For those who are fans of reverse reincarnations, thinly veiled stand-ins for major fast-food corporations or depictions of the Devil himself, look no further! The Devil Is a Part-Timer! is the ultimate anime franchise mashup of these concepts, and something of a reverse isekai as well.
Flying like a bat out of hell through light novels, this franchise later took on full-time work as both a manga and an anime. Since then, it’s been employee of the month in the hearts and minds of many otaku. With a second season finally on the way almost 10 years after the first, here’s a break from Satan’s work schedule where you can enjoy the story in its three different forms.
The Plot of The Devil Is a Part-Timer
The Devil Is a Part-Timer! tells the story of, you guessed it, Satan himself, who rages war against the world of Ente Isla. With many of his demonic generals defeated in battle, Satan escapes to another dimension: modern Tokyo. Losing all of his preternatural abilities there, the now human Satan is forced to take on the alias Sadao Mao, working at the entirely original fast-food chain MgRonald’s.
Rooming with his lone surviving general, Satan plots revenge while dipping fries in grease. Unfortunately for him, his biggest rival Emilia is also now in the human realm, although she’s dealing with her own issues because of it. This being reborn into a new world, albeit one that isn't better than the previous existence, turns The Devil Is a Part-Timer! into a reverse of the now rather trite isekai genre. What ensues is an uproarious romp of biblical proportions, with Satan soon learning that life in the fast-food lane can truly be Hell on Earth.
Where to Read the Devil Is a Part-Timer Light Novels/Manga
The Devil Is a Part-Timer! was originally a light novel series from Satoshi Wagahara and Oniku. Released in the Dengeki Bunko imprint, the series was published from February 2011 to August 2020, lasting for nearly a decade. Starting in 2015, Yen Press began localizing the books, with all but the last of the 21 main volumes now available in the West. Sadly, many of the side and spin-off novels are still untranslated.
Akio Hiragi handled the main manga adaptation, which has been continually published since 2012. Of the 18 volumes, 17 have been localized by Yen Press. They've also brought over the entire five volumes of the The Devil Is a Part-Timer! High School! spin-off manga, which reimagines the story in a scholastic setting. These can all be purchased online through Amazon/Comixology, as well as in physical stores like Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million.
Where to Watch the Devil Is a Part-Timer Anime
White Fox was the production studio behind the first season of The Devil Is a Part-Timer!, which came out all the way back in 2013. The series was well-received, but for the longest time, it seemed like the rest of the story would never get an anime adaptation. This likely stems from the fact that at the time of the first season's production, there still wasn't much light novel material left to adapt. However, with the original book series now over, that's no longer a problem, and the anime can continue or even conclude the story. The second season, which was announced this time last year, will change hands and be produced by 3Hz, although the cast is returning to reprise their roles.
Thankfully, for those who still haven't seen it, it's pretty easy to stream The Devil Is a Part-Timer!. The show's first season is available on Hulu, Funimation, Tubi TV and for purchase on Apple TV. The DVD/Blu-ray collection can also be purchased from Wal-Mart and other retailers, but given that most viewers likely already watch one of the aforementioned streaming platforms, namely the completely free Tubi TV, it makes the most sense just to watch it there.
