Sorcerous Stabber Orphen

Orphen is a reluctant but powerful sorcerer who has long shrugged off responsibility and lived on his own terms. When he discovers a way to reverse his younger sister’s transformation into a dragon, he drops the pretense of apathy and sets out to recover her. Friends from their magic academy days refused to help, so Orphen pushes past old alliances and risks isolation to follow a trail of leads, clues and dangerous magic. The series keeps its focus on the mission and the cost of obsession, revealing motivations and scars without spoiling any big twists or the final outcome.

This 2020 anime is credited to creator Yoshinobu Akita and features voice work from Showtaro Morikubo as Orphen, Yusuke Kobayashi, Rumi Okubo and others, presenting a modern take on the established Sorcerous Stabber Orphen property.

The show didn't make a major splash in award seasons, and it didn't rack up prominent industry trophies. It did, however, find a steady audience among genre fans and appeared in various community discussions during its run.

As part of a long-running franchise, the 2020 iteration renewed interest in the original novels and earlier adaptations, drawing nostalgic viewers while introducing newcomers to the world. Memorable character designs and a handful of striking action sequences helped it linger in online conversations among anime fans.

Critics and viewers landed in the middle, reflected by a 6.9/10 average from the available votes. Most reviews praised the energy of action scenes and the lead performance, while some noted uneven pacing and an expectation that viewers bring prior knowledge of the series. Central themes include loyalty, the burden of past choices, and how far someone will go for family.