Underdog stories take a special place in many people’s hearts, as they often depict the unfairness of real life. But in anime, we can label this as oversaturated, since most underdog anime take place in a fantasy isekai setting, and the MC gets so overpowered that they can resolve any issue with a click of the finger.

Most of them are handled poorly with the basic cookie-cutter format, without any compelling narrative put into it. Even so, some manage to stand out — just like these two we’re about to get into — thanks to a few aspects that make them just likable enough.

I Parry Everything

Here’s a show that doesn’t pull any punches. Noor, the MC, was deemed talentless in his younger days when he set out to be an adventurer. Turns out, he does have a talent that no one foresaw: the ability to parry everything. On top of that, he never stopped training a day in his life, making him the master of all tricks. Call it magic, hand-to-hand combat, speed, resistance to poison — almost anything is within his grasp.

Although, Noor seems to be oblivious to his own abilities and how everyone around him perceives him. He spent most of his life in seclusion, living in the wild and getting by on his own. He’s still a kid inside and misunderstands many interactions with others, often mistaking enemies for innocent bystanders. It’s hilarious — and the strongest point of this anime.

Amongst all the anime in summer this year, I found it to be pretty entertaining. It’s kind of like One Punch Man, except that Saitama knows his strength but doesn’t feel any emotion during fights, whereas Noor constantly doubts himself. So he gives his all in every fight — whether it’s against an ancient dragon or an entire imperial army.

The plot is pretty generic. It doesn’t have an overarching story or goal for any character to aim for. The MC is just as oblivious to the world he’s in as we are. Things start to happen out of nowhere, and he gets tangled up in all that. It has lighthearted comedy and somewhat cool fights (let’s face it, it’s just parrying everything). It’s worth a watch for fantasy anime enjoyers.

Wistoria Wand and Sword

As implied by the title, Wistoria: Wand and Sword combines the aspects of magic and sword fighting, with the twist that anything other than magic is considered inferior. The story is set in a world built on discrimination. The nobles who practice magic are held in high regard, whereas the rest of the population is kicked around, looked down on, and oppressed by those nobles. The nobles, as per usual, are drunk on power, fame, and status — leading them to do all sorts of mischief as they please, putting them in contrast with the MC, Will Serfort.

Will is a magicless fellow who entered a school of magic. It’s basically like Black Clover and Mashle, but it has its own charm. The magic system is simplified (like no one wouldn’t notice the characters’ hair color and tell what type of magic they use). The animation is of high quality, with well-choreographed fight scenes, some cool magic, and accompanying epic music. It’s rare to see an anime going this hard from the get-go and putting effort into every fight scene. With gorgeous visuals and exhilarating fights, this is another anime worth watching.

The plot isn’t something to write home about. It’s just another evil, discriminatory society where good-hearted people — and the MC — are putting up a fight to make a difference. The villains are simpleminded, irredeemable jerks who have nothing else going on in their miserable lives but to annoy everyone (see this post for details). They have no real ambition other than keeping face in public with their fragile egos — and we’re just waiting for them to get their faces smashed.

Afterthought

Despite having simple and somewhat predictable plots, these two anime are enjoyable for what they offer: well-made fights with gorgeous visuals, set in a well-built world. Besides that, they manage to develop some characters and include a few comedic moments as well. If you’re looking for some decent fantasy anime, then these are your picks.

Anyways, thank you for reading ♡. More Anime Reviews here if you are interested. Here’re our pricks for spring 2025 anime. Join with the community on our Discord server & Telegram chat. Check out our YouTube channel for extra content. Take care.