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Touya Brings His Smartphone Into a New World — and the Show Earns Its 7.2

A tale of a man struck down by lightning who asks for his phone to follow him into a strange new world.

By mitch·2 min read
A traveler stands before a mysterious portal, phone in hand, amid ancient ruins.

Touya Mochizuki gets a second chance at life after being struck down by lightning. God offers him a new world and one wish. Touya asks for his smartphone to come with him. That single request sets the whole show in motion.

Trailer, via Crunchyroll Dubs.

Touya’s Wish

God grants the wish with a twist. The phone works in this new world, charged by magic, able to access Earth’s web, GPS, and cameras. Touya’s friends include Yumina, Yae, Sushie, Linze, Leen, Lucia, Elze, Hildegard, and Sakura. He becomes an adventurer of great power, solving disputes and fighting monsters called the Phrase.

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What Works

The setup is clever. A smartphone in a fantasy world is a small touch that feels large once the show runs with it. Touya’s powers let him walk through the world with ease, and the show leans into that freedom rather than treating it as a burden. The voice cast includes Katsumi Fukuhara as Touya, Marika Kouno as Yumina, and Chinatsu Akasaki as Yae, among others.

Where It Falls Short

The second season stretches the premise thin. Traveling from country to country to solve disputes can feel like filler between Touya’s adventures. Some of Touya’s many allies get less attention than the plot warrants, and the show’s pace slows as it repeats itself. The Phrase fights look good, but they don’t add much beyond spectacle.

Comparing the Two Seasons

Season Year Focus
First season 2017 Early adventures, building the world
Second season 2023 Country-hopping, dispute-solving

The first season grounds the story. The second season drifts from it.

Final Word

“In Another World with My Smartphone” is a show built on a simple idea that mostly pays off. The smartphone hook is the best part of it, and the show knows it. But the second season loses focus, turning Touya’s travels into a long string of similar episodes. The show earns a solid 7.2 out of 10.

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