The Winter 2026 anime season is a busy one, heralding the return of heavy hitters like Jujutsu Kaisen and Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, while also welcoming plenty of unique newcomers into the fold. With impressive animation and a gripping story to boot, Sentenced to Be a Hero has already become a fan favorite just one month into the new year, with Shiboyugi: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table and Jack-of-All-Trades, Party of None also pulling in impressive viewer counts and high reviews.
One fresh series has largely flown under the radar since its debut on January 7, but fans of fantasy RPGs may not want to miss out, despite the controversy it is slowly beginning to prompt online.
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An Adventurer's Daily Grind at Age 29 largely gives away its premise in its title, though many fans were somewhat blindsided after tuning in to Episode 1 on Crunchyroll. While fanservice and somewhat lewd themes can (and often will) arise when least expected, the way the adventure fantasy series approaches these common aspects of anime culture has rubbed some the wrong way. Despite this, those who often return to classic RPGs would be remiss not to give it a try, though they run the risk of hitting the same wall. How the series will evolve over its run remains to be seen, and there is hope in the community that it will be able to win back those it alienated early on.
The following will contain spoilers for the first episode of An Adventurer’s Daily Grind at Age 29.
An Adventurer’s Daily Grind at Age 29 Blends Ample Comedy With Standard Fantasy RPG Tropes
Inspired by Ippei Nara's ongoing manga series, An Adventurer's Daily Grind at Age 29 tells the chaotic story of Hajime Shinonome, a powerful adventurer living in the small village of Komai. His history of poverty and struggle has made him extremely thankful for his current job and ability to put food on the table. While working his way through a dungeon one day, he comes upon a small girl named Rirui, who is only seconds away from being devoured by a slime monster. Hajime comes to find out that the girl is an orphan after heroically coming to her rescue, and feeling somewhat responsible for the youth's well-being, he decides to care for her going forward. This is easier said than done, however, as the adventurer avoids making close connections with others after watching countless others killed in battle. Additionally, Rirui, as cute as she may seem at first glance, isn't exactly who she seems.
While the series does include plenty of RPG-esque adventuring, dungeon exploration, and monster battles, its true focus is on the relationship between Hajime and Rirui and, to a lesser extent, his relationship with many others in the village. The first episode makes it abundantly clear that the man has plenty of demons to face, having spent his childhood sleeping in the gutter and scavenging for food scraps. He isn't exactly what you'd call "father material," but watching him grow into his new role is one of the major draws of the series. His longtime friend Veronica, who runs a shop in town, is also eager to see what the future brings, but Olive, a high-ranking member of the local guild, quickly has her concerns after what happens the first night after Hajime takes the young girl in.
After escaping the dungeon and returning home for some much-needed rest, Hajime awakens not to find the little girl beside him, but instead a woman with rather sizable endowments. Upon awakening, however, Rirui instantly transforms back into her small form, prompting the man to face the awkward truth: the youth is some kind of ancient species. After some lengthy research, Olive confirms this, judging that the girl is a Succubus.
Understandably, this leads to some concern about Hajime's safety, given that he has taken Rirui under his wing regardless of what she may be. It also threw plenty of viewers into a moral conundrum, and prompted many to put An Adventurer's Daily Grind at Age 29 on the back burner—or possibly, the 'Do Not Finish' list.
It May Seem Like a Sweet Found Family Story, but an Adventurer’s Daily Grind at 29 Isn’t Really for Kids
The concept of the protagonist rescuing a small girl from the hands of monsters and learning to become a proper caregiver led many to believe that An Adventurer's Daily Grind at Age 29 would be a simple, wholesome tale of growth and the importance of family. This was quickly thrown out the door, as the morning after waking up to Riria as a grown woman, Hajime immediately comments on the size of her assets to a local waitress. The lewd comments continue, and although the two aren't actually related, this conflict of interest has frustrated those who were hoping for a sweet and emotional series to enjoy this season. (It's also worth noting that the first night that Hajime is in charge of Riria, he gets absolutely wasted at the pub. Not a good look.)
Viewer complaints aside, some have managed to look past this somewhat uncomfortable story beat to see the potential beneath. The series has only just begun, and Hajime may end up proving his detractors wrong somewhere along the line. There is also the adventure side to consider, with Riria desperate to become a strong warrior herself, relying on her new father to show her the ropes. It's often a less-than-stellar idea to judge a fledgling series by a single episode alone, though it's understandable why some have decided to jump ship.
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If it sounds like the more difficult parts of An Adventurer's Daily Grind at Age 29 are a tad too much, there are plenty of action-adventure series to pick up this January. Roll Over and Die, Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers, and Dead Account are all unique options that leave controversy behind.