First Impressions Review: Butareba: The Story of a Man Turned into a Pig (Spoiler)

Be reborn as a vending machine? Sure, why not?. Just when I thought I’ve seen everything that you can turn into when you get isekai-ed (Is this even a word?), we get this anime series. Well, at least we got Yoshitsugu Matsuoka as a VA. Might be worth a look.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the world of Butareba: The Story of a Man Turned into a Pig (Buta no Liver wa Kanetsu Shiro).

Episode 1 gives us a new twist on reincarnation – our hero gets to be a pig. Yep, you heard that right. Not a swanky superhero or a mystical mage, but a good ol’ farm pig. And thus, our porcine journey begins.

Our newly minted pig protagonist starts things off in a pigsty, expressing his newfound emotions in his swine body. And let me tell you, pigs have a whole different outlook on life, especially when it comes to wallowing in the mud.

Enter Jess, a young woman with a peculiar skill – she can read minds. When she crosses paths with our inner piggy monologuer, you can bet she hears things no one else can. It’s a skill that lands her a job as a servant, but that’s not the most exciting part. Jess is a Yethma, the mind-reading elite. Now, who wouldn’t want to be friends with someone who can predict your thoughts?

As our dynamic duo sets out on a walk (yes, the pig comes along), we get to know Jess a bit better. She reveals that life as a servant doesn’t earn her many friendships. In a world where she’s the mind-reader, our piggy’s lustful thoughts stand out like a sore hoof, but Jess doesn’t seem to mind the attention.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Jess discloses that she’s a bit lonely because her special talent puts her in a league of her own. While she’s scanning minds, she finds the pig’s kindness rather appealing, and trust me, kindness is a rare find in a world filled with secret thoughts.

Towards the episode’s end, our piggy wonders if he can shed his oink-oink identity and return to his former self. Jess suggests they pay a visit to the King, who she believes is the benevolent type. After all, kings are known for their warm hearts, right?

So, what can we gather from Episode 1 of Butareba? We meet our piggy protagonist, get a glimpse of his unfiltered thoughts, and discover that our lovely Jess is as mysterious as they come. The show’s concept of reincarnation is intriguing, and the humor mostly comes from our pig’s amorous musings.

While the episode doesn’t exactly blow your socks off, it serves as a decent introduction to the story. Jess’s character design is a visual treat, and the pig, well, let’s just say he’s an adorable oinker. We’ll have to wait and see which direction Butareba takes in the upcoming episodes, but for now, it’s a fun, if not mind-blowing, watch.