Note: This will be one of my regular weekly reviews, and it should be on a regular “no later than next-day” schedule starting this coming weekend.
Kazuya and Princess Liscia
Rating (ep 1): 4 (of 5)
Rating (ep2): 4.5
Rating (ep 3): 3
Though Social Studies in Secondary Education was my college major, Economics was the one subject in the field that I avoided taking a collegiate-level course on, in large part because the high school version of it bored me. Hence me eventually developing an interest in anime series which are heavily-grounded in economics is quite ironic, but I have favored them ever since starting to follow the Spice & Wolf franchise in the late 2000s. That interest continued with MAOYU and Ascendance of a Bookworm, and one or two others along the way that I am sure that I am forgetting. This isekai series, which is based on a light novel series, has a similar kind of foundation to its predecessors, one which looks more at the nitty-gritty details than the grand adventures of its medieval fantasy setting – at least so far, anyway. That gives it the potential to be involving for those who were fans of any of the aforementioned franchises, though episode three also shows some troubling warning signs.
In the story, Kazuya Souma is a studious young man in modern Japan who doesn’t have any family ties left, but suddenly getting summoned to another world still throws him off. Worse, he finds that he’s not supposed to be a battle hero for the Elfrieden Kingdom who summoned him, but rather a tribute to the Gran Chaos Empire (in lieu of money), which is bearing the burden of the fighting against the invasive Demon Territory and expecting other natures to contribute. To avoid that fate, Kazuya sees only one option: convince the leadership of the financially-troubled Elfrieden to reform their kingdom’s finances so that the tribute can be paid after all. To his surprise, he is so convincing at this that the weak-willed current king chooses to abdicate in favor of Kazuya, as he sees the young man to be more suited to the task.
While this might seem overly optimistic and irresponsible at first, the first episode does at least clarify that multiple nights of discussions led to this decision, and that it might be the first truly sound decision that the spineless king has made. (Interesting that even the ministers seem to look to the queen for approval, though!) The other mild surprise is that Princess Liscia, a boyish type who actively serves in Elfrieden’s military, has not yet turned into the total tsundere which might be expected for a character in her situation. After all, she was promised in marriage to Kazuya as part of the deal, and that suddenly happening would throw anyone off, but through the first three episodes she is shown quickly coming to appreciate how serious and thoughtfully Kazuya is taking his new role and how hard he is working for the betterment of Elfrieden. He’s even being thoughtful towards her, both by giving her the option to reject the marriage arrangement and by showing her what she needs to know so that she can eventually rule herself. By the end of episode 3, signs are already showing that she may be falling for him, so anything less than that eventually happening will be a disappointment at this point.
The first three episodes are all about laying the foundation for the economic revitalization of the kingdom, based on Kazuya’s premise that things like wars cannot be handled unless the kingdom has a firm financial basis first. Episode 2, where Kazuya makes a kingdom-wide announcement that he is recruiting talented individuals in all fields regardless of status or background after realizing that most of the kingdom’s administration is lacking, is the strongest and most effective episode so far at promoting this revitalization. In fact, it’s done well enough to give me high hopes about the series accomplishing grand things despite its more mundane focus. It also furthers some indications made in episode 1 that the series will also be tracking how others in power and information positions view Kazuya’s actions.
Sadly, episode 3 is a regression on this front, one that bogs down badly by taking nearly the whole episode to introduce several individuals shown (and named!) in the opener. The characters being introduced are not the problem, and the specialist role each will play for Kazuya is obvious in most cases: the dark elf is his champion, the singer is his tool for influencing the kingdom’s morale, the smart human will be his advisor, and the beast girl’s ability to communicate with animals has all sorts of potential applications. The most interesting case is the hard-core foodie, who worthiness is least obvious but still important: his knowledge of cuisine from all over the world will be invaluable for determining which food crops would be worthy financial investments both for feeding the populace and for trade, especially since Kazuya is seeking to reverse a previous trend towards cash crops that have gone bust. I did particularly like how the adviser guy’s estimation of Kazuya switched to favorable based on Kazuya picking up on that. But did a whole episode really have to be spent on this? They didn’t even finish with the beast girl’s introduction, either – and hopefully she has something more crucial than just needing to go to the bathroom that the episode cliffhangs on, though I wouldn’t put it past the writing to pull that stunt.
As for the economics side of things, all the points and observations that Kazuya makes are sound, practical ones, such as monetizing treasures that are just sitting around gathering dust and have no major symbolic value or realizing that the over-commitment to a cash crop has cut into the kingdom’s ability to feed itself. Also, some fresh blood with fresh ideas was clearly needed to shake up a kingdom which had become too staid in its ways due to weak leadership. However, did the person doing the shake-up have to be an isekai individual? After all, Machiavelli’s The Prince (which Kazuya was shown reading before getting spirited away) was written during Italy’s Renaissance period, and the economics of things like cash crops – and how that could go awry – was understood (if not widely-used) even earlier than that. The idea of recruiting the most talented regardless of social background is also hardly a modern concept; leaders as far back as antiquity were known to have done that (though admittedly it wasn’t a common practice). Basically, I’m a little concerned about too much credit being given to Kazuya for his innovations based on him simply being from a more modern world.
But I am willing to give the series time to set itself up on that point, since this is not going to be a fast-moving story. Technical merits so far are only average at best, and none of the character designs used so far stand out. Both the OP and ED themes are solid (though the visuals for the latter are lacking), but the musical score is not otherwise remarkable. Hence the series is going to have to carry itself entirely on its story content, but at this time, I can see no reason why it will not be able to do so.
First, apologies for the delay on posting this. I have talked about this final episode extensively in other forums, so it slipped my mind that I had not done a proper write-up here.
After episode 23, I was a bit worried about how the final episode would manage to cover everything that was left in novel 5 without seeming too rushed. But that’s exactly what the final episode did: it powered through all of the key points at a brisk pace, which amounts to a more frenetic episode than normal for this franchise. In the process it brings the human side of the story to a cliffhanger stopping point, while also progressing the spider side to the point where Kumoko formally hooks up with Demon Lord Ariel and baby Sophia.
On the human side, the addition of the Glorias to the battle against Kyouya and Sophia has (as expected) a negligible effect on how the battle plays outs. Even those war machines do not pose much of a threat to those two powerhouses, and Shun and his companions are clearly not in Kyouya’s league any more than they are in Sophia’s. (Exactly why they’re so much stronger is beyond the scope of this series, but will be covered in both cases if there are follow-up seasons; Kyouya’s story is told in novel 8 and Sophia’s is given piecemeal from volume 6 on.) Though hardly good, the CG and battle staging is at least a bit better than in the previous couple of episodes, so the real problem spots here are how both Anna’s sacrifice and Shun’s use of Mercy triggering Taboo are handled. In the former case, the anime has done a poor job of establishing Anna’s importance to Shun (and vice versa), which is a failing compared to the novels and sure to leave anime-only viewers scratching their heads. The latter case may also confuse anime-only viewers, since the series has skipped over Shin using Mercy in three other cases; in the anime, he has only been shown using it for Katia and Anna. Otherwise, the series ends the human side exactly where it does in the novels, though it leaves out one slight detail: Hiiro Wakaba was especially memorable because – despite her reclusive personality – she was universally regarded as the prettiest girl in class.
The spider side is handled better, though the series could have put a little more effort into setting up that Kumoko could survive by transferring her mind to one of the newborns created via the Egg-Laying skill; this was only vaguely hinted at as a possibility a few episodes back. The adaptation is skipping a little in having Kumoko go right to Arachne form, but I saw nothing problematic here about how that sequence is handled. Further, seeing the expressions on Kumoko’s human face as she continues to talk mentally (and not through her human mouth!) was a delight. That dovetails directly into Potimas’s efforts to first take – and then later kill – Sophia, who is revealed to have turned Merazophis into a vampire out of desperation for a protector who won’t die on her.
That part and Kumoko’s ensuing arrival and duel with Potimas (or, rather, the remote-controlled Potimas Terminator (which is, presumably, how he survived being beheaded by Sophia on the human side several episodes back) are also handled pretty well; given the production problems the series was dealing with, I have to wonder if that sequence was originally intended to be done in CG but had to be redone in 2D animation when the CG work broke down. Ariel’s arrival ends that, shows the full extent of Body Brain integrating with her, and shows how the two came to a peaceable working relationship. In other words, while the human side comes down to a cliffhanger, the spider side ends the first major stage of its story and sets up for the transition into the next stage.
On the whole, I can see this episode being a messy experience for anime-only viewers, as it does not resolve much (especially on the human side) and throws out a ton of hooks for future stories. The revelation that the elves are completely the bad guys, rather than just doing some bad things, may also be a bit jarring. As a novel reader, though, I am generally pleased with how both the last episode and the adaptation in general has played out. Yes, the adaptation has had some animation and editing issues that can probably be attributed to a too-ambitious production schedule, and the series would be better if a couple of second-half episodes were entirely redone, but I found it plenty entertaining enough, and enough of a departure from the normal isekai power game routine, to still give the adaptation a favorable rating.
The following entries will provide brief reviews of the debut episodes for most series this season, in the order that the debut. Sequels where I have not seen the earlier season will be skipped over, but there are only a handful of these this season.
To se the list of where each title is streaming and when they debut, see this link.
NOTE: With only a handful more titles set to debut for the season (and not for a while), this will be the last daily update and will go off sticky status with the next episode review. I will add in previews for The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated, and Fena: Pirate Princess as they debut.
The Idaten Know Only Peace
Streams: Crunchyroll on Thursdays Rating: 3 (of 5)
800 years ago, a group of warrior deities known as Idaten answered human calls for salvation and drove rampaging demons out of the lands, with all but the youngest – Rin – using their essences to seal the demons away. In present day, Rin continues to take her duty to protect the seal seriously, and so ruthlessly trains (aka “brutally pummels”) three newer Idaten, a task which takes on renewed urgency when a frozen leftover demon is unthawed and demons who have been give human form have infiltrated and become part of one of the major human world powers.
This is the new adaptation from MAPPA, which is based on a manga from the creative minds being Interspecies Reviewers (writing) and Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid (art). Given that combination, the extreme, visually ambitious production that might be expected is exactly why what we get – only it may be too ambitious for its own good. Certainly, it dazzles with its action scenes and flippant attitude about blood-splattering violence, but that’s all fine, since Idaten can apparently get holes blown straight through them without it more than hurting a bit. It also has a highly distinctive visual aesthetic (especially in the use of color) and one of the most distinctive and catchy openers of the new season. However, it also features one of the most tonally jarring scenes in recent memory, when the first of two debut episodes ends on an almost Clockwork Orange-like scene of evil-looking soldiers raping a nun. (A later scene in episode 2 also has soldiers talking about ravaging every enemy of any age range in a similar fashion.)
Granted, the second episode goes on to clarify that cases like the nun’s rape and human prayers for salvation from such horrors are what allow the Idaten to come into being, and further that genuine demons are behind the human atrocities. That episode also seems to be staking out a divide between humans and the Idaten, who only interfere for major existential threats to humans and don’t get involved in affairs between humans. Since there does seem to be a point to it, I’m not against the rape scene being there per se (and that’s why I am not docking the rating too much), but this was, at best, an inelegant way to handle it, one which contrasts jarringly with the upbeat closer which immediately follows.
If this series goes back to purely focusing on crazy content, and stops trying to do anything seriously, then I can see it succeeding. I can also see this turning off a number of potential viewers.
Sonny Boy
Streams: Funimation on Thursdays Rating: 3 (of 5)
For several days now, a high school and thirty-odd of its students have been stranded in a black void space. Some of the students have even developed super-powers. Some merely choose to do nothing at all, while others turn to destructive paths or seek to maintain the status quo, in case they get transported back to where they belong. One girl, who was frustrated with the status quo even before the incident started, seeks to challenge their circumstances, even if that means leaping into the void.
This sci fi-themed Lord of the Flies-type scenario was one of the more anticipated titles of the season because of its pedigree (animated by Madhouse, created and directed by the director behind Space Dandy, One Punch Man, and Boogiepop and Others), and it’s certainly a bit different; its animation style is distinctive from all other titles this season and it uses almost no musical score at all. The first episode entirely involves establishing the situation and what will presumably be the core cast members, with a dramatic venue change in the final scene, so I am not clear yet where this is going. It does seem intent on analyzing the different ways that teens respond to a stressful situation, however. Not sure if I can see that being enough to hold my interest, either. The concept has potential, so it gets a middling score for now.
Night Head 2041
Streams: Crunchyroll on Wednesdays Rating: 3.5 (of 5)
In a near future where World War 3 has been fought, Japan has outlawed all religions and supernatural beliefs as “thought crimes.” The SWE is a paramilitary organization charged with hunting down offenders, but an effort to capture cult leader Miracle Mike takes an unexpected turn when two agents encounter a girl who otherwise isn’t detectable and experience other strange phenomena which hamper their mission. Meanwhile, two brothers have (with help) escaped from a research facility, only to learn that the public has turned harshly against spiritual energy – which is a problem, since both can use it.
This new anime series originates from a 1992 TV series called Night Head, which spawned a (badly-animated) 2006 anime series called Night Head Genesis. As near as I can tell from the first episode, however, you don’t need any familiarity with either of the two previous properties. This looks like a stand-alone version, one which uses some characters and elements from previous versions but is taking a different angle. It is also the second all-CG production of the season, but this is a vastly superior grade of CG compared to what was seen in D_Cide Traumeri. On the downside, nothing at all is fresh about the premise; the set-up looks like a fairly standard one for a sci fi series where the line gets crossed between tech and the supernatural, with youths from both sides caught in the middle. Still, the execution in this first episode is good enough that I am cautiously optimistic, hence the above-average grade.
Mother of the Goddess’ Dormitory
Streams: HIDIVE on Wednesdays Rating: 3.5 on ecchi scale, 2 otherwise
12-year-old Koushi has the misfortune to have lost his house in a fire and then been abandoned by his father. Desperate for a job and a place to stay, he gets taken in by one of the residents of the Goddess Dormitory, a dorm for female college students. Since they have long been lacking a “dorm mother,” Koushi is offered the position, much to the consternation of the man-shy Atena. Many sexy hijinks ensue.
Literally the first shot in this manga adaptation shows exposed nipples, so no one can accuse it about not being up-front about being a dedicated ecchi series. In fact, it’s by far the most concentrated dose of ecchi to debut so far this season, and Sentai seems to have gotten an uncensored version to boot. That’s basically all the first episode (which is split into two distinct parts) is, too: just putting Koushi in a succession of ecchi situations where he is overwhelmed by the sex appeal of these older, well-endowed young ladies. The rest is just standard set-up, such as how the dorm is a collection of misfits avoided by the rest of the university, they’re incompetent at looking after themselves, and don’t mind Koushi chewing them out a bit even though he’s mortified by it. The naming theme (Atena, Frey, possibly others) is really the only other twist here. So it’s a solid opener for those looking for nothing more than fan service and not worth watching otherwise.
Battle Game in 5 Seconds
Streams: Crunchyroll on Mondays Rating: 3 (of 5)
Akira is a high school student who excels at the games he constantly plays but appreciates nothing else in life. Even when attack by a monstrous man he suddenly encounters, he treats the man’s defeat as a game scenario. That leads to him getting taken in (some might say kidnapped) by the cat-woman Mion, who is using Akira and numerous others to test special abilities for the company she represents. In that environment, Akira resolves to master his doozy of an ability until he can get his freedom and revenge.
This manga adaptation looks and feels much like any other scenario where diverse participants are given special abilities and thrown at each other in battle, with the title referring to the five-second delay after meeting an opponent and before the battle starts. The scenario even uses a standard array of participants, the Delinquent, the Sexy Woman, the Meek Girl, the High School Girl, the Muscle Guy, and so forth. What might make this one watchable is that the seeming protagonist is given one hell of an odd, not-at-all-straightforward ability, and seeing how he uses it to defeat opponents could be a lot of fun. The closer and Next Episode preview suggest that other characters and their stories will also make it into the limelight, so this series’ success going forward will depend on how interesting those scenarios are as well. Oh, and it has an evil catgirl, too, who is so disconcerting that I’m not sure what to make of her at this point.
D_Cide Traumerei
Streams: Crunchyroll on Saturday
Rating: 2 (of 5)
In this anime branch of an upcoming mixed media project, teenager Ryuuhei trains for kickboxing but is plagued by the mysterious death of his older brother several years earlier. After a mysterious creature bites him, he finds himself able to access an alternate-dimensional space where bizarre creatures roam and two youths fight them off. When that setting – and those monsters – bleed into reality, he learns that the others are Knocker-Ups (nope, no room for snide jokes there. . .), individuals who can manifest weaponry to fight off the Weirds, which can be empowered by the dark desires of humans. Ryuuhei learns that he can become a Knocker-Up, too, and that this all might have something to do with his brother’s death.
This new action series is going to take an immediate hit from many viewers for its exclusive use of CG. While this isn’t a top-grade effort, I found the animation to be at least tolerable and the battle design respectable. The more genuine problem here – and the reason I cannot rate this first episode any higher – is that it does basically nothing fresh. Cool action scenes, weird monster designs (giant hands with tongues and demeanors like dogs), and nifty battle gimmicks (I especially liked the blond girl using the minigun, who is voiced by Aoi Yuki using her Tanya Degurechaff voice) can only go so far when the mechanics and presentation feel like something I’ve seen dozens of times before. To gain broader popularity, the series is going to need some more distinctive hooks than what it has shown so far.
I’m Standing on 1,000,000 Lives 2 (ep 13)
Streams: Crunchyroll on Fridays Rating: 3.5 (of 5)
A week after the last mission, the next one finally arrives, only this time Yusuke and the girls are joined by their fifth member: Keita, the blond boy Yusuke helped separate from a mobster at the end of last season. Upon encountering a much older, retired Kahvel, they learn that 15 years have passed in that world. It is a bittersweet reunion for Yusuke, but that doesn’t change the mission that they have 20 days to complete: go to an island and offer a buffalo at a local festival. The big problem is that a fortress on the island in question has been taken over by shipwrecked orcs, who are forcing tribute from the islanders and thus preventing the festival from happening.
While I wouldn’t by any stretch call it a favorite, I did follow and episode review the first season back during the Fall 2020 season (see the write-ups here) and felt that the series did have its moments by the end. One of them was the female knight Kahvel, with whom Yusuke had an understanding and rapport that he never managed with the other girls. She proves to be the highlight of this episode as well, though for different reasons: she mellowed and became a mother after losing a hand in a war which followed the events of the previous season, and she uses this reunion as an opportunity to confess that she had fallen for Yusuke (something that was suggested but never overtly-stated in the first season) – but pointedly, she uses past tense, as time and circumstances forced her to move on. (Disappointingly, we do not see who she ended up marrying.) That and the scene where Kusue encounters the grown-up version of the boy she protected back early in the first season make for effectively poignant moments, and the scenario involving the orcs at the end looks like it will be an appropriate new challenge. Not sure how Keita is going to fit into the mix as yet, but he has a brasher spirit than the others, so he could wind up partly taking on Kahvel’s role.
Overall, this is a solid continuation of the first season and provides no reason for those who followed the first season not to continue with it.
The Dungeon of Black Company
Streams: Funimation on Fridays
Rating: 2 (of 5)
In Japan, Kinji prided himself on building up investments at a young age sufficiently so that he could be an “Uber Pro NEET” as an adult. The flaw to his plan was a random portal opening up and transporting him to another world, where he winds up as a peon mine worker. Discontent with that, he uses his discovery of a hidden passage, and the ensuing alliance with a large monster gril and help from a magical hypnotizing staff, to take over for a time. . . until the staff breaks, anyway.
Based on its art and advertising blurb, I fully expected this manga adaptation to be a dark comedy with a bum of a protagonist. What I didn’t expect was for Kinji to be a complete ass, and not in the lovable sense. He loves to feel superior and not only makes fun of the working masses but also takes advantage of them when he can. Based on the first episode, I suspect the intent here is to show him getting comeuppance on a regular basis when his schemes go awry, but there is a balancing act to making these kinds of protagonists work, and this series is not off to a good start in finding it. (By comparison, Combat Agent Six from Combatants Will Be Dispatched! is an example of this character being done successfully.) At least a bit of the humor does work, hence why I am not giving the episode an even lower rating, but it is not looking promising so far.
The aquatope on white sand
Streams: Crunchyroll on Thursdays Rating: 4.5 (of 5)
Studio P.A. Works has been on my radar ever since it blew me away a decade ago with Hanasaku Iroha, and director Toshiya Shinohara has caught my attention for his direction of the underrated P.A. Works titles Red Data Girl and Irodoku: The World in Colors (and was also an episode director for Hanasaku Iroha), so this one was one of my more anticipated debuts of the season. It doesn’t disappoint. The technical merits and visual style are all up to the high standards of the studio, but at least as importantly, it sells the premise. While the specifics may differ, this is, at heart, a similar structure to all of the previously-mentioned titles: a young woman is at a point of transition in her life, so a relocation to a new venue leads to new encounters, a new way to look at the world, and an opportunity to discover herself.
In this case, the young woman is Fuka Miyazawa, a small-town girl who went to Tokyo to become an idol and put in a lot of hard work towards it, but she gave up on her dream when she realized that a newcomer totally outclassed her. Left directionless, she goes to Okinawa on a whim, rather than going back to her hometown, and winds up at the Gawa Gawa Aquarium, where she has a mystical experience while gazing at the tropical fish. When aquarium director Kukuru talks to her about it and mentions that the aquarium is short-handed, Fuka practically begs Kukuru to let her to stay (and presumably work) there. Meanwhile, a very short individual (possibly a god or spirit?) is popping around unobtrusively.
The individual scene which impressed the most is the one depicted in the screenshot, where Fuka experiences the water seeming to flow out of the aquarium and envelop her, but really, everything about this episode hits exactly the right note. Each of the leads and her situation is already appreciable, and the gentle flow of the story perfectly paces itself. It has exactly the right mix of casual character introductions and more than a touch of mysticism, yet the story remains ground by the circumstances of especially Fuka. Given the pedigree, this first episode being strong is not a surprise, but this is easily the most impressive debut so far this season.
Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid S
Streams: Crunchyroll on Wednesdays Rating: 4 (of 5)
The dragons are back for another round of full-length episodes! And there’s a new one arriving on the scene: Ilulu, a red dragon with a short, extremely busty humanoid build. She is a member of the chaos faction and simply cannot abide that Tohru is living with a human, so she first challenges Kobayashi to a duel, and when that fails to gain results, decides to approach Kobayashi privately to see if she can figure out what’s luring Tohru into a peaceful life. Before that, Tohru learns of a maid café opening nearby and decides she has to investigate it personally, only to wind up giving the maids there an unusual quirk in how they present omurice.
Although I watched and liked the first series, I was never a mega-fan of the franchise, so this was not one of my high-priority titles for the new season. Even so, I can still appreciate how readily and comfortably the series settles back into its earlier routines. Ilulu is certain to shake things up a bit, especially with the gimmick she appears to have pulled on Kobayashi at the end of the episode, and her earlier fight with Tohru is no joke; arguably, it’s the most intense and well-animated action sequence so far in this new season. In fact, the animation in general is a grade above most other new titles this season. I was also impressed by the balance it found between its humorous and serious elements. The minor negatives are that the humor is not quite as sharp and I don’t like Ilulu’s character design, but the new season still shows a lot of promise.
Tsukimichi – Moonlit Fantasy
Streams: Crunchyroll on Wednesdays Rating: 4 (of 5)
Makoto Misumi thinks he’s an ordinary Japanese high schooler, but an encounter with the god Tsukuyomi reveals to him that he’s actually the son of parents who are from another world, so to complete a contract they once signed, he is being returned to that world. The problem is that the goddess of that world doesn’t like him and decides she has others to fill the role of Hero, so Makoto finds himself exiled to the wastelands on the edge of the world. Encounters there with a cute orc girl and a dragon lead him to understand that he has more than just a gift of language available to him; he’s also quite strong by the standards of that world, even if he is only level 1.
This isekai tale seems at first to operate only on a minor gimmick that has, to some extent, been used before: that he has not been summoned for any particular purpose, and is on the bad side of his summoner. More ordinarily, he’s also quite OP (though he does not realize this at first). What seems like the set-up for a fully generic isekai tale instead turns into a surprisingly fun and entertaining little adventure, enough so that I may actually have to watch more of this one. It works, I think, because it hits exactly the right pacing, tone, and use of satire: brisk without being rushed, a smooth balance of comedic and slightly more serious elements, and a full acknowledgement of standard isekai tropes while still rolling with them. The visuals are nothing special, but they suit the comment well, and the closer is a delight. The lead voice work by Natsuki Hanae (Tanjiro in Demon Slayer) also merits special recognition. This one could be one of the season’s sleeper hits.
Drug Store in Another World – The Slow Life of a Cheat Pharmacist
Streams: Crunchyroll on Wednesdays Rating: 2.5 (of 5)
Over the last few years, a subclass of isekai titles has emerged which focuses more on general cutesiness and low-key, slice-of-life moments in an alternate world rather than grand plots or dire threats. Ascendance of a Bookworm arguably kicked off the anime adaptations of this trend, and the past year has seen entries like By the Grace of the Gods and I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level. This light novel adaptation would not only appear to be the next entry in that subclass, but also take that concept to the extreme, to the point that I must wonder why this is even an isekai story in the first place. Really, nothing about the first episode in the slightest involves protagonist Reiji Kirio originally being from another world. The closer vaguely suggests that he may be applying to chemistry to his alchemy, but even that does not show in the one scene here where Reiji is mixing things up.
Don’t expect any background on how Reiji came to be in this situation, either. (That this might be an in media res introduction, and thus the background is upcoming in the next episode, is a possibility, though.) The episode starts with him settled in as a drugstore operator with a cute female ghost as his assistant and an even cuter little werewolf girl as the store mascot. Throughout a trio of vignettes about energy drinks, a tea to sooth a girlfriend prone to anxiety, and a botanical deodorant, cute factor gets stressed more than anything else. Even the medicine-mixing routine has more of a song-and-dance number type of feel to it. Some of this is a little funny, and all of it is inoffensive, but with its mediocre artistry and lake of stress factors, if the cute factor does not carry the show for you then I see little appeal here.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime s3 (ep 37)
Streams: Crunchyroll on Tuesdays Rating: 3 (of 5)
Continuing directly where the Winter 2021 season left off, Veldora is now free in human form and gets introduced to the rest of the Tempest Kingdom, who are dubious about his identity at first. (Diablo also gets introduced.) After a celebration, a strategy session about the future commences, one which is eventually joined by a couple of unexpected guests.
And this might even be overstating how much the first episode of this season accomplishes. For the most part, the episode is just an exercise in allowing several key personalities to show off, especially uber-blowhard Veldora, who has been influenced way too much by Rimiru’s knowledge of manga, and Eren’s overprotective father. Of all of this, the most interesting aspect is the new twist on Shion’s cooking, though I am liking Raphael and her attitude more and more. I’ll give this episode a bit of leeway, since it is clearly laying some groundwork for the season’s bigger plots, but this was never among my favorites to begin with as isekai series go, so it will have to do more in future episodes to keep my interest. The mediocre quality of the artistry at several points is also concerning.
Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles
Streams: Crunchyroll on Mondays Rating: 3 (of 5)
Haruto was a young man living in Japan until his life ended in a bus/train accident. Rio, the son of immigrants, is an orphan boy living in the slums of Bertram Kingdom until he can find out who killed his mother. When Rio suddenly finds himself remembering things about Haruto, a special magical power also starts to awaken in him. That’s fortunate, since he also finds himself in the midst of a plot to kidnap a girl who turns out to be his kingdom’s second princess. Though mistaken for working with the kidnappers at first, he eventually becomes recognized as helping to save the princess, and meets a magic-using girl named Celia in the process.
Though the first episode of this light novel adaptation (which actually feels more like a mobile game adaptation) reveals that Rio is a reincarnation of the modern-Japan Haruto, that detail is largely irrelevant to how the episode plays out. Instead, the story focuses mostly on laying the groundwork for how Rio ends up attending a magic academy and eventually becomes an OP bad-ass strongly (at least visually speaking) in the “Kirito from SAO” vein. The opener and closer further suggest that Rio will eventually adventure with a gaggle of cute girls, at least some of which may be reincarnations from the bus accident themselves. All of this comes with a bit harsher edge than the norm for bland fantasy series, and hints already thrown out about bigger plot arcs (nineteen volumes of the source material already exist), so there’s at least a possibility floated that this series could wind up being more than just another SEVEN KNIGHTS REVOLUTION: Hero Successor or Hortensia Saga. Certainly it has cute character designs on its side for the girls introduced so far, and the one sustained action scene is crisp. I’m giving it a middle-of-the-road grade for now, but I will probably watch at least one or two more episodes to see if it amounts to more.
Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan
Streams: Funimation on Mondays Rating: 3 (of 5)
31-year-old bachelor Uramichi Omota is a “gymnast oniisan” (essentially, the exercise leader) in a popular show for young children. Though he puts up a cheery front for the young children, some of the intense ennui he feels about his life bleeds through in the “life lessons” that he delivers to the children amidst the show’s normal antics. Each of his four fellow actors also has their own discontents with their lives.
The description for this one is short because the whole series is, basically, a sketch comedy operating under the premise described above. The overriding running joke is that the adult actors cannot help but convey their jaded outlooks on adult life to the pre-school-aged children in the form of comments about how soul-crushing adult life can be. In Uramichi’s case, he even works this into a song using the syllables of his name; expect more of this in future episodes, as jaded song lyrics are also a regular feature of the source manga. I have read the first two volumes of the source material, and what you see in the first episode is pretty much what you can expect the whole series to be (although the side characters (especially the other members of the adult cast should sporadically get more screen time). The big concern here is that the routine could eventually get old, and this style of humor definitely will not work for everyone. If you have a positive reaction to this episode, though, then you will probably like the series as a whole.
One other fun fact for anime-only viewers: all of the roles shown here are standard ones for Japanese children’s shows, so this series is also a parody of that format.
The Detective is Already Dead
Streams: Funimation on Sundays Rating: 3 (of 5)
Kimihiko has always been plagued by misfortune, including having parents that have long been missing. Maybe that’s why he has a hard time telling if meeting self-proclaimed “great detective” Siesta on a plane is a blessing or a curse. Certainly, she’s cute and has both phenomenal physical skills and deductive capabilities, as well as several “legendary tools” at her disposal, but she seems weirdly insistent on dragging him along as her sidekick during an incident involving a possible hijacker on the plane, one which winds up involving a possible minion of an evil organization. After a further incident involving the true nature of several disappearances at Kimihiko’s school, and how they might be connected to the legend of Hanako-san, Kimihiko concedes defeat and agrees to be her sidekick until death do them part. He just didn’t expect that to come so soon.
This light novel adaptation was probably my most-anticipated title of the new season based on advertising clips and premise, and it even got a double-episode debut! Hence, I am particularly disappointed that the first episode gets the series off to such a tepid start. To be sure, the first episode shows no problem with the sharp visuals, animation, and especially character design; Siesta, with her vaguely Gothic-themed outfit or wedding dress iterations and easy smile, is a visual charmer, a character certain to be immortalized in figma. The overall concept – of a young man becoming the sidekick of a bewitching brilliant detective, only to wind up outliving her – is also fine, as is a first case which hints of bigger conspiracies and a second case which ultimately proves to have a more mundane evil behind it. However, the story execution leaves a lot to be desired.
The main problem, I think, is that the dialog exchanges between Siesta and Kimihiko bog the writing down. They are so self-absorbed and so intent on using a certain verbose, snark-laden style seen in a few other series that they disrupt the pacing. The episode further hurts itself by trying to load itself up too much on fan-favorite elements; for instance, what was the narrative point of the whole wedding cosplay? Sure, we got to see Siesta look gorgeous in the wedding dress and do the reverse-gender-role carry, and it does set up the later “’til death do us part” line, but it had no functional value for what the two were doing at the time. Still, the main part of the premise – that Siesta is dead in the present – only lands at the end of the episode, and one of two other girls shown in the will-be-opener debuts in the epilogue, so I’ll give this at least one more episode to see where it’s going before passing judgment.
The Duke of Death and His Maid
Streams: Funimation on Sundays
Rating: 4 (of 5)
As a five-year-old, the Duke of Death was cursed by a witch such that anything living that he touches – even with gloves on – dies. Because of this, his family has exiled him to live in an isolated mansion, served only by a butler (who does not appear in this episode) and his maid Alice, who is the daughter of his family’s head maid and someone he has known since childhood. Despite knowing what he can do, Alice often gets uncomfortably close and acts provocatively towards him, but she is also firmly supportive when a onetime friend of the Duke comes to visit.
This manga adaptation seems to operate on a single joke: that saucy, full-figured Alice regularly gives the Duke teasing glimpses of bare flesh and gets so close to the Duke that it would be an uncomfortable violation of personal space even if direct contact with him wouldn’t kill her. In other words, it operates on the premise the he has reasons beyond just an innocent’s shyness for being anxious about her behavior. I don’t know how long the series will be able to sustain this joke, but it works delightfully well through the first episode. The content is not just comedy, however: the visit of former friend Philip turns out to be a more serious affair involving an ulterior motive Philip has and how it connects to the Duke’s mother. That encounter affirms that, for all of the teasing Alice does, she does seem to genuinely care for the Duke as well. That’s good, because I am not sure that the series – with all of its Victorian style and propriety – would fully work without that. On the downside for some, all of the character animation seems to be done in CG, but I didn’t find that to be a problem. This is quite entertaining fare definitely worth another look.
How a Realist Hero Rebuilt The Kingdom
Streams: Funimation on Saturdays Rating: 4 (of 5)
After his last remaining relative died, Kazuya Soma studied to become a civil servant. He’s going to meet his goal sooner than expected, and in a way he never expected, when he gets transported to another world under the order of the King of Elfrieden, a multiracial nation in a fantasy world. Elfrieden’s leadership is desperate to find some way to pay tribute to another nation which is busy fighting off an encroaching horde of monsters, and since they have no money to send (partly due to refugees from the monster horde), they initially intend to send the hero instead. Kazuya manages to argue the case that he’d be better-used reforming the kingdom’s finances to the point where they can pay tribute, which leads to the king unexpectedly abdicating to Kazuya and giving his military-minded daughter, Liscia, as Kazuya’s bride. Now both are stuck in situations they don’t want, although with the common goal of the betterment of the kingdom.
I have been mildly interested in this franchise ever since its light novels first started getting released in the States, but I never got around to reading the novels. After seeing the first anime episode, that is now a big regret, as it fits even more firmly in my sphere of interest than I would have imagined. This is a quite different take on the standard isekai scheme, but a plausible one; sometimes it can take an outsider’s view to recognize opportunities and inefficiencies in an established system, and Kazuya is absolutely right that the kingdom cannot be effective on a continent-wide stage until it gets its own house in order. The first episode efficiently establishes the situation and at least briefly introduces several individuals who will presumably be key players in the long run, while also laying the groundwork for Liscia to accept Kazuya. (Again, her mother seems to understand things perfectly.) Visuals and design elements aren’t extraordinary but are at least solid. Overall, this is by far the most interesting debut yet and an early contender for one of the series that I will episode-review this season.
Kageki Shoujo!!
Streams: Funimation on Saturdays Rating: 4 (of 5)
The Kouka Revue is an all-female theater troupe patterned off the historical Takarazuka Revue. In later years, the exclusive Kouka School of Musical and Theatrical Arts was established to foster new generations of revue members. Attendees come from all sorts of backgrounds, including Kouka Revue legacies and ballet. Ai comes from a bit different background: she was a pop idol group member before being forced to “graduate” after a bad encounter with a fan, which has left her skittish around men. She seeks the all-female student environment of the school, but finds herself saddled with Sarasa, an unusually tall, loud, and very forward young woman who becomes her roommate and seems to already regard Ai as a friend, much to Ai’s dismay.
This manga adaptation was one of the most-anticipated by anime reviews, and I can kind of see why from the first episode. While it has the flavor of a fairly standard performing arts school series, Ai is already presenting herself as a compelling lead, one who (I suspect) had a very bad experience with a fan. Sarasa makes almost the perfect foil for her with her height and brash energy, but a more unusual performance background is also strongly suggested. Both should make for good storytelling fodder, especially with an obsessive fan on the hunt for Ai already being shown. What impressed me more, though, were the little details. Possible character hooks for numerous other girls have already been worked in, and background characters are not just reacting passively to foreground events. Not sure how pleased I am with the art style, but I might actually check out a second episode to see if the series can stick or not.
RE-MAIN
Streams: Funimation on Saturdays Rating: 3.5 (of 5)
In middle school, Minato Kiyomizu was a core member of a national champion water polo team, but a car accident left him in a coma for 6½ months and with no memory of the preceding three years – which means, of course, no memory of water polo or the teammates he won the championship with. As he and his family struggle to come to terms with the time that he has missed, he waffles over whether he should pursue water polo again or not. A persistent former teammate certainly wants him to, as does the water polo captain at the school he gets into, but maybe he needs a stronger incentive – like the kiss of a very pretty girl he saw in a sports magazine, for instance.
Water polo does not interest me in the slightest as a sport, and the emphasis on the swim trunk-adorned bodies of young men in the visuals further convinces me that I am not in the target audience, so there is almost zero chance that I will follow this one. However, I did actually like the approach taken here. This episode does not skimp on the lingering impact of the accident on Minato or his family, and that makes him a more sympathetic character than he might otherwise be. Sure, it’s still a bit gimmicky, and still has the flavor of familiar character archetypes for sports series, but spending the whole first episode without providing even a sample of the featured sport in the first episode is bold move. This series could have potential for genre fans and others who went gaga over Free!
(Oh, and fun factoid: the title is a play on words that also references a type of offsides violation in water polo.)
The Honor at Magic High School
Streams: Funimation on Saturdays Rating: (2.5 of 5)
In this alternate-angle look at the Mahouka universe, Miyuki is the primary character and most of what transpires is channeled through her viewpoint. This episode’s events take place shortly before the beginning of the first anime series and features Tatsuya treating Miyuki to what amounts to a date to celebrate her 15th birthday. In the process, she gets what will become her signature snowflake hair clip as a birthday gift.
Miyuki has always annoyed me as a character because her personality mainly seems limited to going gaga over her brother. I had at least some hope that this series would allow her to step out of the shadow of her brother and become her own character (in much the same way that A Certain Scientific Railgun served for Mikoto Mikasa), but the first episode here does not leave much cause for hope. Even when she goes bad-ass to defeat the terrorist (easily the episode’s most entertaining scene), she still defines her motives in terms of Tatsuya. While I normally like alternate-angle retellings, I’m not sure how much of this I will tolerate if the series is not going to strive for more than this. The creators seem aware of that, as they offer a couple of doses of Miyuki fan service to help entice viewers. On the whole, this is for people who were big fans of Miyuki and her relationship with Tatsuya and no one else.
Remake Our Life!
Streams: Crunchyroll on Saturdays
Rating: 4 (of 5)
When the small game company that 28-year-old Kyoya Hashiba works for goes out of business, he finds himself wondering if he made the right decision to go to a regular college instead of the art school he also got accepted to. A chance encounter leads to him working at a major game company – one where the “Platinum Generation” are collaborating on an anniversary project – but that also eventually goes bust when that project is cancelled and staff (including him) is laid off. He falls asleep while pondering what to do next, only to awake to find that time has rolled back 10 years to his critical decision point. Opting for the art school path this time, he soon encounters the college student version of his boss from the major game company and also falls in with an eclectic bunch of freshmen who live at his share-house. Though he worries about whether he can cut it or not in the presence of so many talented people, he also learns that even those who will eventually be placed in the “Platinum Generation” have their own insecurities to deal with.
This light novel adaptation was not on my radar going into this season, but it is now. It uses a double-length debut to establish its premise, which I think was a wise choice, since this set-up could not have been done in a single episode’s time. It uses the first 15 minutes or so to establish where Kyoya is coming from and the rest of the timing to establish his alternate path as a college freshman, including the four other characters (his former boss and three house mates) who look to form the core of the rest of the cast. By the end of the episode, one of his house mates has already been revealed to be one of the “Platinum Generation,” and probably no one would be surprised if the other two house mates also end up being part of that group.
Given what has been shown so far, my suspicion is that Kyoya will eventually find his place as the person who can hold the other three together as a viable working group through his organizational skills, rather than as a contributor to the creative process. That would make for a fine story, and I’d probably watch it out. The artistic and animation effort from studio feel. also looks very solid, though it does have some traces of fan service elements to it. That and some more stock personality types keep me from getting fully enthusiastic about this one, but it shows a good amount of promise so far.
Girlfriend, Girlfriend
Streams: Crunchyroll on Fridays Rating: 3
Naoya has long been in love with his childhood friend Saki, and now, at high school age, he has finally convinced her to date him. There’s just one problem: one day while waiting for Saki, first-year girl Nagisa earnestly confesses to him, including indicating that she had diligently prepared both her body and cooking for months for that moment. Naoya genuinely loves Saki but cannot deny Nagisa’s earnestness, so he proposes not only dating both but also being completely up front about it. Then he further proposes that the trio live together. Then the prospect of a three-way comes up.
Has any male harem lead in recent memory more justly deserved the punch to the face that he gets from his girl after first proposing this scheme to Saki? This being an anime romcom, though, he naturally manages to somehow succeed at getting both girls to agree to both date him simultaneously and live with him. (There’s a strong implication that Saki may be attracted to Nagisa more than she care to admit as well, which could be part of why she ultimately gives in.) That provides the foundation for a raucous, fan service-featuring romcom which promises to be the trashiest series since Domestic Girlfriend, and both advertising copy and the OP and ED suggest that a blond third girl is waiting in the wings as well. Over-dramatic behavior from both Naoya and Saki looks to be a staple of the series (for better or worse), and the artistic elements will attract no one on their own. However, once I got over eye-rolling the premise, I did actually laugh at the antics a fair amount, and that’s why I am giving the first episode a middle rating instead of a much worse one. The humor potential is there if you can stomach the ridiculous premise.
The Case Study of Vanitas
Streams: Funimation on Fridays Rating: 4 (of 5)
In a steampunk version of Paris, the few remaining vampires can normally control their bloodsucking urges, unless their true names are corrupted by a malady. Noé, a young vampire on a quest to find the legendary Book of Vanitas (which is connected to a legend about a vampire who seeks to kill other vampires), discovers this first-hand when a young woman on the airship he’s on gets so corrupted. Just as the problem is getting out of hand, a young man who calls himself a doctor arrives who seems to have the Book of Vanitas. The newcomer uses it to reverse the corruption, then tries to recruit Noé to his cause.
This is based on a manga from the creator of Pandora Hearts, and it quickly makes an impression as a stylish, high-spirited vampire tale which could also have some comedy leanings. Character and background designs are immediate strong points, as is a musical score from Yuki Kajiura, whose signature musical style suits this content well, but the potentially fun relationship between Noé and Vanitas could be the biggest strength. This one looks entertaining enough that I am cautiously optimistic about it.
Peach Boy Riverside
Streams: Crunchyroll on Thursdays
Rating: 3 (of 5)
In the legend of Momotaro, a peach floated down a river and opened to reveal a boy, who would grow up to defeat oni (ogres). But what if there was more than one peach? That is the strong implication behind Sally, a young woman who might be a former princess who’s out on a journey to find a young man named Mikoto (possibly a brother?). She befriends the demihuman hare folk Frau, who also proves quite proficient at fighting oni but also is quite feared by villagers. When not even Frau’s strength can prevail against a walrus oni threatening a town they visit next, Sally’s real power awakens.
Honestly, I’m not sure what to make of this one after just one episode, as the tone is all over the place. It seems at times like a cute little story about a girl befriending a rabbit person, but the artistry also tends to emphasize Sally’s rather large bust and has a random scene later on where she imagines an octopus doing naughty tentacles on her. Also, while the first battle scene (in the village) is tame, the scene with the walrus gets shocking graphic very fast. This gives the feel that the episode is trying to be too many things at the same time, and a merely mediocre artistic effort (not bad, but on the bland side) is not enough to compensate. The first episode has some interesting enough content that I will check out at least one more episode before deciding, hence the middle-of-the-road rating for now.
Scarlet Nexus
Streams: Funimation on Wednesdays
Rating: 3 (of 5)
Humans are being attacked by mysterious Others, and a unit of psychically-powered individuals called the OSF has been assembled to defend the populace. Seeming protagonist Yuito and best friend Nagi are new recruits who wind up getting involved in a defense action against the Other on their first day as cadets, an experience they survive thanks to working with sisters Naomi and Kasane, whom they both work with and against on following training and missions.
In other words, this video game-connected title is about as generic as a “super-powered individuals fighting off invaders” kind of show can get, with one exception: the really bizarre designs of the Others. Those are rather unique-looking, though they seemed to me like someone was trying too hard to borrow from Madoka Magika and its witch designs. The elements for a better show are present: the outfits are sharp without being impractical, character designs and basic personalities are appealing, a hint of a mysterious connection exists between Yuito and Kasane, and production values are generally solid (although they already show some weak points). However, the show lacks a spark, or at least some other element beyond the weird monster designs which will distinguish it from the competition. The second episode offers suggestions of a grander plot and dire circumstances for one character (whose survival looks doubtful), but the series is ultimately going to need more of a spark than it shows so far. I put this about on the same level as SEVEN KNIGHTS RVOLUTION: Hero Successor from last season.
This is hardly a flawless series, and better series overall definitely aired during this past season. However, no series in the Spring 2021 season – not even my beloved 86 – more firmly defied initial expectations. Based on the premise (which is fully outlined in the full version of the title!), viewers had every right to expect this one to go in a wholly sleazy direction. . . but it didn’t. To be sure, the series had its occasional fan service moments, including a full-blown sex scene in one flashback, but even those moments rarely felt gratuitous and they disappeared entirely in the series’ later stages. The result was an improbably wholesome story about a twentysomething single man who, for several months, shelters a teenage runaway in his apartment, and without having sex with her even though she freely offers it as recompense.
The story works overall because of the relationship it builds between the two leads. Yoshida is a man who is firm on his principles; he cannot totally deny some level of attraction to Sayu, but he remains resolute that he is only interested in older women. This is a difficult point for everyone (even Sayu) to understand and accept, but as the story gradually shows, this is not just a case of him being kind-hearted or seeing Sayu like a daughter. He wants someone in his life – someone he can come home to – and Sayu fits that bill. That provides at least some selfish basis for why he is so adamant about rejecting Sayu’s efforts to sell her body for a place to stay and insisting that she raise her standards for what should be acceptable from guys: he wants family, not a lover. In the process he helps Sayu sort out her life and become both strong enough and independent enough to confront the troublesome home life which drove her to run away in the first place.
The two most satisfying elements for me were seeing how Sayu gradually collected herself as a person and sorted out her feelings and values and the tenderness of the scenes where they were together, just comforting each other. I also liked how the series did not let either character easily off the hook. In fact, the series almost went overboard in impressing the questionable legality of what Yoshida was doing, while also suggesting that Sayu cannot blame everything on her mother or what happened to her friend; yes, her mother was horrible, but Sayu made some bad choices herself. (So did her brother, for not putting Sayu in a more supervised away-from-home situation.)
The series also has some significant flaws. While I didn’t find the artistry to be distracting, it is far from being one of the more visually ambitious series of the season. The story also shows some clear signs of trimming even from an anime-only perspective, and certain parts of it feel repetitious. Also, one of Sayu’s former hosts gets let off much too easily when he comes back into the picture, and not enough is done in the long run with the women in the office who are interested in Yoshida. However, the stronger points overcome the messiness, and the series ends properly (though not necessarily in a why everyone will be happy with. I reject more cynical interpretations of the content and so can firmly recommend it, even for those who may be leery about the title.
Other Series
86 (4.5+ overall rating) – I almost put this series as my surprise for the season, as while I expected it to be good based on the source material, I don’t think anyone expected it to be this good. This is, quite simply, one of the best adaptations of a light novel that I have ever seen in anime, in any sense you want to name. It is one of the best-looking series of the season of any kind, with top-of-the-line-for-TV CG use in action scenes, rich use of symbolism, and a fine balance between the Alba and 86 sides, and it packs one of the season’s best musical scores as well. Just as importantly, it also takes its time in adapting adapt its compelling premise and story, including flawlessly adding in anime-only content which only enhances the story. The one possible knock against it is that it may sometimes get a little heavy-handed in its handling of systemic, Nazi-inspired racism, but even that aspect I felt was generally done well. It is a series which will defy any early negative impressions, and it deserves to be considered one of the early top candidates for Anime of the Year.
Combatants Will Be Dispatched! (3.5) – I am a big fan of KONOSUBA, and while this is not KONOSUBA-level shenanigans, it’s still fun enough, with Six being a lovable ass and Alice making a solid partner for him. In fact, the relationship and (most importantly) understanding between the two is one of the series’ selling points. Supporting characters are more hit-or-miss, but the amusing ironies (a self-proclaimed evil organization, which encourages members to collect Evil Points to gain access to equipment and rewards, also has an internal sexual harassment policy) balance that out. Overall, a fun view but not a deep one.
Fruits Basket the Final (4) – Some things could have been justified better (the Yuki/Machi relationship in particular), while on other points I felt the series got redundant on its psychoanalyzing. Still, on the whole, this was a complete and satisfying resolution to one of the major shojo franchises of the past 20 years. The parts that manga readers complained about being skipped mostly didn’t bother me, as I feel those scenes may have bogged down the pacing, and I was pleased to see that not all of the Zodiac members could easily move on from Akito’s abuse. That lent a bit more authenticity to the final resolution.
Full Dive (2) – Wow, did I actually finish watching this one? I cannot remember the last time that I watched a series to completion that I so actively disliked, when a review at the end was not the goal. Especially in the early and middle stages, the series was so mean-spirited that it was a wholly unpleasant viewing experience, and even some better plot twists late in the series could not fully overcome that. Not something I can recommend for any audience.
How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord Omega (3) – For better or worse, this season can simply be described as “more of the same.” It is only 10 episodes long, but by keeping it that short it can devote its entire run time to a single arc. Expect more fan service, more high-powered action, some encounters that almost rise to the level of being a challenge for Diablo, and a variety of cute and/or sexy new female characters to add to Diablo’s orbit (if not harem). The “Double Summon version” is not much racier than the regular version but still the recommended way to view the series.
I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level (3)– This is not a series that I ever intended to watch out, as I was not overly impressed by either the first novel or the artistic quality on the first episode. However, I wandered back to it during a weekend where I had nothing to do, so here we are. As isekai series go, this one is a fluff ball. Though the female protagonist is as OP as any isekai protagonist gets, battles are brief and demonstrates of raw power are more an afterthought than a feature. The story is instead all about Azusa chillin’ with the makeshift family she gradually gathers (essentially a harem, with at least one or two even interested in her sexually, though that’s never more than a mild tease) from slimes, dragons, ghosts, elves, and even demons. The “don’t work to excess” philosophy heavily promoted by the novel is present here but in toned down form, no threat is ever too serious, and comedy is a regular element. Sadly, the visuals never improve, but this concept does not hurt much for its lack of animation quality. The series will be too passive and aimless for some tastes, but it is inoffensive, low-key fun.
Moriarty the Patriot (3.5) – I rate the first half of this series higher, but it seemed to lose its luster in the later stages as it turned to focusing more heavily on overall plot. Definitely not a fan of the final episode, either, or the ultimately-underused gimmick with James Bonde. The vaguely homoerotic implications of the Sherlock/William relationship did not work for me, either, and the new opener is a major step down from the first half. Despite those problems, the series still executed well enough often enough, especially on visual fronts.
So I’m A Spider, So What? (3.5) – While this is unabashedly my favorite series of the season, and I generally like how the adaptation is handling the story, the series simply ran into too many visual issues in the second half for me to rate it higher. The CG, which was never great (certainly not on the level of 86!), only got worse, and that combined with choppy action editing and changes which only made sense in a “limit the animation complexity” frame (desert where forest should be?) weighted the series down. A delayed final episode (which hasn’t aired by the time of this posting) isn’t helping, either. Still, it did enough things well at adapting a chaotically-designed novel series and synchronizing its human and spider sides that I cannot completely rag on this half, and it does still have one of the most involved and meticulously-thought-out plots of any isekai series. Oh, and of course, it has Kumoko, who will certainly be remembered as one of the year’s great characters.
The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent (3.5) – This is a low-key, perfectly serviceable isekai series about a female protagonist who is not initially regarded as the desired Saint until she shows, through her abilities, that she is. It winds up having stronger romantic elements than the typical isekai, but it does not resort to too blatant a shojo romance feel, and it also avoids feeling too much like a power fantasy (even though it basically is one). While never a priority view, it makes for a nice change-of-pace series.
Vivy -Flourite Eye’s Song (4) – This is the second-best series overall that I saw in the Spring season. It was not as deep and insightful about technology as I had hoped, in large part because it ended up being more of an extended character study than a commentary about human relationships with technology. However, it succeeded at turning Diva/Vivy into a compelling character, and even Matsumoto eventually grew on me. It is also one of the better-looking and better-animated series of the season.
SEVEN KNIGHTS REVOLUTION: Hero Successor (3) – Nothing is inherently wrong with this by-the-numbers fantasy series (which is connected to a mobile app game), and it does generally look good; in fact, Faria is one of my favorite character designs of the season. However, it does absolutely nothing to distinguish itself, either, resulting in a mostly-bland view roughly equivalent to Winter 2021’s Hortensia Saga.
Zombie Land Saga Revenge (4) – I’m still going WTF over the epilogue on the final episode, but up until that point this was a very solid addition to the franchise. It filled in some backstory gaps (especially about Yugiri), while also providing a taste of the bigger picture; if the series has a major flaw, it’s that the bigger picture was not focused on more. I enjoyed the performance set in the final episode and felt that the songs’ lyrics aptly summarized what the girls had been through and what Saga Prefecture had to endure, though my favorite performance still remains Yugiri’s sultry “The Saga Incident” at the end of episode 9.
Crunchyroll is listing the special episode of 86 as episode 12, but whatever you call it, the episode – titled “Coquelicots Blooming Across the Battlefield” – is just a standard recap episode. It is narrated by Lena and shown entirely from her viewpoint, with the only new shot being the one above, which is shown in the episode’s last few seconds as a preview for the second cour. (The ‘mech above is called a Reginlief, but saying anything more than that about it would constitute spoilers, so I won’t comment further.)
Frankly, other than the preview image teaser, this episode would have been better-served airing right before the series returns in October. If you have not already checked it out, that is when I recommend watching it.
Saturday June 19th, 2021 was a big day in the U.S. for fans of the Saga of Tanya the Evil franchise. News broke that a second season of the series had been greenlit, with principal cast and staff from the first series returning. As icing on the cake, a completely-unexpected “interstitial episode” also suddenly appeared in streaming form on Crunchyroll. With no opener and a runtime of only 17 minutes, this special is not even a full episode, but it is still the first Tanya animation to come along since the movie in early 2019. As perhaps the most light-hearted (comparatively-speaking) entry in the franchise to date, it is a recommended view for any franchise fan.
This episode takes place in September 1925, which places it after the end of the TV series and a few months before the movie. It involves Tanya and her 203rd Mage Batallion getting fed up with the ill-thought-out decision by Rerugen to send a load of pasta to a desert camp where water is in limited supply to begin with. Even once they secure enough water to cook the pasta, it’s too bland on its own. Hence Tanya decides to run with an off-the-cuff suggestion by Viktoriya and begins raiding enemy encampments for ingredients for pasta sauce, all under the guise of “force recon.” Despite Tanya naming the effort Operation Desert Pasta, the Republic leadership mistakes it as a clever plan to disrupt relation between the allied parties opposing the Empire.
Yeah, the whole thing is pretty silly and ironic in concept, but this degree of opportunism also exactly fits with Tanya’s approach to things in other venues in the series (especially the movie). So does the irony at the end that the top brass continues to misunderstand about sending pasta to the troops in the desert. Hence in story and humor senses this is a perfectly enjoyable addition to the franchise. It also brings up General Rommel (Romel in the episode) for the first time in the animated side of the franchise. On the downside, the artist effort seems off, especially in the first few minutes of the episode. While the TV series had its occasional rough spots on visuals, it at least mostly stayed on model, but that cannot be said at all for this episode. Action scenes are also more limited on animation and less flashy in general. If this was also animated by studio NUT then it looks like a rush job. The artistry does settle down some by the end, but this is not one of the better-looking entries in the franchise.
Still, don’t let that bother you too much and you should have fun with the episode.
First off, for those who have been reading each week, my apologies for this being up later than normal. Unexpected schedule changes over the weekend left me with no time to write about this episode until the following Monday evening.
Whereas last episode was almost entirely anime-original, this episode was about 80% by the novels; Lena’s part was the first epilogue to novel 1, while much of the 86’s part is actually from the middle of novel 2. The visits to the school and zoo are the anime-original parts this time, and like with the original content last episode, they were both fitting and seamless in their inclusion. The zoo scene in particular was sobering, a reminder of how the sudden deaths or departures of humans can have negative consequences on animals dependent on them as well. The only negative aspect was that Anju’s “they’re just like us” comment concerning the skeletal remains of the animals seemed a bit graceless by this series’ standards on symbolism.
That does not change the fact that both sides of the story were equally compelling in bringing the series to its first-cour stopping point. On the 86’s side, we get to see how Fido ended up as the wreck he was in the final shot from last episode: a battle which also cost the 86s all but one of their Juggernauts, though the pilots all remained intact. Placing the chest of name plaques with the remains of Fido is quite fitting; he served Shin faithfully for years, and helped to collect the scraps used for the name plaques (this isn’t as clear from the anime, but it is in the novel), so what better guardian and gravestone for Shin’s legacy could be asked for? That all eventually leads to a final desperate battle, one which certainly suggests that all the remaining 86s fall; the epilogue even goes as far as suggesting that Shin has joined his brother in the Legion. That’s one hell of a cliffhanger to end the season on. In some senses it would be fitting and especially impactful if this is the true end for Shin and crew, as it would drive home even harder the underlying themes about the unjustness of the 86s’ situation. However, notice that none of Raiden, Theo, Anju, or Kurena are shown bloodied or otherwise with severe injuries as they lay on the ground. This series has not typically been that tame in showing the dead before.
Lena’s scene, meanwhile, is less harrowing but more potentially emotional – which is also fitting, since Lena is the heart of the series. It shows that there are already consequences for her (by the Alba’s viewpoint) brash actions in exceeding her authority to help Spearhead Squadron escape alive, but more importantly, she comes to see where Spearhead Squadron lived. We learn for the first time that the chief mechanic always wears sunglasses for a reason, and his story is a sad one as well. Even sadder is Lena’s discovery that the final five members of the squad anticipated that she might come visit and left messages for her – some light-heartedly rude or teasing, others (like Shin’s request about laying flowers at their final resting place if she should ever come across it) devastating. The bits of symbolism here are interesting, too; the cat toy is actually a pig’s head, and Shin’s final novel is Erich Maria Remarque’s war classic All Quiet on the Western Front. I could almost write a whole essay just about how deep the symbolism and irony of that choice runs, including how the protagonist of that story died with a smile on his face – and Shin likewise has a smile as he faces his apparent end.
The other important part of that scene is the wonderful shot near its end where Lena is facing the future with grim determination. (See the screen shot above.) Though the battle seems to be over for the 86s, it isn’t for her, but her experiences with Spearhead Squadron have forged a newer, harder resolve in her. The red coloring she is shown with during the closing credits could also be symbolic of something that she will do in the second cour.
The one other interesting bonus is the flashes which seem to come from the source of the long-range artillery, another Shepherd who has some serious anger issues lingering from his previous life. However, his rage seems to be over something perpetrated not by the Legion, but by human agents. The emblems shown in those flashes seem to be Imperial symbols, and a young girl referred to as a princess is shown. This isn’t a random inclusion, as it presages a major storyline that will run through the second cour.
The production values remain sharp to the end, as does the flawless use of the musical score. In all, it makes for a strong conclusion to what is easily one of the season’s best titles. Curiously, a Special is advertised for next week. Will it be a look ahead to the second cour in the fall, perhaps? Whatever it is, I will at least briefly comment on it here.
Either way, it’s going to be a long wait through the Summer season until this terrific series is back on again.
English Dub: The first episode is also now available in English dub form. Seems very well-cast and well-performed so far.
OTHER SERIES I’M FOLLOWING:
Fruits Basket the Final ep 11 – Loved the revelation about how the story of the zodiac party has gotten altered over the years, and the true role that the Cat had in it. Still think Akito is getting off too easy, but seeing how the rest of the Zodiac members deal with the final breaking of the curse is very satisfying. (NOTE: The last episode has, I believe, aired as I write this, but I have not had time to watch it yet.)
Higehiro eps 11 and 12 – Loved the way the rooftop scene at the school played out, but all of episode 11 is just a set-up for the big, climactic confrontation with Sayu’s mother in episode 12. I thought that episode stretched just a bit with how the camera moved around the scene while Yoshida was collecting his thoughts, but for the most part I found how the scene was handled and resolved to be generally satisfying. Yoshida makes worthy points: even though he wants to take Sayu in permanently, that’s not his place to do. Theirs is a family matter, and it should be dealt with within their family. Even so, sometimes it takes an outsider to provide the impetus to get things moving. The final episode’s title is “Future,” and I hoped that means that we will see how things turn out down the road.
The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent episode 11 – Nice to see Aria get involved. Sei is definitely going to have some man problems to get sorted out long-term, though, and seeing Hawke get all angry at the other guy’s attention was just adorable.
Vivy -Flourite Eye’s Song episode 13 – I can see the epilogue scene for this final episode being controversial, but up until that point it was a strong finale with a wonderful climactic song, down even to the choice of lyrics. I’ll have more thoughts on this series as a whole in the Spring Season Wrap-Up next week.
Zombie Land Saga Revenge episode 11 – Doesn’t it seem fitting that this story somehow ends up being part disaster flick near the end?
In a surprising move (from the viewpoint of a novel reader), the series’ penultimate episode spends nearly its entire run focusing on the confrontation between Shun’s group and Hugo’s forces – and really, mostly Sophia, since Hugo does not last terribly long before Sophia must step in once again. This is definitely an important battle, but does it warrant this much time when there is important content on the spider side yet to be covered to achieve the ideal stopping point?
Since the battle gets all the emphasis, it highlights two things:
1) The 2D/3D animation mix is, at best, barely passable.
2) Shun is so hung up on his role as Hero that he lacks common sense.
Sadly, point #1 is fully expected at this stage. The production team just does not have the time or talent (or both!) to manage anything better. This episode feels like at least some effort was made this time to liven things up, as it has at least some sense of battle choreography. However, movements are still too stiff and generally artificial-feeling and cuts get used extensively to minimize full animation.
Technical aspects aside, the progression of the battles is standard for one of those situations that heroes run into where the sub-boss foe is still out of their league, even if their flunkies can be beaten. Sophia is just too much of a powerhouse for even slick combo tactics to work, and she clearly has a much higher level of combat experience than Shun; that raises questions about what happened to her between baby form and this one. The arrival of the clearly-also-powerful Kyoya/Wrath just makes the battle even more impossible and more than offsets the arrival of the elves to help. This is also where point #2 comes into play, as Shun is doggedly determined to continue the hopeless battle when both Katia and Fei realize that they can’t win this and Sophia has made it clear that this is not a life-or-death matter for them from her viewpoint, just the elves. (The emphasis placed on Anna here about whether she counts as an elf for extermination purposes or not is curious, given how much she’s been ignored in the past.) Besides, is Shun’s party actually fighting for the right side?
That is one of the two most interesting questions that this episode raises. Oka has pitched the line that the demon army and its allies are tools of the Administrators, and she seems to genuinely believe that. However, her elves have been looking more and more crooked for a while now, and the revelation that they have high-tech equipment which does not otherwise seem to be present in this world only further casts doubt on them. Also, Sophia and Kyoya certainly seem convinced that Shun and crew are either ignorant or duped (or both) to side with the elves that they find so despicable. Some of the tactics that they have already been shown using to get to this point keep them in a moral gray area, though, so what do they know that Shun and crew don’t that they are basing this belief of the elves on? Is it just the kidnappings or something more that the anime has not revealed yet?
The other interesting question is, of course, about the sudden revelation that the elves have high enough technology to field what look like autonomous weapon systems. How does that fit into the Big Picture, especially since even the flashes from the past do not reveal that level of technology? Sadly, anime-only viewers should not expect an answer to that this season unless the final episode dramatically deviates from the fifth novel. Such a deviation is not out of the question, though, because having the Glorias pop up in the presence of Shun’s party is already a big deviation; in the novel, they didn’t appear here, though they did before Ariel (as shown in the epilogue scene.)
With White seemingly headed that way, the stage is set for the series finale on the human side. But where does that leave the spider side? It has more story to tell even within the scope of novel 5, and I don’t see how that can be covered in one episode without it seeming rushed. I have a suspicion on how they might handle the ending, but we’ll have to wait until next week to see for certain. Definitely don’t expect everything (or, really, anything) to be resolved at the season end, though!
As a big fan of the novels, this episode surprised me a bit. Its title suggested that it would include a certain scene featuring Lena which forms the first epilogue of the first novel, but the “Thank You” turns out to be in reference to something else. What we get instead is a low-key, reflective episode that is almost entirely anime-original.
UPDATE (12/10/22):Actually, this episode isn’t anime-original. It is, instead, mostly a direct adaptation of a couple of short stories from novel 10.
That the series would add in some anime-original content at this point is not a big surprise. The novels do not provide much detail about this stage of the 86’s journey, and there’s plenty for the characters to reflect on as they move forward through war-ruined land. Not sure I expect a whole episode of this, which makes me wonder if the production is planning to end the first cour on a cliffhanger (not what I would consider ideal, but it’s feasible), but after seeing what was done with this episode, I don’t have a problem with it. That Lena does not appear at all is a little disappointing, but this bunch is a solid enough group of personalities as is to carry the episode on their own, and flashbacks show little snippets of several other now-dead characters, especially Kaie.
That does mean that there are fewer little details to ruminate on here, as nearly all the racism elements have been left in the past. This is the most complete freedom any of the 86s have had, especially for Shin; the voices of the Legion are still in the background, but he no longer has the weight of his brother hanging on him. Yes, they are in enemy territory, so they must still worry about their supply situation and about keeping hidden from Legion patrols (as one night scene in a pillbox chillingly emphasizes), but they are also free to explore, make their own decisions, and operate on their own timetable. This leads to an entirely different Shin, one who can laugh and follow along with jokes, though one comment Raiden makes about whether Shin has “anything left” raises the episode’s main philosophical question: at what point does “complete freedom” cross over into “completely directionless”?
The somber scene at the zoo, where the 86s see the remains of all the animals left behind when their human keepers either retreated or were killed off, provides the main source of symbolism for the episode, and the wrecked Legion which Shin silences serves as a reminder that, even now, they cannot completely leave everything behind. Again, this is all anime-original, but it fits so seamlessly that an anime-only viewer probably couldn’t tell. The same is true with the flashback from Fido’s perspective, a framing device that I feel serves the series very well. In fact, that montage is the main reason why I am still giving this episode such a high rating. It hits all the right notes with every scene it shows, whether it is a scene that we have seen before from different angles, a continuation of an earlier scenes, or new entirely content. And that feeds directly into the ominous final shot.
Once again, the decisions made by the adaptation team are excellent ones. I look forward to seeing how next episode’s first cour finale will be handled.
OTHER SERIES I’M FOLLOWING:
Fruits Basket the Final ep 9 – As much as I dislike the previous episode, this one worked for me. Tohru really needs someone like Kyo to look out for her, as she seems to lack a self-preservation instinct. Even though she ends up hospitalized, she shows that, in the end, not even a desperate Akito can beat her on the emotional front. And of course we can’t forget the key moment that everyone had been anticipating for ages: love’s first kiss. This was a powerful and effective episode despite the cheap gimmick, and easily the best the series has delivered this season.
Higehiro ep 10 – I cannot entirely disagree with criticisms leveled in other venues that a lot of this episode felt redundant. Even so, the sweet final scene sold the whole episode for me. I also have not found its artistic effort to be as much of a distraction, though I will admit it’s nothing special.
The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent episode 10 – So the Saint’s power is connected to love, eh? No big surprise there. But now that Sei has realized that, how will she handle it?
Vivy -Flourite Eye’s Song episode 12 – Not sure what to make of this series at this point, although the revelation that the main boss was actively counteracting all of the changes that Vivy and Matsumoto were doing explains a lot. Everything is setting up for a “the song will save the world” kind of conclusion, which I suppose is fitting since the series has always been an idol show. But how gracefully will the series be able to manage it?
Zombie Land Saga Revenge episode 10 – Um, okay, those were some very big revelations to be throwing out at this point in the series. However, a curse being at the root of everything does explain a lot here as well.
As expected, Kumoko’s timeline returns to center stage for this episode, with the human timeline only getting the last couple of minutes as it shows a bit more of Shun stepping in to fight Hugo. As feared, the wonky use of CG also continues unabated, with more than just the purely action components getting a CG treatment. At least that aspect is better than last episode, but seeing how poorly this series is getting treated visually compared to the promise it showed earlier in the series (and especially compared to concurrently-airing fare like 86) just makes me sad, as there is only so much that the intrigues in the story can do to make up for that.
Nothing much of note is happening on the human front beyond a growing suspicion that Hugo is being influenced into his current behavior and the interesting point that Sophia is seeing to it that Yuri gets attended to; while Hugo may have lost it and Sophia would not mind seeing Oka dead, she, at least, does seem to value her allies. Aside from the overdependence on CG, the main problem I have with this part is that Oka is supposed to be badly injured at this point but is barely showing it even before getting healed. (At least it gives Window Dressing Anna something to do!) Well, that and the fact that they are supposed to be fighting in a forest but the terrain is barren all around; presumably, this was done to shortcut on the animation, either because of time or budgetary constraints or both. Also, I am unclear on who is doing the Appraisal during the telepathic conversation between Fei and Katia, especially since neither has previously been shown to have that skill.
The human side is not the only place where the camera seems overly fond of spinning around in 3D modeling, as the spider side also gets this in spades. That effect seems less distracting in those parts, however, and overall, the visuals work at least a little better. Kumoko’s commentary at the beginning of the episode is mostly anime-original, but I did expect something of the sort given that the remaining material in novel 5 is a little short on filling three episodes, and her spiel is entertaining enough. The real feature comes when Ariel shows up on the battlefield for the one-on-one fight that has been teased in the opener since the beginning of the second cour. The battle does a decent job of impressing the scale of the battle on viewers, and it makes for probably the most exciting battle in the series since Kumoko faced off against the puppet spider. It also shows why Ariel is so fearsome beyond just her stats: she can eat anything and use it to recover her stats. The interesting twist is the appearance of a very young Julius (novels later clarify that he was 11 at this point), who is present for his first battle as Hero, and how that gives even Ariel pause. Apparently in this setting, even a massive stats difference cannot negate the Hero’s innate ability to defeat the Demon Lord.
Nearly as interesting as the fight itself is what happened before that. Gülie arrived where Ariel was finishing off her epic battle against the last earth dragon and decides to help her by teleporting her to where Kumoko is. In the anime he only says that it’s recompense for the trouble his subordinates (i.e., the dragons) caused her, but he offered an additional reason in the novels: she’s the daughter of a friend. (The adaptation may have skipped that line because it is not relevant to anything else happening in this part of the story.) Also interesting, this scene is happening after Gülie spoke to Kumoko in the anime, but happened in the reverse order in the novels, where Gülie’s statements to Kumoko were also meant as an assurance that he wouldn’t do something like teleport Ariel again. That changes apparent motivations a bit.
The other important detail there, though, is that we finally get clarification on who Ariel is in the human timeline. Those who suspected that Kumoko became Ariel were neither totally correct nor totally incorrect: Ariel is being influenced by essentially melding with Kumoko’s Body Brain, so her new personality is a mix of both. Basically, her goals are still her own but her attitude and aggressiveness are shading more towards Kumoko. This accounts for all her behavioral differences between the human timeline and earlier spider timeline appearances and why she seems to know about the reincarnations. Interesting, though, that even such a powerful entity as her has no direct knowledge of D. . . anyway, the suggestion that D may have specifically done the reincarnations as part of a deliberate attempt to save the world is also an intriguing theory, and I agree with Gülie that the timing seems too suspicious.
Of course, the big feature moment at the end is that Kumoko apparently got obliterated by Ariel’s Abyss magic at the end of their scene. Obviously Kumoko isn’t permanent deadly, but how does she get out of this one? It’s been very vaguely hinted at previously, or you can just wait until next week to find out.
USA Anime 