What we already know: “Sasaki to Pī-chan” is a series of light novels written by Buncololi, with illustrations by Kantoku. Originally, the series began as a web novel on user-generated novel sites such as Kakuyomu and Shōsetsuka ni Narō on December 4, 2018. It was later published under Media Factory‘s MF Bunko J label on January 25, 2021, and has released six volumes to date.
In January 2021, its manga adaptation was published in Kadokawa Shoten‘s online magazine Shōnen Ace Plus, illustrated by Pureji Osho, and has been compiled into two tankōbon volumes so far. Both the light novel and manga have English versions (by Yen Press), which is great for us, of course.
The Anime
What excites us this time is its imminent release as an anime. The project is produced by Silver Link, directed by Mirai Minato (BOFURI, Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya, Masamune-kun no Revenge), with scripts written and supervised by the well-known Deko Akao, and character design by the talented Saori Nakashiki (The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated!, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable).
The voice actors for the main characters, as known to date, include:
- Tomokazu Sugita as Sasaki
- Aoi Yūki as Pī-chan
- Rie Takahashi as Hoshizaki
- Akari Kitō as Otonari-san
- The Monotonous Life of Sasaki
From Monotony to the Adventure of a Lifetime
Our dear Sasaki is a middle-aged office worker, living a slightly fun but extremely monotonous life, leaving him tired and unsatisfied at the end of each day. Unsure how to change this, and seeking companionship to fill the daily void, he decides to visit a pet store, not imagining that his life is about to change radically forever. After some deliberation, he chooses an adorable bird and takes it home.
To his surprise, his new companion is not just a simple bird, but actually a powerful and wise wizard from another world, who grants Sasaki supernatural powers and the ability to travel between worlds. Our protagonist only thinks of using these new powers to live comfortably and peacefully, but, as expected, he soon meets some sinister and colorful characters who stand in the way of his desired tranquility.
Personally, I think it’s quite original in a market accustomed to stories told by children or adolescents, always from an extremely youthful viewpoint, with the situations and concerns that come with it, many typical of the protagonists’ age. Receiving a work narrated from the perspective of a middle-aged man, possibly over 30, fully immersed in the system, a daily life of office work, mundane tasks, and common struggles in a busy world, whose technological advances often overwhelm many generations, especially the older ones. Sasaki could be me, or you, or anyone you know, male or female, living in this same world, in your reality or mine. For many, perhaps including myself, it might be easier to identify with characters that could very well be us. And of course, the present factor of magic and the ability to travel to other worlds or realities is an important plus, which could also symbolize that “change” we often need when caught in monotony.
Without a doubt, “Sasaki to Pī-chan” is an anime I eagerly await, and as we know, we won’t have to wait too long, as it will be with us in just a few days!
What do you think? Could you identify with the story of this comedy-tinged anime? Please be yourself, and share your thoughts about “Sasaki to Pī-chan” in the comments. We’ll be reading! 🙂
Images Source: KADOKAWAanime Official YouTube Channel, YouTube
