Magical Explorer
{{Short description|Japanese light novel series}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name = Magical Explorer: Reborn as a Side Character in a Fantasy Dating Sim
| image = Magical Explorer volume 1 cover.jpg
| caption = Cover of the first volume
| ja_kanji = マジカル★エクスプローラー エロゲの友人キャラに転生 したけど、ゲーム知識使って自由に生きる
| ja_romaji = Magikaru Ekusupurōrā: Eroge no Yūjin Chara ni Tensei Shita kedo, Gēmu Chishiki Tsukatte Jiyū ni Ikiru
| genre = Isekai
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type = novel series
| author = Iris
| publisher = Shōsetsuka ni Narō
| first = February 26, 2018
| last =
| volumes =
| volume_list =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type = light novel
| author = Iris
| illustrator = Noboru Kannatsuki
| publisher = Kadokawa Shoten
| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher|NA=Yen Press}}
| demographic = Male
| imprint = Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko
| first = November 1, 2019
| last =
| volumes = 11
| volume_list =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type = manga
| author = Iris
| illustrator = Yukari Higa
| publisher = Kadokawa Shoten
| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher|NA=Yen Press}}
| demographic = Seinen
| magazine = Young Ace Up
| first = August 20, 2020
| last =
| volumes = 2
| volume_list =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type = anime
| director =
| writer =
| music =
| studio =
| licensee =
| network =
| first =
| last =
| episodes =
| episode_list =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{nihongo|Magical Explorer: Reborn as a Side Character in a Fantasy Dating Sim|マジカル★エクスプローラー エロゲの友人キャラに転生 したけど、ゲーム知識使って自由に生きる|Magikaru Ekusupurōrā: Eroge no Yūjin Chara ni Tensei Shita kedo, Gēmu Chishiki Tsukatte Jiyū ni Ikiru|lead=yes}} is a Japanese light novel series written by Iris. The series originated on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website in February 2018, before being published in print with illustrations by Noboru Kannatsuki by Kadokawa Shoten beginning in November 2019. A manga adaptation, illustrated by Yukari Higa, began serialization on the Young Ace Up website in August 2020. An anime adaptation has been announced.
Media
=Light novel=
Written by Iris, the series began publication on the novel posting website Shōsetsuka ni Narō on February 26, 2018.{{cite web|script-title=ja:マジカル★エクスプローラー エロゲの友人キャラに転生したけど、ゲーム知識使って自由に生きる|url=https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2413ep/|publisher=Shōsetsuka ni Narō|access-date=March 23, 2023|language=ja}} The series was later acquired by Kadokawa Shoten, who began publishing the series in print with illustrations by Noboru Kannatsuki on November 1, 2019. As of November 2024, eleven volumes have been released.
Yen Press is publishing the series in English.{{cite web|title=Yen Press Licenses Shadows House, Mato Seihei no Slave, Magical Explorer, More Manga|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-12-20/yen-press-licenses-shadows-house-mato-seihei-no-slave-magical-explorer-more-manga/.180819|website=Anime News Network|last=Mateo|first=Alex|date=December 20, 2021|access-date=March 23, 2023}}
==Volumes==
{{Graphic novel list/header
|Language = Japanese
|Width = 72%
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|VolumeNumber = 1
|OriginalRelDate = November 1, 2019{{cite web|script-title=ja:マジカル★エクスプローラー エロゲの友人キャラに転生したけど、ゲーム知識使って自由に生きる|url=https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/321903000004/|publisher=Kadokawa|access-date=March 23, 2023|language=ja |title=KADOKAWA Corporation }}
|OriginalISBN = 978-4-04-108371-0
|LicensedRelDate = December 14, 2021{{cite web|title=Magical Explorer, Vol. 1 (light novel)|url=https://yenpress.com/9781975325619/magical-explorer-vol-1-light-novel/|publisher=Yen Press|access-date=March 23, 2023}}
|LicensedISBN = 978-1-97-532561-9
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|VolumeNumber = 2
|OriginalRelDate = March 1, 2020{{cite web|script-title=ja:マジカル★エクスプローラー エロゲの友人キャラに転生したけど、ゲーム知識使って自由に生きる2|url=https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/321903000005/|publisher=Kadokawa|access-date=March 23, 2023|language=ja |title=KADOKAWA Corporation }}
|OriginalISBN = 978-4-04-108372-7
|LicensedRelDate = May 3, 2022{{cite web|title=Magical Explorer, Vol. 2 (light novel)|url=https://yenpress.com/9781975325633/magical-explorer-vol-2-light-novel/|publisher=Yen Press|access-date=March 23, 2023}}
|LicensedISBN = 978-1-97-532563-3
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|VolumeNumber = 3
|OriginalRelDate = August 1, 2020{{cite web|script-title=ja:マジカル★エクスプローラー エロゲの友人キャラに転生したけど、ゲーム知識使って自由に生きる3|url=https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322002000282/|publisher=Kadokawa|access-date=March 23, 2023|language=ja |title=KADOKAWA Corporation }}
|OriginalISBN = 978-4-04-109541-6
|LicensedRelDate = October 18, 2022{{cite web|title=Magical Explorer, Vol. 3 (light novel)|url=https://yenpress.com/9781975325657/magical-explorer-vol-3-light-novel/|publisher=Yen Press|access-date=March 23, 2023}}
|LicensedISBN = 978-1-97-532565-7
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|VolumeNumber = 4
|OriginalRelDate = January 29, 2021{{cite web|script-title=ja:マジカル★エクスプローラー エロゲの友人キャラに転生したけど、ゲーム知識使って自由に生きる4|url=https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322002000283/|publisher=Kadokawa|access-date=March 23, 2023|language=ja |title=KADOKAWA Corporation }}
|OriginalISBN = 978-4-04-109542-3
|LicensedRelDate = April 11, 2023{{cite web|title=Magical Explorer, Vol. 4 (light novel)|url=https://yenpress.com/9781975350482/magical-explorer-vol-4-light-novel/|publisher=Yen Press|access-date=March 23, 2023}}
|LicensedISBN = 978-1-97-535048-2
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|VolumeNumber = 5
|OriginalRelDate = July 1, 2021{{cite web|script-title=ja:マジカル★エクスプローラー エロゲの友人キャラに転生したけど、ゲーム知識使って自由に生きる5|url=https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322102000069/|publisher=Kadokawa|access-date=March 23, 2023|language=ja |title=KADOKAWA Corporation }}
|OriginalISBN = 978-4-04-111408-7
|LicensedRelDate = July 18, 2023{{cite web|title=Magical Explorer, Vol. 5 (light novel)|url=https://yenpress.com/9781975350512/magical-explorer-vol-5-light-novel/|publisher=Yen Press|access-date=March 23, 2023}}
|LicensedISBN = 978-1-97-535051-2
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|VolumeNumber = 6
|OriginalRelDate = February 1, 2022{{cite web|script-title=ja:マジカル★エクスプローラー エロゲの友人キャラに転生したけど、ゲーム知識使って自由に生きる6|url=https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322102000070/|publisher=Kadokawa|access-date=March 23, 2023|language=ja |title=KADOKAWA Corporation }}
|OriginalISBN = 978-4-04-111409-4
|LicensedRelDate = December 12, 2023{{cite web|title=Magical Explorer, Vol. 6 (light novel)|url=https://yenpress.com/9781975367558/magical-explorer-vol-6-light-novel/|publisher=Yen Press|access-date=July 25, 2023}}
|LicensedISBN = 978-1-97-536755-8
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|VolumeNumber = 7
|OriginalRelDate = September 1, 2022{{cite web|script-title=ja:マジカル★エクスプローラー エロゲの友人キャラに転生したけど、ゲーム知識使って自由に生きる7|url=https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322203000309/|publisher=Kadokawa|access-date=March 23, 2023|language=ja |title=KADOKAWA Corporation }}
|OriginalISBN = 978-4-04-112667-7
|LicensedRelDate = April 16, 2024{{cite web|title=Magical Explorer, Vol. 7 (light novel)|url=https://yenpress.com/9781975372538/magical-explorer-vol-7-light-novel/|publisher=Yen Press|access-date=October 26, 2023}}
|LicensedISBN = 978-1-97-537253-8
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|VolumeNumber = 8
|OriginalRelDate = April 28, 2023{{cite web|script-title=ja:マジカル★エクスプローラー エロゲの友人キャラに転生したけど、ゲーム知識使って自由に生きる8|url=https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322203000310/|publisher=Kadokawa|access-date=March 23, 2023|language=ja |title=KADOKAWA Corporation }}
|OriginalISBN = 978-4-04-112668-4
|LicensedRelDate = September 17, 2024{{cite web|title=Magical Explorer, Vol. 8 (light novel)|url=https://yenpress.com/9781975391584/magical-explorer-vol-8-light-novel/|publisher=Yen Press|access-date=April 7, 2024}}
|LicensedISBN = 978-1-97-539158-4
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|VolumeNumber = 9
|OriginalRelDate = September 29, 2023{{cite web|script-title=ja:マジカル★エクスプローラー エロゲの友人キャラに転生したけど、ゲーム知識使って自由に生きる9|url=https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322306000149/|publisher=Kadokawa|access-date=September 8, 2023|language=ja |title=KADOKAWA Corporation }}
|OriginalISBN = 978-4-04-114181-6
|LicensedRelDate = April 8, 2025{{cite web|title=Magical Explorer, Vol. 9 (light novel)|url=https://yenpress.com/9798855405323/magical-explorer-vol-9-light-novel/|publisher=Yen Press|access-date=August 30, 2024}}
|LicensedISBN = 979-8-85-540532-3
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|VolumeNumber = 10
|OriginalRelDate = March 29, 2024{{cite web|script-title=ja:マジカル★エクスプローラー エロゲの友人キャラに転生したけど、ゲーム知識使って自由に生きる10|url=https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322311000080/|publisher=Kadokawa|access-date=February 2, 2024|language=ja |title=KADOKAWA Corporation }}
|OriginalISBN = 978-4-04-114699-6
|LicensedRelDate = August 12, 2025{{cite web|title=Magical Explorer, Vol. 10 (light novel)|url=https://yenpress.com/titles/9798855414554-magical-explorer-vol-10-light-novel|publisher=Yen Press|access-date=March 6, 2025}}
|LicensedISBN = 979-8-85-541455-4
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|VolumeNumber = 11
|OriginalRelDate = November 29, 2024{{cite web|script-title=ja:マジカル★エクスプローラー エロゲの友人キャラに転生したけど、ゲーム知識使って自由に生きる11|url=https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322405000114/|publisher=Kadokawa|access-date=November 2, 2024|language=ja |title=KADOKAWA Corporation }}
|OriginalISBN = 978-4-04-115318-5
|LicensedRelDate = —
|LicensedISBN =
}}
{{Graphic novel list/footer}}
=Manga=
A manga adaptation, illustrated by Yukari Higa, began serialization on Kadokawa Shoten's Young Ace Up manga website on August 20, 2020.{{cite web|title=Yukari Higa Launches Magical Explorer Manga in August|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-08-04/yukari-higa-launches-magical-explorer-manga-in-august/.162554|website=Anime News Network|last=Pineda|first=Rafael|date=August 4, 2020|access-date=March 23, 2023}} The series went on hiatus in June 2021 due to Higa's health.{{cite web|title=Magical Explorer Manga Goes on Long Hiatus Due to Author's Recuperation|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-06-08/magical-explorer-manga-goes-on-long-hiatus-due-to-author-recuperation/.173709|website=Anime News Network|last=Pineda|first=Rafael|date=June 8, 2021|access-date=March 23, 2023}} As of March 2024, the series' individual chapters have been collected into two tankōbon volumes.
Yen Press is also publishing the manga adaptation in English.
==Volumes==
{{Graphic novel list/header
|Language = Japanese
|Width = 72%
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|VolumeNumber = 1
|OriginalRelDate = March 10, 2021{{cite web|script-title=ja:マジカル★エクスプローラー エロゲの友人キャラに転生 したけど、ゲーム知識使って自由に生きる （１）|url=https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322009000429/|publisher=Kadokawa|access-date=March 23, 2023|language=ja |title=KADOKAWA Corporation }}
|OriginalISBN = 978-4-04-111007-2
|LicensedRelDate = July 12, 2022{{cite web|title=Magical Explorer, Vol. 1 (manga)|url=https://yenpress.com/9781975343002/magical-explorer-vol-1-manga/|publisher=Yen Press|access-date=March 23, 2023}}
|LicensedISBN = 978-1-97-534300-2
}}
{{Graphic novel list
|VolumeNumber = 2
|OriginalRelDate = March 8, 2024{{cite web|script-title=ja:マジカル★エクスプローラー エロゲの友人キャラに転生 したけど、ゲーム知識使って自由に生きる （２）|url=https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322210000930/|publisher=Kadokawa|access-date=January 20, 2024|language=ja |title=KADOKAWA Corporation }}
|OriginalISBN = 978-4-04-113414-6
|LicensedRelDate = January 21, 2025{{cite web|title=Magical Explorer, Vol. 2 (manga)|url=https://yenpress.com/9798855409581/magical-explorer-vol-2-manga/|publisher=Yen Press|access-date=August 14, 2024}}
|LicensedISBN = 979-8-85-540958-1
}}
{{Graphic novel list/footer}}
=Anime=
An anime adaptation was announced during Kadokawa's "Sneaker Bunko 35th Anniversary Festa!" livestream on September 24, 2023.{{cite web|title=Magical Explorer Light Novels Have Anime in the Works|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-09-24/magical-explorer-light-novels-have-anime-in-the-works/.202755|website=Anime News Network|last=Loo|first=Egan|date=September 24, 2023|access-date=September 24, 2023}}
Reception
The novel has 50,000,000 views on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website.{{cite web|script-title=ja:人気WEB小説『マジカル★エクスプローラー』が初回出荷限定リバーシブルカバー仕様でスニーカー文庫より発売|url=https://ln-news.com/articles/101356|website=LN News|date=October 30, 2019|access-date=March 23, 2023|language=ja}}
Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network praised the illustrations, but criticized the female characters as lacking development. On the story, Silverman wrote "from the very first sentence, we know what we're getting into, and luckily, it does it decently well".{{cite web|title=The Winter 2021 Light Novel Guide|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2021-12-03/the-winter-2021-light-novel-guide/.180129|website=Anime News Network|last=Silverman|first=Rebecca|date=December 3, 2021|access-date=March 23, 2023}} Demelza of Anime UK News felt the series was a "serviceable" isekai series, though Demelza was critical of the writing.{{cite web|title=Magical Explorer Volume 1 Review|url=https://animeuknews.net/2022/01/magical-explorer-volume-1-review/|website=Anime UK News|author=Demelza|date=January 17, 2022|access-date=March 23, 2023}}
See also
- Goblin Slayer, another light novel series with the same illustrator
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite web|script-title=ja:独占インタビュー「ラノベの素」 入栖先生『マジカル★エクスプローラー エロゲの友人キャラに転生したけど、ゲーム知識使って自由に生きる』|url=https://ln-news.com/articles/107329|website=LN News|date=February 29, 2020|language=ja}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2413ep/|Official website at Shōsetsuka ni Narō}} {{in lang|ja}}
- {{Official website|https://sneakerbunko.jp/series/majieku/|Official website at Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko}} {{in lang|ja}}
- {{Official website|https://web-ace.jp/youngaceup/contents/1000133/|Manga official website}} {{in lang|ja}}
- {{ANN|manga|25380}}
{{Young Ace}}
Category:Anime and manga based on light novels
Category:Isekai anime and manga
Category:Isekai novels and light novels
Category:Kadokawa Shoten manga
Category:Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko