So I just finished watching Headhunter to Another World: From Salaryman to Big Game Hunter, and I gotta say — this anime really surprised me.
It’s not your typical isekai. No high school kid dying and waking up with cheat powers. Instead, the main character is a middle-aged corporate headhunter who suddenly finds himself in a fantasy world full of monsters, guilds, and contracts. But instead of picking up a sword and becoming some OP warrior, he brings his recruiting skills into play — literally headhunting monsters and warriors to build powerful teams. The concept is wild, but it works.
Season one follows his adjustment to this new world, where he quickly learns how to use negotiation, reading people, and old-fashioned corporate tactics to thrive. And even though there’s action, it’s never just about brute force. He solves problems by thinking like a recruiter, even when lives are on the line. It makes for a surprisingly smart and unique take in a genre that usually recycles the same ideas.
The characters around him are solid too — not just throwaway sidekicks. Each has their own motivations, and the way their team grows feels more like a business merger than a fantasy quest. It’s actually kind of hilarious if you’ve ever worked in HR or management.
Spoiler warning right here — skip ahead a bit if you haven’t seen it yet.
Toward the end of the season, there’s this major twist where one of the people he brings into his circle actually betrays him — not with a sword, but by trying to undercut his strategy and reputation. It hits hard, not just because it’s unexpected, but because it reminds you that manipulation and power moves aren’t exclusive to the corporate world. It also sets up what could be a fire second season.
And that brings me to the one downside. As good as this first season is, I haven’t seen much fanfare about it online. Barely any chatter on anime forums, Twitter, or YouTube. Which makes me nervous that we might not get a Season 2. And that’s a shame, because the manga goes way deeper — especially into the political side of this world and how the main character ends up influencing the economy and structure of the guild system. There’s a ton of untapped material there.
Bottom line: Headhunter to Another World is a hidden gem. It breaks the isekai mold in all the right ways. It’s clever, grounded, and way more thoughtful than you’d expect. I just wish more people were talking about it — because it deserves that second season.
If you liked the anime, do yourself a favor and pick up the manga. It’s even better.
