Otaku Elf is a wonderfully funny fantasy manga series that offers a unique twist to the format. Here’s why it’s possibly the most overlooked manga of the decade so far.
Kodoani.com – There are so many new manga coming out these days that it’s impossible to keep track of everything, and this leaves some excellent titles confused. No series is a better example of this than Otaku Elfbecause despite being an excellent comic fantasy comic, many people still haven’t given it the attention it deserves.
Starting to appear on the pages of Shonen Magazine Edge in 2019, Otaku Elf is written and illustrated by Akihiko Higuchi. Since then, the series has been gathered into six volumes, four of which have been brought to the US by Seven Seas Entertainment, with a fifth season slated for release in early 2023. There is also confirmation. that studio C2C is working on an anime adaptation of the series, making now the perfect time to follow the manga.
Otaku Elf’s Storyline
Otaku Elf follows Koganei Koito, a girl who works at Takamimi Shrine. This location doesn’t look like your typical temple; it has people living inside it. However, this creature is not a god – the inhabitants of the temple are actually an immortal elf. Elda, the elf in question, came to Earth 400 years ago and was trapped in the temple, so now her servants must also take care of Elda.
However, this is not as bad as it seems at first glance, as Elda is quite lazy and self-contained. During her time on Earth, she discovered a love of games and otaku interests and now asks the shrine’s assistants to bring her all the latest technology, from consoles to helmets VR . Of course, since this is easier said than done, chaos ensues.
Why Otaku Elf is worth the time for manga fans
Main highlights in Otaku Elf is a cast of characters. While Koganei Koito fulfills the female lead in every way expected, she’s a great straight lady when pitted against Elda. Author Akihiko Higuchi does a great job capturing Koganei’s quiet exasperation at the elves’ jokes and her plight; she was forced to follow the whole thing despite her obvious desire to be able to let Elda perform her duties without fuss. Elda is also hilariously written and extremely charming. Their love of technology, combined with their inability to grasp certain details of modern life, make them both fascinating. Plus, this dichotomy opens up many exciting opportunities for fun.
The manga also has some interesting world-building. Unlike similar series, locals know and love Elda and her closed nature – although they consider her to be more of a god than an elf. This gives her a dynamic unique to the town, opening up more opportunities for comedy when Elda’s nature and town expectations clash. Both the main character and the surrounding town are well developed; this allows the series to delve into more emotional themes without feeling out of place, meaning there are some tough moments in the story.
Otaku Elf is a beautifully realized fantasy comedy that manga fans will love. It takes a fun twist to the usual setup and uses it to tell a unique story with plenty of funny moments. It’s a pity that the series isn’t getting the love it deserves, but hopefully the announcement of the anime will lead to more readers watching the manga and understanding why Otaku Elf is such a compelling story.
