If you judge Farming Life in Another World purely by its title, you already know what kind of ride this is. According to Anime News Network’s review, season one delivers exactly what it promises: a relaxed fantasy built around farming, food, cute monster girls, and a lead character who is far more capable than he needs to be.
The setup is classic isekai. Hiraku dies after suffering from a terminal illness, then gets another chance in a new world after meeting a god who feels responsible for how badly his first life went. Hiraku asks for a peaceful farming life, only to get dropped into the middle of the Forest of Death, which sits inside the Demon Lord’s territory. That sounds dangerous on paper, but this series is far more interested in comfort than survival drama.
Hiraku quickly gets help from a magical farming tool that can transform into whatever he needs, whether that is a hoe, an axe, or a watering can. Instead of being crushed by the harsh setting, he steadily turns the place into a growing village. Along the way, he gathers wolves, a giant spider, and then an expanding community that includes vampires, angels, elves, dragons, dwarves, beastmen, and more.
That village-building side is where the show seems to land best. ANN’s review points out that the first half of the season is the stronger stretch, because watching Hiraku slowly build up his home gives the series a clear sense of momentum. It is light slice-of-life material, but at least there is a satisfying loop to it: plant, build, cook, recruit, repeat.
And yes, the food matters. A lot. The review highlights the anime’s cooking angle as one of its real strengths, with episode six’s naan getting a specific shoutout. For a Malaysia and SEA audience, that part is easy to understand. Fantasy anime that leans into food usually travels well here, especially when the appeal is less about plot twists and more about pure comfort viewing after work, class, or a long gaming session.
The review also compares the series to Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill, another 2023 fantasy title with a similarly easygoing vibe. The key difference is that Hiraku is much more overpowered, and he stays rooted in one place instead of wandering around. That gives Farming Life in Another World a bit more focus, but it also exposes one of its biggest weaknesses.
For all the characters filling up Hiraku’s village, the review argues that very few of those relationships feel especially strong. The supporting cast often comes across more like background decoration than fully realised companions. Lu, the vampire girl, gets mentioned as one of the more noticeable characters, but even she does not leave a huge impression once the initial gimmick wears off.
That lack of chemistry becomes a bigger issue in the second half. Once the village is mostly established and Hiraku becomes its mayor, the series shifts into smaller events and recurring jokes. The Demon Kingdom starts seeing the village as a possible threat, but their attempts to interfere mostly turn into the same joke again and again: Hiraku’s supposedly gentle residents are actually terrifyingly powerful. It is meant to be funny, and sometimes it works, but the repetition sounds like it can wear thin.
Even so, the review does not come away negative overall. The animation and character art are described as serviceable rather than standout, with some flatter-looking faces, but that is not treated as a deal-breaker. This is not a prestige fantasy production. It is a “turn your brain off” anime, and ANN’s view is that it works reasonably well on that level, especially as a binge.
One extra plus: the English dub apparently has a particularly good joke in episode eight, during a beer conversation between Hiraku and a dwarf. ANN singles that moment out as worth experiencing without spoiling it.
For Malaysian and SEA anime fans, the takeaway is pretty straightforward. If you like low-stakes isekai, comfy settlement-building, and food-heavy fantasy with barely any pressure, this sounds like a decent weekend watch. If you need sharp character writing or a story that keeps evolving, this probably will not be the one.
Source: Anime News Network