Kenja No Mago, also known as Wise Man's Grandchild, follows the protagonist Shin, a powerful magic-user who lacks common sense. The isekai anime series focuses on Shin trying to fit in with his classmates at an academy while trying to hide how powerful his abilities are. Shenanigans ensue as he makes friends and rivals alike while trying to learn more common sense.
Though both the anime and the manga follow similar plot developments, there are definite differences between both adaptations. This ranges from where the series itself starts in both adaptations, as well as expansions or additions to various scenes.
10 The Manga Starts After Shin Is Reincarnated, But Not The Anime
The manga begins with Shin demonstrating his magical powers to hunt down animals, much to the surprise and awe of older magic users. Shin does briefly recall his past life as a salaryman during this chapter, but he doesn't think too far into this recollection.
However, the anime starts by giving a more in-depth look at Shin's past life, before his reincarnation. This includes showing his actual death, being hit by a car while crossing the road, in explicit detail before waking up as an orphaned infant in the next world.
9 Shin's Demonstration Of Magic Is Expanded In The Anime
In the manga, Shin demonstrates his magic to Christina, Siegfried, and other magical peers in the mountains. This demonstration is only a few panels long, but it shows off how powerful Shin's magic is compared to regular magic-users.
However, this scene is extended in the anime. Additionally, a voiceover in the form of his inner thoughts explains his magic casting process. In the anime, Shin shows off not just how incredibly overpowered he is, like other isekai protagonists, but also demonstrates his deep knowledge and understanding of magic, meaning that he is just as smart as he is powerful.
8 Shin's Reaction To Diseum Being A King Does Not Happen In The Manga
In the anime, Shin immediately freaks out after finding out that Uncle Dis is actually Diseum von Earlshield, King of the Kingdom of Earlshield. After this, Shin learns that Chris and Sieg are part of Diseum's royal guard, and kept this secret until the present day. Considering how long they've known each other, it's surprising that Shin didn't notice this sooner.
However, the manga does not include this scene at all. Instead, the manga skips straight to Diseum explaining Merlin and Merida's powerful skills in a past battle, after Diseum officially introduces himself as a king to Shin.
7 The Anime Excludes Shin Exploring The City
After Shin, Merlin and Melina settled down at the mansion in the city, in the manga, Shin took some time to explore the city. This included checking out the marketplace for any interesting or useful items, as well as discovering the long line of people waiting to enter a theatre for a play. However, he soon meets Sicily and Maria by saving them from some unwanted attention.
This scene also happens in the anime but cuts out Shin exploring the marketplace and discovering the long line of people. Instead, it cuts to Shin encountering Sicily and Maria being accosted, and Shin immediately steps in to save them.
6 The Anime Excludes Shin Returning Home After First Meeting Sicily And Maria
In the manga, there is a brief scene where Shin returns to the mansion after he first meets Sicily and Maria. Shin receives the official invitation for the academy's entrance exam from one of the butlers. As he examines the letter, Shin vows to give everything he's got to pass, and also so he doesn't sully Merlin and Melina's reputations as their grandson.
However, this scene is not included in the anime. Instead, the anime cuts to the day of the entrance exam, with Shin approaching the school. He doesn't mention worrying about sullying Merlin and Melina's names. Instead, he focuses on hoping to see Sicily again after passing the test. This portrayal makes Shin appear more focused on Sicily than his own grandparents at this time.
5 August And Shin's First Meeting Differs Between Both Adaptations
In the manga, Shin and August first meet after August intervenes with Kurt and Shin's own first meeting with each other. After August forces Kurt to leave Shin alone, noting that he's making a scene for the rest of the examinees, August then tells Shin that the way Shin introduced himself to Kurt was funny. This marks the beginning of Shin and August's friendship with each other.
However, this dialogue differs slightly in the anime. Instead of commenting on how Shin introduces himself, August tells him that he's impressed by how Shin turned Kurt's introduction around on him. Both adaptations show August giving Shin a positive comment, but for different reasons.
4 Shin's Entrance Examination Scene Is Extended In The Anime
During the practical portion of Shin's entrance examination in both adaptations, several magic-users demonstrate their magic by chanting spells aloud while casting them on training dummies. The chanting, and much weaker magic, make Shin cringe with embarrassment. During his turn to attack the training dummies, Shin destroys half the dummies in the area without chanting at all. His incredibly powerful fire magic is as great as Roy Mustang in Fullmetal Alchemist.
This scene was extended in the anime. There is more time devoted to the initial examinees chanting their spells and casting them. Additionally, each of them demonstrates special poses to go along with the spells. The manga only gave each of the examinees one panel focusing on how much they chanted while casting spells. Either way, this shows that Shin is already one of the best spellcasters, especially when compared to his peers.
3 The Anime And Manga Have Differing Versions Of Shin Passing The Entrance Exam
After the examiners discuss Shin's exam results, the scene cuts to Diseum and August accompanying Shin to see the results in the manga. Shin and August then see the final results on a board at the academy before they high-five each other. Considering their high level of skills, plus Shin being the isekai anime's protagonist, it makes sense that both of them would pass the exam despite its difficulty.
However, the anime cuts the scene where Diseum and August initially accompany Shin to see the results. Instead, after the examiners discussing Shin's progress and the fact he got top marks in the exam, the anime immediately cuts to Shin and August checking their final results on a board. Both of them high-five each other, showing viewers that both of them passed the exam.
2 Both Adaptations Have Different Versions Of Shin Re-Enchanting His Uniform
After Shin receives his official school uniform, he immediately asks if he can get it re-enchanted. He even uses his grandmother's name to get permission. Later that night, Shin re-enchants his uniform himself so that it's better protected compared to the other students'.
Both adaptations have different versions of how this scene happens. In the manga, Shin is in the middle of enchanting his uniform when Melina comes in to check on him and see how he's doing. However, Shin is already done enchanting his uniform in the anime, shouting so loudly in triumph afterward that Melina bursts into the room and initially scolds him for being too loud.
1 Shin's Speech Is Cut In The Anime
During the welcome ceremony for the new students in the manga, Shin has to give an entire speech on behalf of the new students, since he was the top performer in the entrance exams. The speech goes surprisingly well despite Shin being socially inept. He even throws a joke about this lack of common sense into the speech, amusing both students and staff.
However, this speech is cut short in the anime. Instead, the scene focuses on students such as Sicily, Maria, and Kurt's reactions to the speech. Kurt, in particular, is more focus on stewing over his jealousy over Shin's talent and achievement over his own.