There are many methods stories use to make us feel scared. Dark, shadowy lighting and mismatched colors, sinister soundscapes and creatures of the night, the harrowing knowledge that our hero could be eaten at any moment, they’re perfect for getting a reader ready for some horror. Welcome to Demon School! Iruma has all of these things. It’s one of the most wholesome and delightful shows I’ve seen in recent memory.
If that juxtaposition didn’t clue you in, this is a story that’s anything but standard. Equal parts comedy, drama, action, adventure, and even musical (at times), this “spooky” high school romp is far more engaging than its title might suggest. Brought to life by writer and artist Osamu Nishi, the series has seen more than 400 manga chapters and three anime seasons with a fourth on the way. It initially surprised me that such an odd-ball concept could garner such support, but after experiencing it myself, it all makes sense.
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma is highly experimental, but even more potent. Its world is hilarious yet lovingly crafted, its characters are instantly likable yet full of depth, and I’ve never seen a series fit so many disparate genres together without feeling constrained as a result. It’s fantastic, and while there are a few lingering issues, they never take away from the quality on display. It’s not just good, it’s scary good.
Suzuki Iruma is a boy who can’t say no to anyone. Years of harsh circumstances have pounded him into the ultimate survivor and yes-man, capable of incredible feats in the name of keeping himself safe. However, when his parents suddenly sell him to the Demon Lord Sullivan, this becomes his undoing. Forced into the part of the lord’s darling grandson, Iruma is enrolled at the demon school Babyls, an establishment dedicated to the training of the underworld’s ambitious youths. As the school song states, there is nothing more delicious to a demon than a human. Little do they know, a prime cut is sitting right next to them.
That premise alone is enough for some truly great gags, but it’s only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. The story is full of parody and subversive humor, taking the tropes you’d expect from the setting and flipping them on their head. Instead of math and science, Iruma learns curses, poisons, and torture methods. Social clubs are replaced with competitive “battlers,” and grades with a ranking system that determines the demon hierarchy. With Sullivan as chair of the school board, Iruma gets blatant favoritism, but when he’s trying to avoid being eaten, that only makes things worse.
These off-beat worldbuilding choices not only make for some top-notch humor, but provide a unique tone that elevates the overarching story. The more you learn about this wild and wacky world, the more you understand how its underlying systems work, and later on, even why they work as they do. The underworld stretches far beyond the borders of Babyls, and chances often pop up to see the inner workings of the larger demon society. It strikes a perfect balance of logical consistency, remaining fantastical while grounding itself within its established rules.
And alongside such a vast and creative world comes a vast and creative cast of characters. Despite his upbringing, Iruma himself is a gentle soul that relishes the small joys in life. Of course, this is constantly played for laughs against his literal demon classmates, but the longer it goes on, the more genuinely endearing it becomes. The misfit class he’s placed into is filled with those that display more demonic, but also more human traits than the average student. This means that with proper encouragement, they can be surprisingly caring individuals while maintaining their devilish flair.
There are so many standouts to choose from. Each of the thirteen misfits gets their own chances to shine, from the prideful but loyal Asmodeus to the chaotic gremlin Clara. The authoritative yet emotionally shy Ameri is a heartwarming love interest for Iruma, sporting some of the best gags in the show, and his irritable (distinctly Snape-like) homeroom teacher Kalego is a perfect comedic foil in a world full of eccentric weirdos. Without a doubt, this is one of the best ensemble casts I’ve ever seen, rising to the level of all-time greats like One Piece and Hunter X Hunter.
What really ties them, and by extension the entire story, together is an undeniable sense of sincerity. It may sound absurd in a depiction of literal hell, but there is very little in the way of lies, corruption, or genuine malice among most of these demons. The longer Iruma spends with them, learning their stories and beliefs, the more he realizes the goodness that exists inside each one. It’s almost always sappy and a bit over-the-top, but even that feels like just another facet of the world and tone. Even the darkest soul has a beating heart; a perfect theme for a story like this.
Of course, this sentiment is limited to those Iruma can emotionally touch. There’s a clear struggle between humanity and devilry embodied by the characters, especially when the stakes are high. Sullivan may be a doting, overprotective grandfather most of the time, but beneath that is a clear agenda that’s less morally sound. Iruma may be human, but having been neglected and mistreated for most of his old life, he finds comfort within the “demonic” vices he’d never been able to enjoy before. It’s the type of introspection that’s specifically tailored to this story and setting, and feels genuinely unique as a result.
But when words and hugs can’t win the day, the show shifts into full shounen action. Magic here relies on a system of demonic “bloodline abilities” alongside the power of imagination (yes, really), and it slots in perfectly with the usual comedy and drama. For every straightforward or strategic fight, somebody’s off doing something stupid or silly to liven things up. However, it also never falls into being annoying. Everything this show does ties together in some way, fueling character growth or expanding the world with fun and meaningful additions. A simple game of dodgeball will not only have comedic demon-specific worldbuilding tied to it, but also move the plot forward and elevate a character at the same time. At its best, this is my favorite part of the show, delivering the sort of bombastic emotional payoffs that comedy normally struggles with.
It’s mostly very efficient writing, though sadly, that’s not true 100% of the time. As mentioned, this is a show that attempts a ton of different things, and not all of them work for the better. Tangents are often made to focus on subplots or try out new ideas, and while some (such as the ongoing politics of the netherworld) are great for the overall story, others fail to engage in a meaningful way. As much as I love good music in my shows, dedicating multiple episodes to the underworld’s idol scene probably wasn’t the best idea.
The third season also has some minor pacing issues, with the “Harvest Festival” tournament arc taking just a bit longer than I would have liked. It’s not a major concern, but considering the well-loved manga arc promised for season four, I was genuinely worried that the slower progression would turn viewers away and prevent a renewal. Thankfully, the series core strengths and popularity once again prove me wrong in that regard.
What I’ve said so far mostly applies to both the manga and anime versions of Iruma, but it is worth noting that the two are noticeably different experiences. As an avid fan of animation, voice acting, and music, I’m not usually one to say this, but the anime adaptation doesn’t quite do justice to its source material.
The real problem lies with the series budget and scope. While lighthearted and goofy most of the time, Iruma has tons of moments that require a skilled hand to adapt properly. The action scenes, emotional beats, and plot twists are just as grand as those you’d find in any popular show, but this adaptation doesn’t have the budget to animate them well. If I had to speculate, it’s likely because this series is predominantly a comedy. Comedy simply doesn’t get that large of a budget or scope most of the time, and this adaptation flounders as a result.
Another less prevalent issue lies with the Japanese voice cast. Most do great work in their roles, with special mention going to Ayumu Murase as Iruma and Saori Hayami as Ameri, but an equal number fall into the trap of overperforming. While this is a show that very much demands enthusiastic portrayals, their delivery at high volume can become grating. This can mainly be attributed to the large cast of side characters, but even mainstays like Clara can become annoying after a while. I’ve also not watched the English dub, but considering Iruma sounds like Ash Ketchum in that version, I find it difficult to have confidence.
That all isn’t to say that the anime is bad. It was my entry point into the series, and by the end of the second season I was so invested that I immediately picked up the manga. The visual style is just as colorful and vibrant as the manga implies, further elevating the excellent character designs, and the soundtrack is perfect in its encapsulation of the series spooky and playful tone. Comedic timing is rock solid, and in the few moments they can scrounge together a real budget, the result is exhilarating to behold. This is still a better anime than most you’ll find today, and for those who don’t prefer reading, I highly recommend giving it a watch.
Verdict
If there’s one thing I hope came across in this review, it’s this: Welcome to Demon School! Iruma isn’t the derivative “otherworld school” series it looks like at first glance. It’s not even the well-executed comedy its first episodes might imply. It’s a true, bona fide masterwork that tries ten different things and does them all well. It’s an adventure that isn’t afraid to be bold in its strokes and sincere in its emotions. It may seem overly goofy or sappy at times, but just like Iruma learns through his journey, it’s not afraid to be itself. That’s a trait I hugely respect.
Honestly, it’s difficult for me to review the anime on its own when I’m so familiar with its source material. The original is quite literally my favorite manga releasing today, and a standout story in almost every respect. For this reason, I can’t help but feel slightly disappointed by what the anime does, since even if it’s a decent adaptation, what’s it’s adapting deserves even better. It’s like taking the spices from a Michelin Star chef; it’s still great, but not quite what it could be.
When you put it all together, Welcome to Demon School! Iruma is the best school fantasy story I’ve seen since Harry Potter, and an all-time classic in more genres than one. I was very tempted to rate the manga and anime separately for this, but in the end, my personal tastes and the anime’s limitations balance out to a score that’s both fair and well-reasoned. With an imaginative world, ambitious narrative, stellar comedy, and enough charm to bring love to hell, this is the vice your inner demon has been waiting for.
