Shinmai Renkinjutsushi no Tenpo Keiei (Management of Novice Alchemist)

[Stark700]

The light novel series Shinmai Renkinjutsushi no Tenpo Keiei/Management of Novice Alchemist is getting an anime adaptation

Plot Description from Novelupdates

For an orphan who had no family for the rest of their life, the only way to become an upstart was to obtain the national qualification as an alchemist.

After graduating from the Royal Alchemist Training School, which acknowledged nothing but ability, my master (teacher) gave me the right to open my own shop as a graduation present.

After being sent off by my generous master, I, Sarasa, set out with a dream of having a slightly elegant life as an alchemist.

But…

As soon as I arrived at my destination, I was shocked. Because…

I arrived in a ‘very rural’ area that was beyond my imagination.

However, if I couldn’t run my shop in this place, I wouldn’t be able to make a living

Source

https://natalie.mu/comic/news/445767

[Metaneo]

She looks like she was pulled right out of the Atelier series

[Twi]

This looks like its straight-up from the Atelier series,

[Stark700]

Fall 2022 (October)

[tsunade666]

Atelier girls/heroine.

[arkhangelsk]

Originally Posted by tsunade666

Atelier girls/heroine.

I think that's the major flaw with the advertising used for this series - the way this is presented, this is completely Atelier. The issue is that it is not. Of course, it's hard to believe the author wasn't heavily influenced by that series, but overall the world building has differences, and most of all the protagonist is of a type that's definitely in the minority for this genre. But the ads really give you no hint there's any of that.

To be fair, the protagonist's personality can actually be jarring especially considering her youthful facial features. With her stability, she can easily pass off as a 35-year old character in anime. She's not harsh, nor greedy but her response would still not be what one would expect. Maybe that's why the anime company chose to downplay it in the CMs - to avoid alienating potential viewers.

For all I know they might downplay it in the anime adapation proper, to capture a wider candidate base for buying books. We'd see.

P.S. Since I've clearly been enticed to buy the books, maybe the advertising already did its job?

[EroKing]

[serenade_beta]

Spoiler for ep1:

Probably on the boring side of Kirara adaptions
And that's saying something

...Oh, it's not a Kirara manga? Uhh... wow

[Liddo-kun]

I'm playing Atelier Sophie, so might as well try an anime that looks like the game.

[Decel]

The MC looks like an older Sakura clone from CCS, down to the uniform and the crest!

Was about to drop this, but the last 5 minutes generated enough intrigue for a follow-up.

[Marina2]

Hmm....not bad. Quite standard plot and story but MC is likeable at least.

It is something I can sit down and watch weekly. There is nothing else to watch in the same day anyway.

[arkhangelsk]

I think the first episode did a reasonable job of starting to bring out the charm within this series, but this series is fundamentally one that's more niche than a stereotypical Atelier (or fantasy world design).

The starting scene (with the exam) is original and does not correspond to anything in the light novel.

Spoiler:

It does a good job of showing off the protagonist's talents, but you can see this is no OP series. It's not like the protagonist can use this much less efficient set of materials without blinking.

The whole scene probably reveberates differently for one who has read the novels first. An anime-only viewer doesn't know how hard the test is supposed to be, but the novel reader knows from the first chapter that all the weeding out is done before the final exam, which means the test is set at a level all of them should be able to clear. The most likely reason the student before our protagonist failed is because the materials were wrong for her as well. At worst, she didn't notice the incorrect materials. At best, she noticed it, but since there were no materials for alternate combinations either she had no choice but to suck it and see.

Poor thing. If more people had flunked before our protagonist, they might have gone for retests, but there was apparently only one so they covered it up. Which is very gritty yet very consistent with the general worldview of this series. In a way, our protagonist has accidentally squished a fellow student

I also am thinking that if they want to say those two grasses are very similar they should have gone for more subtlety. I get that they want us to see a difference but it's too obvious. If they are going to place them side by side, it's OK to make the difference subtle - use the same vegetable and add a bit of hue to one of them. It'd also be cheaper, since this anime clearly is on the low-budget side even for something of this class (I suspect the books aren't exactly uber-bestsellers).

[Marina2]

Originally Posted by arkhangelsk

I think the first episode did a reasonable job of starting to bring out the charm within this series, but this series is fundamentally one that's more niche than a stereotypical Atelier (or fantasy world design).

The starting scene (with the exam) is original and does not correspond to anything in the light novel.

Spoiler:

It does a good job of showing off the protagonist's talents, but you can see this is no OP series. It's not like the protagonist can use this much less efficient set of materials without blinking.

The whole scene probably reveberates differently for one who has read the novels first. An anime-only viewer doesn't know how hard the test is supposed to be, but the novel reader knows from the first chapter that all the weeding out is done before the final exam, which means the test is set at a level all of them should be able to clear. The most likely reason the student before our protagonist failed is because the materials were wrong for her as well. At worst, she didn't notice the incorrect materials. At best, she noticed it, but since there were no materials for alternate combinations either she had no choice but to suck it and see.

Poor thing. If more people had flunked before our protagonist, they might have gone for retests, but there was apparently only one so they covered it up. Which is very gritty yet very consistent with the general worldview of this series. In a way, our protagonist has accidentally squished a fellow student

I also am thinking that if they want to say those two grasses are very similar they should have gone for more subtlety. I get that they want us to see a difference but it's too obvious. If they are going to place them side by side, it's OK to make the difference subtle - use the same vegetable and add a bit of hue to one of them. It'd also be cheaper, since this anime clearly is on the low-budget side even for something of this class (I suspect the books aren't exactly uber-bestsellers).

Anime did mention that failing any test = THE END and the competition is very high. So I kind of understand the stake.

Only thing that not clear for me is: Was the death of Sarasa parent "planned" or just a bad luck on the road.

Also, How old is Sarasa?

[Liddo-kun]

episode 1:

enjoyed the first episode. Sarasa experienced tragedy early in life, and their property seems to have been illegaly taken by that bald guy - someday, I hope she get revenge on these wicked people.

fortunately, she lived in an orphanage with kind people. That's an amazing potion making skill Sarasa did during the test! Her teacher Ophelia is probably very proud of what happened there.

ok, all female main cast, no guys in the main cast. Glad I found another good cgdct anime.

looking forward to next week!

[Ghostfriendly]

Seems quite good so far. I got the impression of a workplace satire from the advertising and some gentle cynicism is visible in the final test coverup, Sarasa's inheritance getting seized, positive discrimination for nobles and the financial woes of graduates. It seems like Sarasa's mentor was so yurilicious the poor girl was too nervous to stay with her. Ophelia and Maria have definite Uranus and Neptune vibes. Why do some other series find it difficult to mentor the heroine with a cool female character rather than a generic male?

If Sarasa keeps being challenged just enough that she can move steadily forward with hard work and help from friends, this should make for pleasant and decent viewing.

Originally Posted by arkhangelsk

I think that's the major flaw with the advertising used for this series - the way this is presented, this is completely Atelier. The issue is that it is not. Of course, it's hard to believe the author wasn't heavily influenced by that series, but overall the world building has differences, and most of all the protagonist is of a type that's definitely in the minority for this genre. But the ads really give you no hint there's any of that.

To be fair, the protagonist's personality can actually be jarring especially considering her youthful facial features. With her stability, she can easily pass off as a 35-year old character in anime. She's not harsh, nor greedy but her response would still not be what one would expect. Maybe that's why the anime company chose to downplay it in the CMs - to avoid alienating potential viewers.

Sarasa does look very young, perhaps too much so, but her thoughtful, realistic yet determined outlook are believable given her background. Atelier series involved MC running a shop but seemed to focus more on a quest, while running a shop was emphasised in summary for this series? I hadn't come across the game, so not entirely sure.

[ryllharu]

Originally Posted by Ghostfriendly

Seems quite good so far. I got the impression of a workplace satire from the advertising and some gentle cynicism is visible in the final test coverup, Sarasa's inheritance getting seized, positive discrimination for nobles and the financial woes of graduates. It seems like Sarasa's mentor was so yurilicious the poor girl was too nervous to stay with her. Ophelia and Maria have definite Uranus and Neptune vibes.

It was a little telling that Ophelia was either trying to coerce her mentee to work for her, and then when Sarasa made it known her goal was still to own her own shop, Ophelia manipulated her into choosing a spot in the countryside where Ophelia could set up a deal for Sarasa to supply her with rare rural ingredients in case Sarasa's own shop didn't take off.

She was open about it once Sarasa called her on it, but still...haha.

[alex_drian]

I like it. Here I can concentrate in the plot instead of being distracted by the MEAT of the MC like in Atelier.

[Alchemist007]

Cute girl doing cute alchemy things.

[Ghostfriendly]

Originally Posted by ryllharu

It was a little telling that Ophelia was either trying to coerce her mentee to work for her, and then when Sarasa made it known her goal was still to own her own shop, Ophelia manipulated her into choosing a spot in the countryside where Ophelia could set up a deal for Sarasa to supply her with rare rural ingredients in case Sarasa's own shop didn't take off.

She was open about it once Sarasa called her on it, but still...haha.

Less coercion than an enthusiastic offer, since there wasn't any threat or pressure, and it would be less believable if Ophelia was helping Sarasa so much without benefit to herself

[larethian]

I like this. Atelier or not, it's something different from other shows. There better be a flashback on why and Ophelia came to accept Sarasa as her apprentice.