Hachi-nan tte, Sore wa Nai deshou!

“The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me?” reminded me of “I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability” at the beginning. However, they took different paths after a couple of episodes. The 8th Son turned into a slice of life, friendship and adventure focussed anime with its overpowered main character. Still, when I compare the two, the approach to the subject matter they ring similar and for sure, 8th Son was released 3 years prior to the 7th Prince.
There are issues with animation quality, the drawings are like from a decade ago as another commentator pointed ... out. Moreover, at points, we just see the same scenery over and over again to make us understand things are happening at the same place or there are scenes with very slow camera motion with next to no movement from the frame. The intro and outro musical number are pedestrian, to be honest. The thing is, if you forget about the first few minutes and the token reference here and there, we can even watch it without thinking it is an isekai anime.
There is a small harem that is built but it is not disturbingly made. There is the necessary token sage/mage, idiotic elder brother, bad guy who isn’t too bright, and the unexpected ally as one expect from an isekai adventure. However, it is a heartwarming story and consequently it is a heartwarming anime. It always gives a positive vibe, it shows how one shouldn’t limit oneself with existing conditions and work for the better life, and it shows how friendship is important. Besides, there is something like a cute main character that we find it in The 8th Son. I believe these points make “The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me?” quite a nice anime to watch. It is easily recommended.

The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me?
Rating: 5/10

Sometimes, you stumble across an anime with a title so bizarre it immediately grabs your attention. The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me? is exactly that kind of show—quirky, intriguing, and full of potential. Unfortunately, while it starts strong, it quickly loses its way, leaving you with a mix of frustration and faint amusement.

The Premise: Off to a Good Start
The story begins with Shingo Ichinomiya, a modern-day office worker, waking up in the body of Wendelin, a young boy in a fantasy world. Sounds familiar, right? It’s yet another isekai, but this time with a twist: Wendelin isn’t ... the hero of a prophecy or the heir to a great kingdom—he’s the eighth son of a struggling noble family. This setup had so much promise, hinting at a refreshing underdog story.

Initially, I was hooked. The whole “nobility with no resources” angle felt like it could bring some fresh challenges to the isekai formula. Wendelin’s discovery of his magical abilities and his struggle to rise above his family’s financial woes were intriguing... for about three episodes.

What Worked (Kind of)
Decent Worldbuilding: The fantasy world is fairly well thought out, with its own political systems, magical hierarchies, and societal struggles. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s functional enough to keep you interested at the start.
The Animation: The visuals are serviceable, with some solid designs for magical effects and landscapes. It’s nothing breathtaking, but it doesn’t feel cheap either.
Wendelin’s Magic: Watching Wendelin master his magical abilities and rise to prominence had its moments, especially early on.
What Didn’t Work (And There’s a Lot)
Where do I start?

Pacing Issues: The story rushes through its most interesting arcs. Just as you start getting invested in Wendelin’s struggles, the show jumps ahead to him being a prodigy with wealth and status. The rags-to-riches journey happens so fast that it feels completely unearned.
Flat Characters: Wendelin is likable enough, but he’s surrounded by a supporting cast that barely registers. Most of his companions feel like cardboard cutouts fulfilling generic fantasy tropes—loyal knight, flirty healer, and so on. None of them stand out or have meaningful development.
Lack of Depth: For a show with such a unique premise, it doesn’t dig deep into its themes. The idea of being the “8th son” barely factors into the story after the initial setup. It’s just another isekai with a magic-wielding protagonist who becomes overpowered way too quickly.
Inconsistent Tone: The anime doesn’t seem to know what it wants to be. At times, it tries for lighthearted humor; at others, it attempts serious political intrigue. The result is a messy, uneven narrative that struggles to hold your attention.
My Experience Watching It
Watching this anime felt like going on a hike where the trail starts off scenic and full of promise but quickly turns into a boring slog. By the halfway point, I was just waiting for it to end. That’s not to say it’s completely unenjoyable—there are a few fun moments scattered throughout. But those moments are rare and not enough to make up for the lackluster story.

Why I Gave It a 5/10
To me, a 5/10 is the definition of “meh.” The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me? isn’t terrible—it’s watchable, and if you’re new to isekai or not too picky, you might even enjoy it. But for someone like me, who’s seen their fair share of isekai, it’s painfully average. It had the potential to be something unique, but it settled for being just another face in the crowd.

Would I Recommend It?
If you’re desperate for an isekai fix and have nothing better on your watchlist, give it a shot. Otherwise, there are plenty of other shows (Re:Zero, Mushoku Tensei, or even The Rising of the Shield Hero) that do what this anime tries to do but much better.

Is this anime really from 2020? Are we sure? It uses graphics from 20 years ago… The CGI in this anime is bad, low-quality, and overused… In some scenes, the video seems to freeze; it’s as if they only added sound in the background or think that zooming in and scrolling left and right constitutes animation. They seem to be avoiding real work.

The opening and ending are so bad; it screams that this is not a work worth giving more than a 2 out of 10. There’s no depth in the characters, the action scenes are terrible, the OST is very bad
Every time I hear ... that disgusting high-pitched voice of the blue-haired loli, I want to punch her in the face. It’s a production lacking in comedy.
All the characters, including the main character, have the brain of a 12-year-old, regardless of how old they are.

There’s a repetitive event happening throughout the anime: something happens, the main character is shocked, screams “ahhhhh” and then the scene changes. Do we have to experience this three or four times every episode? What’s the purpose of this—comedy or something else?