DESCRIPTION

CAST

NOVEL FantasyTensai Ouji no Akaji Kokka Saisei Jutsu: Souda, Baikoku shiyou
MANGA AdventureSouda, Baikoku shiyou: Tensai Ouji no Akaji Kokka Saisei Jutsu
ONA Slice of LifeTensai Ouji no Akaji Kokka Saisei Jutsu: Short Drama
SPECIAL Slice of LifeTensai Ouji no Akaji Kokka Saisei Jutsu: Short Drama Specials

REVIEWS

• 

  HMashiro

  75/100
  An intriguing anime that goes deep into the geopolitics of the fantasy world.

  Note: TLDR at the very bottom.

  Story - 8

  If you like How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom, You will no doubt like The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt. Man, why are anime names getting longer? The two anime are operating within the same kind of concept and theme and I will be making comparisons to Realist Hero in this review too.

  The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt is not an Isekai anime. The story starts with Crown Prince Wein who was put in charge of a small kingdom called Natra which is in debt when the previous King went out of commission. The problem is Wein is lazy even though he is cunning and a genius. At his side is his trusted sidekick Ninym who is from an oppressed minority race called Flahm.

  

  The anime touch on topics such as making money, negotiating with other kingdoms, forging alliances, war and a lot of geopolitics. While Realist Hero also touches on similar kinds of topics, the huge difference is Realist Hero skim the surface without going deep into it while Genius Price goes into all the in and out of what is happening in a more micro-managed style.

  Another huge difference between The Genius Prince and Realist Hero is that Realist Hero has a more laid back tone while in The Genius Price, Wein is literally navigating a minefield of politics with his kingdom's neighbours. It is also a much more cunning world where the leaders have to outwit each other. E.g. A prince from another country die cause of an accident in Wein’s kingdom and he has to avoid war from breaking out between the two kingdom or political backstabbing and that verbal promise shouldn't be taken to heart or attempted assassination.

  

  There are a lot more backhanded deals compared to Realist Hero be it politics such as other kingdoms making one face in front but already got thing scheming with another kingdom. This also goes into the business side such as Wein’s making money out of products coming from kingdom A that is at odds with Kingdom B by lying the origin to kingdom B and shipping it to them.

  The Genius Price does have some comedy elements to it. It is especially done with Wein being lazy and wanting to get rid of his own kingdom but accidentally improving it instead since he is a genius. There are also times when he is calm and composed but panicking inside. It is an amusing kind of comedy than the type that will make you laugh out loud.

  

  Worldbuilding is decent, it feels a bit fast in some parts but the anime does do a fine job at making sure the viewer knows the different Kingdoms, their rivalry and so on using an overview map. The usage of Wein’s little sister Falanya studying with her tutors for the explanation and narrative of what is happening within the kingdom or what Wein’s doing is a pretty cool idea.

  Character - 7.5

  The characters also shine in The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt even though there are not a lot of developments. The characters are well designed and come with their own set of interesting personalities and characteristics which make for a fun experience throughout. The dynamic between the characters and outwitting each other is also a big highlight of the anime.

  There are also quite a lot of characters but the major focus is on Ninym, Wein, LowellMina and Falanya.

  

  Wein, the lazy but genius prince of the small kingdom of Natra. As much as he is lazy and often complains about selling his kingdom and running away, he got a lot of jobs done in a most spectacular manner. Sometimes also by accident.

  Wein may sound like a goofball behind closed doors, the side he only shows to Ninym. However, he is very cunning, creative and very good at outsmarting other kingdom’s politicians or generals. He also takes a lot of calculated risks. All these factors alone make him a really entertaining character to watch. It's like watching Shiroe from Log Horizon plan things out. As cunning as he may be, he also cares for his loved ones and if someone hurt them, he will go out for their blood.

  

  Ninym is an adviser and an excellent aide for Wein. Cool-headed, intelligent, mature and sometimes can be a slave driver when it comes to getting things done. She is also capable of accompanying Wein anywhere from a diplomatic mission to a battlefield. Ninym is also caring for people who she cherishes and much like Wein will show no mercy to people who hurt her close friends. Ninym's relationship with Wein is an interesting one too since they are more than a friend but not lovers too. Definitely waifu material though.

  

  LowellMina, princess of Earthwold Empire and a close friend of Wein. She is somewhat similar to Wein. Intelligent, kind, not arrogant for a noble and have the best interest of the people at her heart. The anime takes some time to establish the back story and relationship between Wein, LowellMina and Ninym too.

  LowellMina, being a girl, her advice and idea are often dismissed in favour of her brothers (the princes of the Earthwold Empire) and all of them are gunning for the throne of the Earthwold Empire. The outwitting battle and mind game between LowellMina and Wein is also an intriguing one to watch.

  

  Falanya is Wein’s little sister and someone who looks up to Wein. She can be seen in many scenes where she is studying everything from politics to battlefield strategy with her tutor. She later got a good screen time and development where she proves she is capable as a princess.

  Art & Animation - 7

  While The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt is not groundbreaking in terms of production quality it is way better than Realist Hero. The overall tone and the details of the arts are pretty good while the animations, in general, are on the weaker side.

  

  The character arts and design are nice. Not only they are unique looking, but also very suitable for the fantasy medieval theme. The details on the character are also fairly nicely done with all the ribbons, accessories, stripes and texture on their outfits. Facial expressions are also spot on from the character putting up a poker face but panicking inside to smirk faces when Wein is winning. The animation of Wein twitching like a kid out of annoyance is also amusing and well animated.

  The background also looks nice with good art quality and a fair amount of detail to them. Indoor scenes are well detailed and populated with objects that give an actual vibe of the era. Some of the floorings also look really nice with detailed patterns on them. The outdoor scene also looks equally nice with well-detailed castles, houses and some pretty looking natural environments. Scenes that need background characters have no them and for an anime that is not focused on food, the foods look fairly delicious too.

  

  I also like how the camera transit in the early part of the anime where there is a battle and the camera goes from a carved soldier looking piece on a strategic map to the real general of the enemy army. However, the combat animations are extremely weak. They are mostly still shots with effects, close up camera shots with a few awkward motions and animation.

  Sound - 6.5

  The opening and ending songs of The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt are decent, they are good for listening to a couple of times but didn’t have retaining power to be in a playlist.

  Background music sound nice with appropriate instruments and nice-sounding music which super compliments the scene. They are not so memorable but they do sound good. The background music quality is also well above the music that is used in some budget fantasy anime.

  I also don’t notice any sound effects missing from the anime. The anime has the standard level of detail and quantity that I expect from an anime when it comes to sound effects. Things such as the sound of a wooden block when Wein lifted a block from the strategic map or the sound of the carriage’s wheel when inside a carriage are all accounted for.

  

  Voice acting is superb for all characters. The voice acting brings out the wit of each character nicely and things such as Wein panicking or twitching out of annoyance and complaining are also nicely voiced. As a fan of Rie Takahashi’s voice, it instantly makes Ninym a likeable character for me. Takahashi nailed the role of the character even if the character reminded me of Emilia from Re: Zero sometime.

  TLDR:

  An intriguing anime that goes deep into the geopolitics of the fantasy world. The outwitting battle and mind games between each character or kingdom are also fascinating to watch.

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• 

  thementalone

  65/100
  Not so genius but nicely cosy.

  'Tensai Ouji no Akaji Kokka Saisei Jutsu' is one of those shows where, if I sit down and pick it apart there are lots of problems, but the reality is I still kind of enjoyed myself watching it. It never blew me away, yet it also never made me want to drop it, which counts for something.

  The basic setup, a “genius” prince stuck with a kingdom in debt who secretly wants to sell it off and retire, is simple but quite fun. It is not trying to reinvent fantasy politics so much as give you a slightly cheeky, low stress spin on it, and for me that made it a pretty easy watch. Wein gliding from crisis to crisis while complaining about having to work, with Ninym quietly keeping him on track, is a dynamic that carries a lot of episodes on its own. Even when the supposed brilliant plans boil down to fairly obvious moves that only look impressive because everyone around him is bizarrely incompetent, there is something oddly cosy about watching the cast keep stumbling their way to victory.

  If you want truly sharp strategy or airtight politics, this is not that show, and the whole “genius prince” angle starts to look a bit shallow if you poke at it, in the way that anything proclaiming to be genius but written by people who are not tend to be. Battles can feel basic, enemies conveniently foolish, the series often talks like it is playing 4D chess while actually running on simple tricks and lucky breaks, which can be frustrating if you go in expecting something properly intricate. The art is normally alright but sometimes it can be very rough around the edges. However, for me, those issues stayed in the background rather than ruining the experience; I clocked them, rolled my eyes a bit, and then went back to enjoying the banter and seeing what kind of mess Wein would talk his way out of next.

  What really kept me watching were the characters rather than the schemes. Wein and Ninym feel like a proper partnership, with her deadpan competence balancing his theatrics in a way I found genuinely likeable. Falanya ends up being more than just the token little sister, and Lowellmina brings some spark whenever she shows up, turning the political side into a playful game of wits rather than a dry lecture. I never felt deeply attached to anyone, but I liked spending time with this group, and that did a lot to smooth over the rougher plotting. I know some people probably hate how whiny the MC is but it’s not so bad and honestly sometimes I can totally relate to him.

  In the end, 'The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt' landed in that pleasant middle spot for me: flawed, a bit shallow in places, but strangely watchable and never a chore to get through. I would not hold it up as a masterpiece of political fantasy, but as a light, slightly smug kingdom management comedy with a likeable central duo, it did its job well enough that I was happy to keep pressing play.

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• 

  GimmeDatDonut

  43/100
  Lukewarm political anime

  I haven't read the light novel that this story is adapted from, so I can only judge this work on the strengths and weaknesses of the anime, not the original text of the story.

  Overall, this anime is an extremely lackluster political story with a sloppy harem, with an infuriating amount of plot holes, deus-ex machinas, incompetent villains, and shoddy writing. Don't come into this story with big expectations. That being said, the art is just passable enough to make it a barely enjoyable watch if you have a few hours to waste and just want to turn off your brain.

  Plot - 3/10

  The plot is probably the weakest part of this story. The whole story appears to be just one set of convoluted schemes after another, disguised as a political thriller, but in actuality just an amateur author's attempts at writing something barely legible as political machinations.

  As an example, despite the title, The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt never actually mentions exactly what the debt that the country needs to resolve actually is. The anime starts with us being dropped in the middle of a battle between two countries, and then it's just one battle after another, without any real explanation about the economic straits that need to be resolved. The main character makes some offhand remarks about their country being poor because of a lack of agricultural land, and that's about it.

  On top of that, the story only ever focuses on the battles and military aspects. At no point does the "genius prince" ever try to improve the economy or industry in his own country. Instead, the main character just muddles around with hare-brained schemes where he's gambling with the fate of the entire country at every single moment, and the only reason he ever even succeeds is because of the sheer mountain of plot armour the author gives him, such as :

  • Kings and princes and other important political figures somehow never have any guards.
  • Enemy politicians are so stupid that they end up killing themselves by accident, not once but twice.
  • His retainer is the somehow the strongest undefeated warrior in the world despite being a tiny girl half his height.
  • Enemy generals have no knowledge of military strategies and just send their troops and themselves into the most obvious traps and dead ends.
  • Half of the most important scenes in the story are just skipped over with no explanation, such as how the main character escapes a kingdom right after killing their king in their capital.
  • Even though his political opponents are supposed to be great leaders and smart men, they're always willing to believe even the most outlandish, easily verifiable bluffs. They will give up their own watertight strategies just on the slightest assumption that the main character's obvious lies might not be false.
  • As an extension to the previous point, even when cornered by military force and political power, the main character can somehow weasel his way out of the situation through sheer, mind-numbing pedantry, like arguing about the precise dictionary definition of a word.
  • Armies apparently teleport across the map according to his whims, allowing the protagonist's armies to always be in the right spot at the right time despite being somewhere completely different just seconds earlier. Concepts of distance, scale and geography are just whimsical notions to the author. Also, it's not just the armies, the protagonist himself also just appears without any warning in a completely different kingdom from where he was just moments earlier, surprising everyone involved.

  Characters - 6/10

  The characters are both the best and the worst parts of the story. I honestly get whiplash from how wildly the quality of the character writing changes at different points of time.

  The main characters - Wein, Ninym, and LowellMina, are interesting people, with genuinely fun banter between them. Their internal dynamic is the fuel that keeps the anime fun and enjoyable, and I could honestly watch an entire slice-of-life that focuses only on these interactions between them.

  On the other hand, in their interactions with the rest of the world, the main cast are portrayed as incredible geniuses, even though we never actually see much of that "genius" on screen. The author's idea of genius seems to be the ability to employ basic military strategies, as well as get involved in extremely convoluted mind games where they're somehow planning things 15 steps in advance with completely insufficient information and no good explanation at all.

  However, anyone that isn't the main cast is basically portrayed as an incompetent half-wit. As I mentioned earlier, enemy generals barely know how to train and lead their armies, always just attempting brute force attacks instead of any real strategies. In fact, the enemy generals often go out of their way to intentionally choose the worst possible strategy given the battleground and their troop compositions. On the other hand, Wein's underlings are sycophantic yes-men that are incapable of any independent thought, who worship every single word that comes out of his mouth. As an example, one of the antagonistic characters actually ends up getting drunk and killing himself by accident in a situation where his life was never even in danger, so that's the level of quality we're dealing with here.

  It's no surprise why the non-main cast are such imbeciles - the author has to make the entire world an idiocracy so that the average-intelligence main cast can stand out as geniuses in comparison.

  Worldbuilding - 4/10

  This is a touchy one for me. On the one hand, I can see that the author actually tried to create some decent worldbuilding, setting up a map of the continent and a basic history of the main countries on it. However, the author doesn't actually seem to know that much about actual history and politics, so all the details of this world are extremely shallow, and the entire worldbuilding of this world could probably be summed up in a single paragraph.

  There's actually not much depth to any of the politics we see on-screen, even though the characters try to talk as if they're all involved in complex machiavellian plots. As mentioned earlier, the antagonists are all incredibly incompetent villains who fold under the slightest pressure. Their schemes are all ridiculously inefficient attempts at grabbing power, so they fall apart under even the slightest scrutiny.

  Overall, it feels like this was a story aimed at elementary school or middle school kids who are just learning about politics for the first time. Maybe if it was clearly targeted towards such an audience, it might have worked better.

  Art - 4/10

  The art is okay. There's definitely no amazing animation or art anywhere, but there's nothing downright bad either. There are occasional cringe frames like the one below, where you see some truly ridiculous expressions on faces if you look close. Fights are also extremely basic, with lots of still frames. But other than that, the animation is fairly okay, though you definitely notice the quality dropping by the end of the season.

  

  The opening credits are pretty decent, but then they apparently ran out of a budget, so the ending credits are just a recap reel of the episode.

  The anime also attempts a moderate amount of fanservice, with suspiciously designed clothing and overt bath scenes, all in service of an extremely boring harem plotline. Personally, I'm not a fan.

  Sound - 5/10

  The soundtrack is also decent - both the opening and ending theme songs are fine, though neither really stand out. The voice acting is good in general, but it's at about the average level of quality for most animes.

  Total - 4/10

  Overall, I definitely wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this anime to anyone. It's an easy brain-dead watch, but you'll sorely regret it if you have any expectations of it. The character interactions are fun between the main cast, but the rest of the anime is forgettable nonsense. In fact, the ridiculous plot armour can genuinely make you want to punch the screen, watching how some half-assed scheme by the protagonist actually worked, all because the world itself warps in order to make the author's self-insert protagonist come out on top at the end.

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