Kyûjitsu no Warumono-san

While lighthearted slice-of-life shows are plentiful, it's getting harder to tell them apart, especially with relaxing series like Yuru Camp. But this winter, I have the perfect show for unwinding: Mr. Villain's Day Off by Yuu Morikawa.

Tired of the daily grind? What about the neverending battle between good and evil? Mr. Villain, also known as Warumono-san, feels your pain. Leading an evil space organization, he disrupts peace on Earth only to be foiled by everyday heroes - think Power Rangers! But all Warumono wants is a quiet life to pursue his true passions. These passions? Pandas! He's utterly obsessed with these adorable black and white creatures.

Not even the heroes can stop Warumono's "evil" deeds on his days off. These include searching for pandas, finding panda-themed snacks, and simply relaxing - all well-deserved villainous behavior!

Shintarou Asanuma's voice acting breathes life into Warumono, even if it doesn't quite match his villainous image. Warumono might seem like a stereotypical bad guy at first, but he's actually a complex character with a surprisingly good heart. He's both impressed by humans and weirdly threatened by cuddly pandas. This bizarre mix leads him to experience a strange form of enlightenment ("Nirvana") and vow revenge...by seeking more panda snacks! He leaves the dirty work to his loyal assistant, Rooney. The heroes, the Rangers, are equally quirky. Akatsuki Red, the caring leader, has a terrible sense of direction. Green consists of twins, Mugi and Sora. Shinonome Pink is the only girl on the all-male team. Finally, Yoiyami Black, the team's founder, remains shrouded in mystery.

The production of the anime is fairly standard. Shin-Ei Animation and SynergySP collaborate to create the show with a minimalist yet polished style. The true star of the show's chill atmosphere ("Iyashikei") is the music. The soundtrack is incredibly calming, and so are the theme songs (although there seems to be some disagreement about that). The opening by Ivudot is like taking a peaceful walk through a park at night. Glasgow's ending song is a cheerful contrast, offering a hopeful outlook. Some viewers might argue that the opening doesn't feel like a typical opening theme, but it perfectly complements the show's laid-back tone and source material.

Even the most determined heroes and villains need a break. Mr. Villain's Day Off perfectly captures this idea by showing a villain who just wants to relax on his day off. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to the zoo to see some pandas! Their fluffy cuteness and carefree lounging are exactly what I need right now.

It is all about enjoying cute aspects of life. Enjoying every day, no stress, no worries, watch a panda and relax.

The pace, the cuteness, the humor, i grew very fond of this anime. It would really relax me at the end of a difficult day and i truly miss it!

The characters are funny and special, different from the usual anime prototypes, the author ia taking its time in presenting them but makes a very good work in doing so!

I understand some people might dislike them because they don't seem to have a usual plot, action, pace, but that is exactly why they are charming

They are very different and their purpose seems to be pure enjoyment and relaxation, no adrenaline hype.

This made me smile the whole time. It just so sweet how he discovers the joy of everyday things.

I found myself laughing our loud at some parts and then cooing with cuteness and then just thinking about human existence. It made me want to appreciate those little everyday activities we some times don't think about.

This is not about a great fantasy created world, this is literally so lighthearted and easy to watch but that's what makes it valuable. The idea is in itself, to appreciate those little things: how we discover new things, the delicious food we ate, petting fluffy animals, caring about your neighbor.

This anime series is centred on a general in an evil syndicate that intends to take over the world. This enemies are a group of costumed rangers who defend the Earth. He isn't battling them all the time, even he needs days off and when he isn't at work he likes nothing more than eating ice cream or going to the zoo to see the pandas!

I thought this series was rather fun. We see enough of our protagonist's work to understand just who he is and what his job entails. This makes the things he does on his day off seem all the more amusing; one doesn't imagine 'evil' people doing cute things. The story provides plenty of laughs and the characters are fun; both our protagonist and his co-workers and their rivals. The character designs and animation are pretty good. Overall I'd say this is just the thing if you want something light and amusing that plays with genre expectations.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.