Arifureta - Prologue

"Prologue" (プロローグ) is an of the Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest Anime adaptation. It was first screened on January 19, 2020, during the "Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou –Live & Act-" show in Japan, and was later released publicly on streaming services across Japan on March 19, 2020. It would also be included in Episode 1 on.

Summary
Hajime Nagumo is sleeping at his desk one high school morning, when he is suddenly awoken by Daisuke Hiyama, who proceeds to harass him. Just then, their classmate Kaori Shirasaki approaches Hajime and greets him, which prompts Daisuke to return to his friends. Soon after he leaves, Kaori's friends Shizuku Yaegashi, Kouki Amanogawa and Ryutarou Sakagami approach her and Hajime. Shizuku greets Hajime, while pointing out how hard his social life is at school, to which Hajime casually brushes it off. Kouki then proceeds to lecture Hajime, believing that he is trying to get Kaori's attention for himself. Kaori, however, interjects, and claims that she is talking to Hajime because it is something she wants to do. Kouki interprets Kaori's gesture as an act of kindness in trying to help out their classmate. Unfortunately, this causes the rest of Hajime's classmates to openly resent him for talking to one of the most popular girls in school. Even so, Hajime is not bothered by this, and resolves to dedicate himself to his own hobbies, as he had always done. Their teacher Aiko Hatayama suddenly enters the classroom and is prepared to start their lesson, but at that moment, as mysterious glowing circle suddenly appears beneath Kouki's feet. Aiko attempts to evacuate her students, but the circle quickly engulfs them all in flash of light.

Once the light dissipates, everyone sees that they are in an unfamiliar room that is surrounded by various artworks. They are then arrporached by three individuals: Pope Ishtar Langbard, King Eliheid S. B. Heiligh and Knight Commander Meld Loggins. The students soon learn that they had been summoned to the world of Tortus by its god Ehit, in order to aid humanity in their war with the demons. Ultimately, the students agree to help the humans of Tortus.

Meld later begins training the students in the training grounds of the Heiligh Kingdom royal capital. He starts by talking about the Status Plates that each of them had been given, and their overall function. They students then activate their plates to see their Jobs and Skills. It it during this moment that Kouki is discovered to have the rare combat Job of "Hero". When Hajime activates his Status Plate, however, it reveals that he has the average Job of a "Synergist", as well as having average stats, much to his disappointment. Daisuke suddenly approaches Hajime to see his stats, and immediately mocks him for his unremarkable abilities. Aiko then interjects, expressing her disapproval of Daisuke's bullying, and attempts to support Hajime by revealing that she also has low stats on her Status Plate. However, she is revealed to have the rare Job of "Farmer", with high magical stats, which serves to only further dismay Hajime for being to only one with weak stats.

Back in Japan, the students' school is being investigated by the police due to their sudden disappearance.

Characters in Order of Appearance
Characters in italics debuted here.
 * Hajime Nagumo
 * Daisuke Hiyama
 * Shinji Nakano
 * Kaori Shirasaki
 * Jugo Nagayama
 * Kentarou Nomura
 * Ayako Tsuji
 * Mao Yoshino
 * Yoshiki Saitou
 * Reichi Kondou
 * Eri Nakamura
 * Shizuku Yaegashi
 * Kouki Amanogawa
 * Ryutarou Sakagami
 * Suzu Taniguchi
 * Atsushi Tamai
 * Noboru Aikawa
 * Akito Nimura
 * Aiko Hatayama
 * Ishtar Langbard
 * Eliheid S. B. Heiligh
 * Meld Loggins
 * Yuka Sonobe
 * Nana Miyazaki
 * Taeko Sugawara
 * Kousuke Endou
 * Yukitoshi Shimizu
 * Ehit (illustration)

Locations

 * Unnamed High School
 * Heiligh Kingdom
 * Training Grounds
 * Holy Church - Main Cathedral "Divine Mountain"

Differences from Light Novel

 * In the Light Novel, the students are summoned to Tortus during their lunch break, after Aiko's class had just ended (she was staying back for some of the students who came to her for help regarding the class earlier). In the Anime, they are summoned just as Aiko's class is about to begin.
 * In the Light Novel, the students meet Eliheid at his throne room and Meld the next day at the royal training grounds. In the Anime, they meet them both at the same time, alongside Ishtar, after they are first summoned into the Holy Church.
 * In the Light Novel, the students activate their Status Plates after placing a drop of their blood on them. In the Anime, the Status Plates activate on their own.
 * In the Light Novel, Meld discusses the Synergist Job after it appears on Hajime's Status Plate. In the Anime, Meld talks about it before Hajime sees it as his Job.
 * The police investigating the high school after the students disappear is not mentioned in the Light Novel.