Jack-of-All-Trades, Party of None Episode 1 Review (Winter 2026 Anime)

January 13, 2026

Jack-of-All-Trades, Party of None (hereafter referred to as Jack-of-All-Trades) aired its first anime episode on January 4, 2026. Originally a fantasy light novel series created by Itsuki Togami, the story follows the journey of the protagonist, Orun Dula.

Jack-of-All-Trades, Party of None Episode 1 Review-Winter 2026 Anime

Source: 【公式】勇者パーティを追い出された器用貧乏 X account

Orun is a former swordsman who became an enchanter to join the Hero’s party. Led by his childhood friend, Oliver, the party meant everything to Orun; he deeply treasured them and poured all his effort into their success. He wanted nothing more than to grow alongside his friends, but unfortunately, he was kicked out and left behind.

Even without knowing the full backstory or reading the light novels, the first episode’s opening perfectly captures the injustice and hurt Orun feels. While Oliver and the other members of the Hero’s Party are clearly terrible people, their decision to abandon Orun actually benefits him in the long run.

By leaving the party, Orun’s true journey has finally begun. Like many of you, I watched the premiere and have a few thoughts to share. In this post, I’ll dive into the details to help you decide whether Jack-of-All-Trades belongs on your 2026 winter anime watch list.

Before scrolling down, please be aware that spoilers are ahead. Read at your own risk!

Source: 【公式】勇者パーティを追い出された器用貧乏 X account

Relationship between Orun & Swordsman & Enchanter:

Orun is a truly unique individual in the world of Jack-of-All-Trades. He began his journey as a swordsman, but for Oliver’s sake, he transitioned into an enchanter. In this world, adventurers typically choose one path and stick to it; however, Orun defied convention by mastering both.

After being exiled from the Hero’s party, Orun began traveling solo. During his travels, he discovered how to use his dual background to his advantage. Ordinarily, a swordsman cannot cast enchantment spells, and an enchanter lacks the physical prowess to wield a sword effectively in combat. Because Orun excels at both, he developed a proprietary style that seamlessly combines swordsmanship with support magic.

Through rigorous daily training, Orun reached a level where he can cast multiple enchantments with extreme speed while simultaneously launching sword attacks. He has truly transformed. His growth is proven in the first episode when he saves Sophia Claudel, a member of the Night Sky Silver Rabbits, by effortlessly defeating a pack of orcs.

Watching the premiere, I was genuinely shocked by the production value. The animation for both the training sequences and the battle scenes was high-quality and left a lasting impression. It was incredibly satisfying to see his hard work finally pay off on screen.

Source: 【公式】勇者パーティを追い出された器用貧乏 X account

Honest Thoughts of Light novel & Dialogues:

The training and battle scenes in Jack-of-All-Trades genuinely amazed me; the animation is clean and smooth, featuring incredible visual effects. Because of these qualities, the first half of episode one is excellent, and I highly recommend watching it for those scenes alone.

However, once the first half concludes, the tone shifts abruptly. To be honest, I found the second half quite boring. Despite the strength of the earlier action, the rest of the episode is filled almost entirely with dialogue. In this section, Orun spends his time talking with other characters, with no further training or battles to break up the pace.

I understand that dialogue is necessary for story progression and world-building, but the pacing still felt sluggish. Not only was there a lack of action, but the characters’ expressions were quite static; they were simply talking without much movement or emotion to accompany the conversation. On top of that, because Jack-of-All-Trades introduces many unique terms, the dialogue is constantly dropping new keywords that the viewer is expected to remember.

Personally, this created a difficult situation: I needed to learn a lot of new lore, but because the delivery was so dry, none of the keywords actually stuck. This might sound a bit harsh, but it’s my honest takeaway from the premiere.

Relationship between Orun & Hero’s Party:

Since Jack-of-All-Trades is fundamentally about Orun’s personal journey, the portrayal of his inner world is crucial. By showing the emotional wounds he carries, the production team makes it much easier for viewers to empathize with him. In my opinion, the staff has done an excellent job capturing Orun’s mental state.

The anime effectively illustrates how Orun feels as if his world is falling apart the moment he is kicked out. When he is mistreated, the pain on his face is palpable, allowing the audience to truly connect with his emotions.

Orun is a deeply kind-hearted person who sacrificed his own potential for Oliver’s sake. He originally wanted to be a swordsman, but because a party rarely needs two, he abandoned his dream to pursue the role of an enchanter. While Orun eventually succeeded in carving out a new identity, the sheer amount of effort he poured into the group makes his mistreatment feel even more personal. As viewers, we sense that injustice alongside him and can't help but hope for his eventual revenge.

From this perspective, I am still very excited to see where Orun's journey leads. By the end of the first episode, despite the Hero’s party's betrayal, Orun chooses to trust others and team up with new companions.

This is a pivotal decision. With new teammates and new adventures, Orun will have more opportunities to showcase his skills, fight, and climb the ranks. Since he has already mastered the dual paths of swordsman and enchanter to create a unique style, the day he finally surpasses Oliver and the rest of the Hero’s party feels close at hand.

Conclusion:

Personal Rating: 6/10

No anime is perfect, and it is impossible to please everyone. While I personally found certain parts of the premiere a bit slow, other moments truly amazed me. The training and battle sequences—especially when Orun saves Sophia Claudel—were fantastic and provided an incredible viewing experience.

Because the anime is quite dialogue-heavy, those looking for non-stop action, constant battles, or romantic comedy might find that Jack-of-All-Trades isn't exactly what they are looking for.

However, if you enjoy unique light novel adaptations where the protagonist uses a "cheat" style to reclaim what he deserves, this is a must-watch.

Although this series might not suit everyone's tastes, I still recommend giving it a try as part of your Winter 2026 anime lineup. Thank you for reading! I am eagerly looking forward to the next episode and will be back to share more thoughts soon.

Jack-of-All-Trades, Party of None Episode 1 Review (Winter 2026 Anime)

Relationship between Orun & Swordsman & Enchanter:

Honest Thoughts of Light novel & Dialogues:

Relationship between Orun & Hero’s Party:

Conclusion:

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