Best Anime Like From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman

Summary

• Beryl, Rud, Yuke, Noor, Belgrieve, and Krai face challenges that lead to personal growth and adventure.
• Each anime features protagonists with hidden strengths or untapped potential, offering a unique twist to their stories.
• The focus on character relationships and personal development adds depth to the fantasy genre in each anime.

This anime season, From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman finally gets its animated adaptation, telling the story of Beryl Gardenant as he begins the next phase of his life. Despite dreaming of becoming a great swordsman, Beryl gave up his goals to tend to his family’s dojo and teach new students. However, through a series of circumstances, Beryl is forced to move to the nation’s capital, where he reunites with many former disciples who have become incredibly successful.

Readers of the manga or light novel know that this story is more than meets the eye; it contains several different elements that make it interesting. From Beryl’s deceptive strength to his students’ unique quirks and abilities, there’s a ton to discover in this anime. While viewers wait for more episodes to release, this list can help them find something similar to watch in the meantime.

8

The Strongest Tank’s Labyrinth Raids -A Tank With A Rare 9999 Resistance Skill Got Kicked From The Hero’s Party-

A Tank Discovers New Skills

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.12
• Episodes: 12
• Aired: 2024
• Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• Studio: Studio Polon

Part of Beryl Gardenant’s journey is escaping complacency and taking the opportunity to grow stronger. In The Strongest Tank’s Labyrinth Raids, Rud is put into a similar position after being kicked out of the Hero’s Party. His shielding abilities keep failing, and he doesn’t know why. That changes when he learns about the two unknown skills affecting his defensive power. With this new knowledge, he’s able to continue raiding dungeons.

As another story where the protagonist is forced to change, this anime is great. Just like Beryl, Rud suddenly finds his life shifting in a different direction, and he has no choice but to roll with the punches. The difference is that Rud’s solution is more tangible, and he was able to progress as soon as he learned about his skills.

7

Headhunted To Another World: From Salaryman To Big Four!

An Average Office Worker Gets Promoted

A huge part of Beryl’s growth is his self-actualization, understanding his own strength and value. Although he doesn’t have many accomplishments under his belt, he’s still a fantastic swordsman. Headhunted to Another World has a similar protagonist. Dennosuke Uchimura is a hardworking office worker who isn’t appreciated by his company. Even with great results, his efforts are never recognized, so when he gets summoned by the Demon Overlord, he’s only a little hesitant to change careers.

Just as Beryl is invited to train knights, Dennosuke is summoned to act as a negotiator for the demon army, something he has experience with as a businessman. While he’s hesitant initially, experiencing the job, as well as receiving a huge raise and better benefits, helps him realize how terrible his old life was. There isn’t as much action in this anime, but it follows many similar themes and motifs.

6

I Left My A-Rank Party To Help My Former Students Reach The Dungeon Depths!

A Red Mage’s Power Is Revealed

In From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman, Beryl is able to meet many of his former students and work alongside them. After leaving his A-rank party, Yuke Feldio does the same, joining a new group composed of his former students: Marina, Silk, and Rain. They begin clearing dungeons despite their low rank, and it becomes clear that Yuke is much stronger than he led them to believe.

While this anime features a much younger protagonist, Yuke’s role in the story is similar to Beryl’s. As a teacher, he’s not only helping his students, but he’s also displaying his skill and power. The stories differ in the way that power is presented. In this case, Yuke’s power level is discovered by the girls in the party and the audience. The focus of the show is seeing the limits of his abilities.

5

I Parry Everything: What Do You Mean I’m the Strongest? I’m Not Even An Adventurer Yet!

A Swordsman Who Parries Common Sense

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.90
• Episodes: 12
• Aired: 2024
• Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• Studio: OLM

When it comes to characters oblivious to their own power, Noor is probably the worst offender. Due to living in isolation and being turned away by vocational schools, he believes himself unfit to be an adventurer due to his inability to unlock special skills. Despite this, he’s incredibly strong, good at controlling mana, and nearly immune to poisons. He’s happy to work as an F-rank adventurer, but his life begins to change when he saves Princess Lynne from a rampaging monster.

Both Beryl and Noor are incredibly modest, downplaying their skills as if they were normal. The difference is that Noor is terribly dense and lacking in common sense. No matter how much someone praises him, he never believes them. Despite achieving impossible feats, his opinion of himself doesn’t change, which can be frustrating at times.

4

My Daughter Left The Nest and Returned An S-Rank Adventurer

The Adventures Of A Father-Daughter Duo

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.76
• Episodes: 13
• Aired: 2023
• Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• Studio: Typhoon Graphics

Despite being about a swordsman, From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman has a good balance of action and slice of life. This anime does the same by having two main characters: the father and daughter pair of Belgrieve and Angeline. Belgrieve adopted his daughter after he found her abandoned in the forest. Angeline grew to idolize her father and became an adventurer to be like him, but her work and status keep her so busy that she can’t visit home.

This anime isn’t as exciting or thrilling as some other fantasy shows, but it’s still a good story that highlights the characters and their relationships with one another. Belgrieve cares for and worries about his daughter as she works as an adventurer. Angeline admires her father so much that she spins stories about him to impress others. It’s very similar to Beryl and his relationship with his students.

3

Let This Grieving Soul Retire

The Party Won’t Let Him Quit

Let This Grieving Soul Retire follows a group of childhood friends who form an adventuring party to hunt for treasure. Through their natural talent and great ability, they were able to become the top hunter party. Despite their renown, their leader, Krai Andrey is desperate to retire for one simple reason: he’s actually very weak. All of his accomplishments were due to his OP friends and luck. The only reason he remains the leader is that everyone really cares for him.

Krai and Beryl are complete opposites, but the one thing they have in common is that they’re surrounded by people who love and appreciate them. Of course, Beryl is admired for his skill and expertise with a sword. Krai is faking it because he has no other choice. He’s like King from One Punch Man, so fans of that character may enjoy this anime.

2

The Ossan Newbie Adventurer, Trained To Death By The Most Powerful Party, Became Invincible

The Reward Of Hard Work And Effort

There aren’t many fantasy stories that feature older protagonists, but in the past few years, there have been more and more. Ossan Newbie Adventurer follows the character of Rick Gladiator as he begins his dream of becoming an adventurer. However, at thirty-years-old, he’s well past the optimal age to be one. Fortunately, he gets the opportunity to train with the strongest adventurers, and after two hellish years, he’s finally ready to take the E-Rank exam.

Aside from having an older main character, this anime has a few things in common with From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman: a plethora of powerful characters, tons of good action scenes, and a great message about dreams and goals. This anime is more extreme as Rick has multiple near-death experiences, but that absurdity is what makes the show fun.

1

Gate

Japan Makes Contact With A Fantasy World

Admittedly, Gate is nothing like From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman. It’s an isekai where Earth is connected to a fantasy world, and it’s possible to cross dimensions as needed. In this story, Youji Itami is responsible for leading a recon unit into the fantasy world to learn more about it and establish friendly relations. It’s a great anime that combines fantasy elements with modern technology.

Where the two anime overlap are their main characters. Beryl and Itami are older characters who appear unassuming, but actually have incredible skills and experience. These characteristics are harder to see in Gate, because the story involves more than just a few people or places. The world-building is more important than a single person.