From White Fox comes a 13 episode anime based on the popular light novels about when the Devil comes to our world... and works at a fast food joint. Sadao/Satan has been vanquished in a great war in his mystical homeworld of Ente Isla, and with his top general Ashiya by his side, flees to modern Tokyo, where he works part time at MgRonald's (geddit) while trying to recover his magic.
Undeniable fluff, 'Part-Timer' still offers a few fun spins on fantasy anime and slice of life stories to make for pleasant viewing. The animation is often lively and colourful, as well as dynamic for the odd action scene, the voice cast are lively, and the characters themselves do share a strong camaraderie which helps carry the show over its weaker elements. They are by and large really likable youths and a lot of fun to be around, especially the dynamic between the dethroned Sadao and his arch enemy, the 'Hero' Emilia, who tries to keep up their archetypical battle and ends up coming off as more petty and savvy than her supposed 'enemy' as they slowly grow closer, whether they want to or not.
From a writing standpoint, 'Part-Timer' is very much your prototypical slapstick wacky anime comedy (complete with the token fanservice friendly cutie of the group, and boy are the creators not shy of milking that...), but they are some neat little twists. Not only are the 'villain' and 'hero' in the same boat and have to adapt to their new, more mundane environment, but the way they apply their fantasy background allows for some fun gags, such as Sadao's leadership and tactics when trying to compete with a rival restaurant, or treating a mere barbecue like some grand village burning. The subversion of the usual good vs. evil is the heart of much of the comedy, as well as the drama as these characters function in society and take onboard new world views and it's handled fairly well. However, depth doesn't extend much beyond that, and there are some other issues: at just 13 episodes, it's a little short for this kind of story, leaving the world of Ente Isla and bigger questions about good and evil largely unexplored in favour of domestic hijinks and pop culture nods. Plus, the show doesn't have much in the way of a grand villain or arc, and when it does come up, it's usually resolved within two episodes and the villains are more comic than threatening, so stakes nearly feel that high. Drama is not the focus, but it does leave the show with less 'meat' than I would like.
Despite those complaints, it still kept me engaged. Its comical and trope-aware mindset helped overcome its lack of innovation or daring, and it has an energy that's tough to resist. Plus, its lack of finality does leave this world open to more exploration compared to most anime, and I certainly won't be against rejoining this lot for a second round!
