Menou as she saw Akari enjoying the journey, unaware that she was traveling to be killed. This is the story of her trying to kill her.

■ Characters

The charm of this work lies in the characters, who are full of individuality. The main character, Menou, is an excellent user of magic and has a strong sense of responsibility for her mission. Her calmness and strength leave a deep impression on the viewers. On the other hand, Akari has a friendly personality and is somewhat carefree, but her unconscious abilities have a great impact on the story. Momo, Menou's junior, is deeply in love with Menou and is a genius at fighting, but the gap between her and her weakness in scripture magic is fascinating. In addition, Princess Ashna of the Grizarica Kingdom attracts viewers with her warlike personality, who loves the strong and the beautiful, and has absolute confidence in her body and strength that she has trained herself. Other characters such as Mitsuki, Flare, Orwell, Manon, Pandemonium, and Sicilia enrich the story.

■Worldview

The world of "The Executioner's Way of Life" is an alternate world fantasy, but it depicts a realistic social structure and historical background. The "Lost Ones" who wandered in from Japan once brought great disaster to this world, wielding the terrible power of pure concepts. The "First Estate (Faust)" to which Agate and her friends belong is a dark side that secretly deals with taboos such as the Lost Ones, and they wear priestly robes and carry "scriptures" that are also a medium for activating magic. In addition, the climate and culture of each region, such as the Kingdom of Grizarica, the ancient capital of Garm, and the port city of Liberl, are depicted in detail, drawing viewers into the world. Furthermore, abilities and technologies such as orbal power, magic, and pure concepts add excitement to the story, allowing you to experience the true pleasure of an alternate world fantasy.

■Animation and direction

JCSTAFF, the animation production company, has provided beautiful images with attention to detail, including character movements, facial expressions, and background depictions. In particular, Menou's battle scenes and Akari's ability activation scenes are visually very appealing and draw the viewer in. Director Yoshiki Kawasaki also skillfully directs the story development and character emotions, allowing viewers to empathize with Menou and Akari's journey. Series composition director Yasukawa Shogo has maximized the appeal of the original work while adding original elements for the anime to create a story that will keep viewers interested.

■Music

The opening theme, "Paper Bouquet," is sung by Mili, and its catchy melody and lyrics enhance the atmosphere of the work. The song highlights the talents of Cassie Wei and Yamato Kasai, who wrote the lyrics and composed the music. The ending theme, "Light Serenade," is sung by ChouCho, and her beautiful voice will soothe the hearts of viewers. The sensibility of ChouCho, who wrote the lyrics and composed the music, makes this a song that further deepens the moving story. Additionally, the background music by Michiru also stirs emotions as the story unfolds, drawing the viewer into the world of the story.

■ Evaluation and recommendation

Even within the genre of fantasy set in another world, "The Executioner's Way of Life" is a work that focuses on character growth and changes in human relationships. The relationship between Menou and Akari and the changes in Menou's heart are carefully depicted, drawing viewers into the drama. The beautiful animation and music also enhance the appeal of the work. This is a work that I would highly recommend to anyone who likes fantasy set in another world and stories of character growth. Furthermore, the original light novel is also very interesting, so you can enjoy an even deeper worldview by reading the original after watching the anime.

Related information

This work has been adapted not only into an original light novel, but also into a manga. The original light novel is "Shogakushojo no Ikiru Michi" (published by SB Creative) by Sato Masato, and the original character designs are by Niritz. The manga version faithfully follows the story of the original while developing the story from a unique perspective, which is also very interesting. In addition, the latest information and fan art are posted on the official SNS accounts and official website, allowing you to enjoy the world of the work even more.

■How to watch

"The Executioner's Way of Life" was broadcast on TV stations such as TOKYO MX, BS11, and AT-X. It can also be viewed on online streaming services such as ABEMA, d Anime Store, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, U-NEXT, Animehodai, GYAO!, FOD, Bandai Channel, TELASA, J:COM On Demand, au Smart Pass Premium, milplus, Hikari TV, Google Play, Niconico Channel, Video Market, music.jp, DMM.com, GYAO! Store, Niconico Live Broadcast, Manga UP!, Furatto Video, HAPPY! Video, and Movie Full Plus. There are a wide variety of ways to watch, so you can enjoy it according to your lifestyle.

Conclusion

"The Executioner's Way of Life" is a fantasy set in another world that focuses on character growth and changes in human relationships. The relationship between Agate and Akari and the changes in Agate's heart are carefully depicted, drawing viewers into the drama. The beautiful animation and music also enhance the appeal of the work. This is a work that I would definitely recommend to those who like fantasy set in another world and stories of character growth. In addition, the original light novel and manga versions are also very interesting, so you can enjoy an even deeper world view by reading the original after watching the anime. There are many ways to watch it, so you can enjoy it according to your lifestyle. Please watch this work and empathize with and be moved by the journey of Agate and Akari.