Management of a Novice Alchemist: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Management of a Novice Alchemist: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie Review

Management of a Novice Alchemist is a comedy-fantasy adventure with a bold and creative art style. The series features animation produced by Keiichi Ando (Hellsing Ultimate, Full Dive). The series charming animation is produced by studio ENGI (The Detective Is Already Dead, Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs).

The theme music is performed by Aguri Ōnishi (opening) and Nanaka Suwa (ending). Created by Mizuho Itsuki, Management of a Novice Alchemist utilizes the original character art designs by fuumi. Featuring the voices of Kanon Takao, Ami Koshimizu, Hina Kino, Mitsuki Saiga, Nanaka Suwa, and Saori Ōnishi. The production is one that will appeal to fans of the fantasy genre with a slice- of-life element as well.

Sarasa Ford (Kanon Takao) hasn’t had the easiest life. Sarasa grew up an orphan and with being an orphan comes a youth with more challenges. Despite the challenges Sarasa has faced in her life, Sarasa also challenges herself to do better and be better every way she can. Sarasa graduates from the Royal Alchemist Academy. Graduation was the next big step in her pathway to becoming a successful and advanced alchemist.

Dreaming of a life of success and happiness, Sarasa works her way forward to becoming the best alchemist around and her next goal is starting her own personal business – the business being a big gamble for her as she builds her shop. The location isn’t particularly good and obstacles keep presenting themselves in the way. Even so, Sarasa is determined to make her shop become successful as she uses her alchemy and shopkeeping skills to dream big.

The characters on the series are charming and likeable. This is one of the strengths of the series and why it resonates. The lead protagonist is especially likeable and she has a clear ambition and charm for her role in the world of alchemy and the manner in which she sets out to be a good shop owner and to succeed with her goals. With the background of being an orphan, the character is also sympathetic, which makes her all the more likable. The audience will relate to her character and appreciate her own style and sense of determination. This is one of the important essences of the series and why the main character is such a good fit for the production. The character designs by Yōsuke Itō (Holmes of Kyoto, The Detective Is Already Dead) are excellent, too. The design work is terrific for the lead character. Likewise, the designs are excellent for the supporting cast of characters. There is a sense of the designs making a nice impact on the series. The designs are certainly charming and contribute to the genre of the series.

The animation for Management of a Novice Alchemist is excellent and one of the best elements of the entire anime series. The series has such an impressive aesthetic. The animation for Management of a Novice Alchemist was ushered in with the help of art director Kazuhiro Arai (The Boy Who Saw the Wind, Case Closed). The series also features chief animation direction by Chinatsu Kameyama (In Another World With My Smartphone, Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out!), Shinpei Koikawa (AOKANA: Four Rhythm Across the Blue, High School DxD Hero), and Yōsuke Itō (Holmes of Kyoto, Hybrid x Heart Magias Academy Ataraxia).

Not only are those animation experts key to the production, Management of a Novice Alchemist also features key animation contributions by Chinatsu Kameyama (Chain Chronicle: The Light of Haecceitas, Juni Taisen: Zodiac War), Hikari Aonuma (Extreme Hearts, Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: The Fifth Plate), Hiroyuki Takeuchi (Chain Chronicle: The Light of Haecceitas, Food Wars! The Third Plate), Ryūki Hashimoto (Kemono Michi: Rise Up, Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out!), and Yoshiki Masui (Food Wars! The Second Plate, Kokoro Connect). The key animators certainly helped to imbue a lot of personality, style, and creativity into the production. The aesthetic of the series works well and a lot of it is due to the team of animators. The production team understood the process and helped to add some creative sensibilities to the series.

The cinematography by Haruka Serizawa (The Asterisk War: The Academy City on the Water, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable) is rather enjoyable and another highlight of Management of a Novice Alchemist. The cinematography is lush and colorful and is a great fit for showcasing for the fun animation style. The style certainly feels creative and it manages to showcase the sunnier side of the anime realm without overbearing darkness in the cinematic aesthetic.

The score composed by Harumi Fuuki (Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna, Lonely Castle in the Mirror) is a quality aspect of the series, too. The score is enjoyable and finds a nice soothing style to enhance the tone of the series. The music is a nice for a comedy-fantasy with slice-of-life elements. Certainly a good showcase for the talents of composer Fuuki.

Written by Shigeru Murakoshi (The Gymnastics Samurai, Knights of Sidonia: Battle for Planet Nine), Management of a Novice Alchemist is a charming and light anime with a nice sense of charm. This is an entertaining voice and the screenwriter has fun with the dialogue and the style of the series. An impressive effort by Murakoshi.

Directed by Hiroshi Ikehata (Robot Girls Z, Ramen Fighter Miki), Management of a Novice Alchemist is entertaining and will appeal to the target audience. The audience who enjoys slice-of-life anime containing a nice balance of genre elements will appreciate what Management of a Novice Alchemist has to offer. The series is certainly one worth checking out and fans of the fantasy genre will enjoy the charm showcased on Management of a Novice Alchemist.

Management of a Novice Alchemist: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Sentai Filmworks, Management of a Novice Alchemist is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high- definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The presentation features impressive high-definition video quality. The high-definition encode showcases impressive color reproduction and detail. The animation looks lovely on the release and the art looks crisp, bright, and engaging. The animation is simply splendid looking and the crisp visuals help with showcasing the artistry of the animation team. The Blu-ray release provides a solid encode with a worthwhile bit-rate presentation. One of the strengths of the Blu-ray format is that it offers audiences higher bit-rate presentations (with better picture-quality) compared to streaming video services. This is something that will appeal to the most ardent videophiles who are seeking the absolute top-notch video quality obtainable.

Management of a Novice Alchemist: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (with English subtitles). The release preserves the series soundstage and sound direction by Satoshi Motoyama (The Ambition of Oda Nobuna, How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord). The release sounds crisp and clear and there is a lot to appreciate about the audio presentation. Dialogue is well reproduced. The track capably handles the soundtrack and audio effects. The stereo sound design is perfectly enjoyable and will please fans of the series. One of the best things about Blu-ray as a format is the lossless audio encoding. Streaming video services only offer lossy (non lossless) audio quality. For audio purists seeking the best possible quality achievable, Blu-ray provides the right ingredients. Audiophiles will be pleased with the increased bit-rates and better sound clarity provided by the format.

Management of a Novice Alchemist: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Clean Opening Animations (HD, 3:04)

Clean Closing Animation (HD, 1:32)

Shorts:

1 – Full of Dreams (HD, 00:30)

2 – Grand Adventure? (HD, 00:23)

3 – Respect (HD, 00:24)

4 – To Lend Aid… (HD, 00:32)

5 – Feelings of Guilt (HD, 00:37)

6 – Hot Spring Part 1 (HD, 00:26)

7 – Treasure (HD, 00:27)

8 – Shake! (HD, 00:23)

9 – Gatherer's Intuition (HD, 00:29)

10 – Growth! (HD, 00:28)

11 – Hot Spring Part 2 (HD, 00:31)

12 – Strong (HD, 00:26)

13 – My Lady (HD, 00:30)

14 – Turmoil (HD, 00:29)

15 – Welcome Home (HD, 00:28)

Episode Previews (HD, 6:38)

Management of a Novice Alchemist: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Management of a Novice Alchemist is a charming series with a fun lead character and a good concept. The series plays around with the world of alchemy. Fans of fantasy anime series will find it has some cool things to offer audiences. The Blu-ray release provides an excellent high- definition presentation and lossless audio encoding. The release also includes a better-than-expected supplemental package with a selection of shorts. Fans will certainly want to consider adding the release to their collection. Recommended.