Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement: Anime Review, Christian Perspective, & Parent Guide

In this Christian review of Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement, we will explore the content from a faith-based perspective. A parent and content guide is also included.

Synopsis of Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement

In Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement, an isekai anime, Mitsuha Yamano wakes up in a fantasy realm where no one speaks her language. Soon after, she discovers she has the ability to jump between Earth and this new world. With this newfound power, she realizes she has the perfect opportunity to earn money and save up for her retirement!

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Christian Review of Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement

The Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement anime is based on FUNA’s manga of the same name, but for the purposes of this review, we are focusing solely on the anime.

The anime follows Mitsuha, voiced by Trina Nishimura in the English dub, as she jumps between her home world of Japan and a fantasy world where she can easily earn gold and favor by scamming people. Arguably, the customers do get what they pay for (to an extent), but Mitsuha often takes advantage of the people in the fantasy world and their kindness. Mitsuha’s selfishness, her dishonesty, and her many questionable choices make her my least favorite of FUNA’s protagonists—FUNA is the creator of Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life and I Shall Survive Using Potions!

However, it’s still entertaining and has its merits thanks to the unique plot and humor.

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Saving 80,000 Gold English Dub & Voice Acting

In the Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement English dub, Trina Nishimura voices Mitsuha brilliantly. Nishimura is also the voice of Makise Kurisu from Steins;Gate, one of my all-time favorite anime.

In the English dub for Saving 80,000 Gold, we also hear Tyson Rinehart voice the Wolf Fang Commander. Not only does he do a great job, but he is also Daru from Steins;Gate.

Alexis Tipton appears as Iris Von Bozen in Saving 80,000 Gold, and captures Iris’ personality beautifully. She also plays Kagari in Steins;Gate 0, making Saving 80,000 Gold a small Steins;Gate reunion.

Marisa Duran (Hori from Horimiya) appears as Gritt, one of the hunters from the fantasy world. Her character in Saving 80,000 Gold is very different from Hori, and it’s cool to hear her appear in a new type of role.

The entire cast does a great job, but I’ve chosen to highlight a few voice actors that appear prominently in other shows I have written about or absolutely love; listing everyone would take forever.

Here’s a list of the English dub cast for Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement.

Mitsuha’s Greed and Self-Motivations

Throughout most of the show, Mitsuha is driven by greed and frequently lies to get ahead.

Sometimes, Mitsuha asks for forgiveness because of her greed, yet most of what she does is reliant on her getting enough money for her retirement. Mitsuha does give to others, but whenever she does give something to another, she does it with ulterior motives in hopes of gaining something else for herself.

For example, when she opens her store, she offers many free gifts to her customers in order to encourage them to buy more things. She goes all out for her first customers—”cooking” them meals (aka pre-packaged meals), washing their hair for them, and giving them gifts, but her main motivation is to get them to spend money. Some may argue this is just good business practice, but because Mitsuha is consistently dishonest and manipulative, it just adds to her selfish nature.

Another example of her having ulterior motives is when she hires a group of hunters. She has them take her on an adventure in the woods, but in reality, she is trying to scope out their potential needs so that she can figure out what to sell them.

These choices make her the weakest of FUNA’s anime protagonists, especially compared to Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average?! and I Shall Survive Using Potions!

Mitsuha’s Tragic Backstory

Mitsuha’s backstory is sad, and although it doesn’t make up for her selfish choices, it does make her somewhat sympathetic. She lost her entire family—mother, father, and brother—and finds herself completely on her own at a young age. Her desire to earn money so she can have security makes sense since she doesn’t have security in her home situation, but she strives to get this security by manipulating kind people, which bothers me.

Supporting Characters in Saving 80,000 Gold *Spoiler Alert*

One of my favorite characters is named Marcel. He is a chef for a wealthy family, and he is desperate to please them. He ends up coming to Mitsuha’s shop, and she offers to teach him how to cook her “special food” (Earth food). He is a worthy pupil (although honestly, he deserves a better teacher) and works hard to master Mitsuha’s “special cuisine.” However, Mitsuha isn’t always kind to the gentle Marcel; she sometimes yells and is very pushy. Marcel himself is very hardworking and enthusiastic about his job. He becomes the expert in Mitsuha’s cooking.

Then we have Alexis, the wealthy son of a noble family. Although he is constantly trying to win the attention of various girls (Mitsuha included) and has his flaws, he is rather noble. At one point, he actually jumps in front of Mitsuha, who is about to be shot, and saves her life, nearly losing his life in the process. This noble act reflects John 15:13 (NIV), “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Our third character is actually a group of them—Mitsuha befriends a squadron of mercenaries on Earth. They invite her to a cookout, where the soldiers are letting loose and having fun. The Wolf Fang Captain mentions that they enjoy peace and quiet and don’t actually love war, which is a refreshing perspective. The sentiment echoes Hebrews 12:14 (ESV), “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

Positive Moments: Mitsuha’s Fight for Others *Spoiler Alert*

I’ve spent a lot of time focusing on Mitsuha’s imperfections, but she does have positive traits as well. For example, she comes to the rescue of multiple people. She saves a little girl from wolves, another from being human trafficked, and fights in a war. This is one of the moments in Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement that shows Mitsuha fighting for others despite her flaws:

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Problematic Scenes and Content Concerns

When writing a Christian anime review for any anime, especially anime with morally-grey protagonists, it’s essential to highlight concerns. I think that the following sections will be particularly useful from a Christian discernment perspective.

Mitsuha’s Disrespect for the Other World

A standout scene from a discernment perspective occurs when Mitsuha is camping with the hunters. She brings her bathing suit (a bikini) and wears it in front of her male and female hunter friends.

In this fantasy world, bikinis are not socially acceptable, and the hunters make that clear. However, Mitsuha is determined to defend bikinis, and shows them a magazine with swimsuits on the cover.

This scene shows that Mitsuha doesn’t respect the social expectations of the world she’s in (at least when it comes to bikinis). Mitsuha wants to prove that she’s right, even when she isn’t.

The Tank as “god”*

Another standout part of the show worth mentioning from a discernment perspective happens in Episodes 11 and 12 (spoiler alert).

Wolf Fang, the group of mercenaries from Earth whom Mitsuha befriends, have a secret weapon: a tank that they call “god” and consider their “guardian deity.”

The name itself feels irreverent. However, the name itself is not my only problem; characters make irreverent jokes about the tank: “Don’t worry, god is on our side,” is one example; another is when she calls out to the tank to save her, saying “Help me, god.”

Mitsuha even says she is a believer now (after the tank shows its full power).

Though I understand this is intended to be comedic, from a Christian perspective, it feels very irreverent, and it makes me uncomfortable.

*The lowercase here (and throughout) is intentional to maintain reverence for the One True God, the God of the Bible.

The Nobility and Their Quirks

The world’s nobility is very…unique, to say the least. When Mitsuha first comes across the nobility, it happens to be the Von Bozen family. She pretends that they ran her over with their carriage in order to gain their sympathy, and eventually manipulates them enough into helping her. They are a very kind family and even adopt her, but they are still very quirky. It’s not typical for nobles to adopt random people they ‘ran over’ with their carriage, but this family does.

The mother, Iris, is a major attention hog and loves Mitsuha dearly. Beatrice, the daughter, is very bossy but welcoming to Mitsuha. Their sons, Alexis and Theo, are both kind. However, they try to bid on Mitsuha’s underwear—odd, but not portrayed as sexual. From a Christian anime review perspective, the nobles are kind but bizarre.

Unnecessary Sexualization

Additionally, Beatrice is portrayed as well-endowed physically, and Mitsuha takes notice. Throughout dinner with the Von Bozen family, Mitsuha (and the camera) places emphasis on the Von Bozen family’s 13-year-old daughter’s chest, which is very uncomfortable. I know it’s a fantasy world, and they get married around 15 according to their customs, but from a modern perspective, it’s completely unnecessary.

Mitsuha (a high-schooler) is less well-endowed and many people think she is very young—even younger than Beatrice, likely due to the difference in their physical attributes. It’s Mitsuha herself noticing these things and comparing herself to Beatrice. She isn’t necessarily trying to make it sexual, but it’s still highly uncomfortable. Christian viewers and parents should definitely take note of the sexualization of minors.

I wish this scene was skippable, but unfortunately it takes place during Mitsuha’s dinner with the Von Bozen family, which is rather important to the plot. However, in case you do want to skip, I’ll summarize: Mitsuha manipulates them, they end up practically adopting her, and assist her with her future store.

The focus on physical attributes is reminiscent of Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?!.

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Conclusion: Should Christians Watch Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement?

Ultimately, I’d say Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement deserves caution. Parents and Christian anime fans should note the sexualization of minors and Mitsuha’s selfish role model traits. She’s selfish, greedy, and consumed with her own needs. She does help others and fights for those she cares about, but her negative traits overshadow the positive choices she makes.

As with all media, it’s important to use godly discernment when deciding what anime to watch.

FAQs for Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement Anime

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Content and Parent Guide for Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement

Violence and Gore

• The main character is injured and/or bloody in multiple scenes.
• Throughout the show, weapons are used.
• A character saves another from a wolf by killing it with a knife; the scene is bloody.
• The main character passes out multiple times.
• In the outro, the main character shoots a confetti gun.
• Humans harvest wolf meat.
• Throughout the show, there is fantasy violence which includes fighting villains and animals/monsters.
• In one scene, a character learns about firearms.
• Characters try to use another character as a hostage.
• Characters hunt.
• A chef’s dominant arm was broken.
• A character takes a bullet for another character and is severely wounded.
• The main character takes out a villainous character.
• Characters are shown fighting monsters that have gore in the form of green gunk.
• Blood and shooting are shown, and the last two episodes are mainly war and military focused.
• Monsters are incinerated and parts of their body fall.

Language

Use of language/phrasing such as:

• “Where the hell am I?”
• “Pain in the butt”
• “Old geezers”
• “Suckers”
• “Crap (about 2 times)
• “J**z” (once or twice)
• “D*mn” / “d*mn it” (about 3 times)
• “H*ll (about 6 times)
• “Dang”
• “Thugs”
• “Fat lizard”

Frightening and Intense Scenes

• A character falls off a cliff and screams. She says she does not want to die.
• Wolves attack two female characters.
• A character pretends that she was struck and wounded by a carriage in order to manipulate a rich family.
• A girl is kidnapped and a character saves her with a stun gun.
• A reoccurring character is mortally wounded.

Sex and Nudity

• The main character wears a short skirt, and you can sometimes see under it, but it is not detailed and does not show underwear.
• In episode 1, a magazine portrays a girl in a bikini; this magazine is shown multiple times and is clearly p*rnography.
• A character says “Stop talking about your balls.”
• A character takes a bath but not overly detailed.
• A camera points up inside a character’s dress—no underwear is shown, and it is not graphic.
• Episode 3 contains a scene where the main character compares her own body to that of a 13-year-old girl.
  She reflects on why people assume she’s younger than she is and concludes it’s due to the other girl’s more noticeable development. The conversation includes specific remarks about the younger girl’s chest size and shows a close-up shot emphasizing that area (fully clothed, but showing cleavage). The topic comes up more than once during the episode, with the main character jokingly wondering what the girl has been eating to grow like that. While played for humor, the focus on a minor’s body is concerning.
• Some boys bid on the main character’s underwear; it appears to be more humorous than sexual.
• The main character pulls up her dress to show her leg and pulls out a weapon to show off; the people present are very uncomfortable with this.
• In episode 4, a character demonstrates hair and body washing while naked where breasts are visible—we see the washing multiple times.
• At her coming of age ball, a character says, “If you had the chance could you catch me?”
• A character has has cleavage.
• A female character wonders if another, younger female character likes her (she doesn’t).
• The aforementioned girl with the coming-of-age ball already has a fiancé and a lover; in this world, marriage happens when you’re 15.
• In episode 7, a character takes off her clothes and is just wearing a bikini. The girls from the world freak out and cover her to keep the guys from looking, and then she takes a bath. This character tries to prove that it’s acceptable for her to wear one by showing a magazine with a girl in a bikini on the front. One of the guys present has a nosebleed and wants to buy the magazine.
• A statue with boobs is shown (artistic, nude). Also shows the Thinker statue.
• Nude statues shown in episodes 7 and 8.
• Mention of human trafficking ring.
• Some villains plan to take the princess and Mitsuha into custody, but their plan is foiled. 
• A princess works as a waitress; she is fed and her head is patted by customers in a somewhat doting/uncomfortable fashion.
• Goblins have fur near their private areas; it’s not overly graphic, but odd.
• A male character’s chest is partially visible.
• A male character tries to win the hand of multiple women and flirts with them.

Spiritual

• The lucky cat appears as both a character and an artifact.
• Mitsuha asks for her big brother (deceased) to help her, and says she doesn’t want to die and that she’s scared.
• The lucky cat appears to Mitsuha and talks to her. He’s not a god but a being who evolved into pure energy, but Mitsuha thinks he’s basically just a god.
• Mention of alchemy.
• Mitsuha thinks the fantasy world might be superstitious.
• A picture depicts a witch and a cauldron.
• A character says the goddess has blessed Mitsuha.
• Mitsuha passes the shrine for her parents and brother, and prays for forgiveness because she was tempted by greed. 
• A character says “The goddess has blessed you.”
• Some girls think Mitsuha is a witch.
• Mention of magic spell.
• According to a customer, demon statues ward against evil.
• Mitsuha is referred to as, “The messenger of lightning,” “savior,” “royal capital savior,” “goddess of salvation,” and “emissary of the goddess of wisdom.”
• A character is depicted with devil horns and wings.
• A character swears on the “gods,” and Mitsuha mentions that the bad guys have angered the “gods.”  
• The security soldier men have a tank that they call “god their guardian deity.” Characters make irreverent jokes about this tank: “Don’t worry, god is on our side,” is one example; another is when she calls out to the tank to save her, saying “Help me, god.” Mitsuha even says she is a believer now (after the tank shows its full power).

Alcohol and Drugs

• Characters drink wine.
• Drinking at a pub.
• Soldiers drink beer at a cookout.

Other

• A character comments on her smell and the bathroom situation.

Image from the official Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement trailer. Under fair use for review/commentary/criticism. All rights retained by respective owners.