Parallel World Pharmacy has broken the mold of typical isekai fantasy animes with exceptional storytelling and blend of magic and medicine.
Parallel World Pharmacy (Isekai Yakkyoku) has broken the mold of typical isekai fantasy animes and found its way into Crunchyroll's Top 5 Anime of Summer 2022, standing out from the crowd through a unique blend of magic and medicine. Based on the original light novel by Liz Takayama, the anime was released in July 2022 and has topped review scores of other isekai animes, including Harem in the Labyrinth of Another World, My Isekai Life, and Black Summoner.
However, how this seemingly standard story trope became so popular comes down to the extraordinary storytelling and incorporation of modern medicines and diseases. As much as fans can enjoy a standard fantasy world filled with demons and magic, Parallel World Pharmacy also portrays medicine in a way that is both appealing and easy to understand -- even learn from.
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Parallel World Pharmacy follows the story of Yakutani Kanji, a young, world-renowned medical researcher obsessed with his work. His research originated from the frustration of being unable to save his younger sister from an incurable brain tumor, and he dedicated his life to making sure no one would have to suffer the same way his sister did. One day, he dies from overwork in his sleep and wakes up in the body of 10-year-old Farma de Médicis, son and apprentice of a Royal Pharmacist in the country of San Fleuve.
Yakutani takes over the child's body after the original Farma was struck by lightning, and finds himself in a fantasy world with magic exclusive only to nobles and medical practices bordering superstition rather than medicine. However, Yakutani, now Farma, discovers that even in this fantasy world, his newly granted powers of Divine Creation, Divine Destruction and Divine Sight make him more of a Deity than a human, after being blessed by the God of Medicine, Panactheos.
In a medieval society where credulous practices were the only source of treatment and high prices made it difficult for commoners to afford prescriptions, Yakutani decides to live as Farma, despite the suspicions of those around him, and uses both his Divine Arts and scientific knowledge of medicine to treat those around him. After saving San Fleuve Empire’s Queen, Elisabeth II, from tuberculosis, Farma was permitted to become a royal pharmacist, opening his pharmacy with the wish of being able to treat and provide proper prescriptions at decent prices to all, noble or commoner. By sharing his knowledge of modern medicine and creating innovative treatments, Farma slowly revolutionizes the world of medicine as he strives to help those in need, although not without his fair share of problems.
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The main reason why this anime has captured the hearts of so many is thanks to how it effortlessly and uniquely blends medicine and magic to tell a heartwarming story. Written under the guidance of healthcare specialist and pharmacist, Kojima Yūshi, the story is able to incorporate realism in the medical sciences used by Farma, showing authentic medicines and diseases that viewers can recognize.
With treatments for real diseases and ailments found in the medieval period the story is based in, it brings in a sense of familiarity to the fantasy world of Parallel World Pharmacy that makes the series more interesting and engaging. Fans can follow the process of how the medicine is made and what science is behind it as Farma uses his Divine magic of Creation to construct raw ingredients, as well as how to identify ailments through the use of his Divine Sight. There is also a clear explanation of the world's magic theory that allows the audience to understand how Farma incorporates science into his magic, without interrupting the flow of the story itself.
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Aside from the exceptional blend of magic and science, another factor to Parallel World Pharmacy's success is due to the intricate world-building and storytelling that allows the anime to flow in a way that isn't mentally exhausting and still fresh to the audience. Similar to Myne from Ascendance of a Bookworm, Yakutani was reincarnated into the body of an already established person in another world, rather than just being reborn, and with the main theme revolving around 'Knowledge being Power', Parallel World Pharmacy steps away from the stereotypical trope of simply having an over-powered protagonist.
The characters themselves also bring an element of change from typical isekai cast structures, with each supporting character having their own individual and unique roles. For example, the fun and beautiful Eléonore "Ellen" Bonnefoi is not just your typical bishoujo insert, but a character that supports Farma's growth while growing in her knowledge, confidence, and faith herself. Likewise, Farma's father, Bruno de Médicis, is not just a typical stern father figure, but one who acknowledges the talent and power of the person that has become his son. Though Farma's younger sister, Blanche de Médicis, can be called the typical little sister trope, even that carries a deeper meaning, as the character that acts as an anchor for Farma's motivation and a reminder of his previous life's little sister that he couldn't save, playing a large factor towards his character development.
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In comparison to Drug Store in Another World's casual slice-of-life fantasy story and Mushoku Tensei's dubious character traits, Parallel World Pharmacy's detailed world-building, storytelling, characters and realism are what made it stand out from the typical isekai fantasy story and reach Crunchyroll's Top 5 Anime of Summer 2022.
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