2016 Autumn Season Anime- Early Impressions (Part 2)

Here we are now with Part 2 of my Autumn Season Anime Early Impressions, and let's just jump right in to it! These are the four shows this season that I feel are the real gems more than worthy of any anime fan's attention.

While I'm definitely enjoying the glorious camp-fests that are Keijo!!!!!!!! Hip Whip Girl and Tiger Mask W respectively, I'll admit they both come off as hard recommendations to more casual viewers. It's pretty much a requirement that you have a specific taste/appreciation for cheesy programs (or something of that nature) in order to get the most out of your watching experience with either of those series.

This isn't the case with the next four that I'm about to go over. Each of these are so good, they could be easily be seen as a gate-way show that would not only reinvigorate the most cynical of anime fan, but also potentially turn a non-anime fan into an outright otaku.

Drifters

The titular Drifters

First up is none other than Drifters, the show that's clearly meant to be enjoyed by the more mature/adult audiences out there looking for a dark/cool/violent fix.

When Shimazu Toyohisa made his last stand at the Battle of Sekigahara in the year 1600, many thought he died, including himself. His death will have to wait though, because right when he was moments away from his demise, Shimazu is transported to a realm beyond the boundaries of our world. A realm of swords and sorcery, where people from all across Earth's history are fighting for complete and total dominance.

After joining up with other "drifters" such as Oda Nobunaga, and Nasu no Yoichi, Shimazu learns that this new world he's found himself in is currently ruled by powerful magic users known only as The Ends. With little to aid them (beyond their wits and their skills) the Drifters set out to reclaim the land from The Ends, and maybe find a way back home.  

Based off the manga of the same name (from Hellsing creator Kota Hirano) Drifters takes place in your proto-typical high-fantasy setting replete with elves, dwarves, hobbits, giants, and dragons. The big twist here is that notable historical figures are using this setting as their arena for the ultimate death battle, and while this premise isn't exactly new to the realm of fiction, it's without a doubt done here with the metric-ton of style Kota Hirano is known for.

I've always considered myself a fan of Kota Hirano's "unique" artistry (as I'm a sucker for his use of spotting blacks, obtuse angles, and maniacal expressions) but I know his work really isn't for everyone. With this adaptation of Drifters though I think his usual artistic quirks have evolved to come off as far more attractive and accessible than ever before.

Leaning more towards Hirano's strengths in costume design and evocative angles, Drifters is perhaps one of the most stylish shows to arrive this year, if not the last five. Utilizing a winning combination of browns, reds, blues, blacks, and whites, the selective colors make for a pleasing palette that compliments the semi-angular character models. In more ways than one, this is a show that manages to be beautiful despite its graphic nature, provided you don't mind seeing the occasional (and somewhat artfully crafted) decapitation scene.

That's right folks, while Hirano's character designs may have been dialed back to make them more alluring, there has been absolutely zero compromise to his penchant for violence. Drifters is absolutely unapologetic with its use of gore, and is (if anything else) a resplendent cacophony of carnal carnage. I truly do mean this when I say that few creators out there today can find ways to mutilate a body quite like Hirano can. Make no mistake, this anime is not for those with a weak stomach, but for those who can handle it (or like me) actually find a certain appeal to Hirano's almost melodic use of barbaric acts, you really can't go wrong here.

Long have we waited for a hard-hitting show (discounting the sister series Hellsing Ultimate) like Drifters to come along and deliver the goods. For the most part I would say it does so in spades when it comes to its fight scenes, but there are the occasional dips with the animation. It's most notably in the use of several still frames during otherwise savage sequences. While they're without a doubt stylish, they do remove a degree of energy from the conflicts. Still though, there is copious amounts of blood getting spilled, along with countless severed limbs littering the fields as our cast of history's most notoriously gruesome fighters and warlords duke it out for supremacy.

Filled with stylish action scenes to the hilt.

Thankfully Drifters isn't so shallow as to simply be nothing more than a festival of blood and guts. Drifters does have a pretty good (albeit dark at times) sense of humor coupled with some fairly endearing characters. This tends to work in contrast to a majority of the intense imagery, as well as giving viewers something to chew on until the next big action set piece. The chemistry between the three primary leads is totally fun to watch, and it's been incredibly interesting (as a history buff) to witness such a large cast of historical figures interact on the whole. Getting to see the likes of Hannibal Barca and Scipio Africanus teamed up with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is an absolute hoot to say the least, and I'm looking forward to which other famous (or infamous) players will eventually come into the war. I'm putting my money down now that the identity of The Black King (the leader of The Ends) is an evil, authoritative, magic-wielding, Jesus Christ.

It may be a long-shot, but I know for a fact Hirano loves to work in religious mythology and commentary wherever he can.  

Overall I've been immensely enjoying Drifters. For those who may not be aware of Kota Hirano's stylings, I would say this is a great place to start. The first arc of the series shows a tremendous amount of promise, and even though I haven't read too much of the source material myself, many fan-reactions I've seen seem to indicate that the anime has been extremely faithful as of this writing. Only time will tell if Drifters can maintain its current quality and momentum, but if anything else, at least we have these cool as hell set of four episodes.

Occultic;Nine

One of the best mystery shows in a while.

Next in line is the anime adaptation of the popluar Japanese light-novel Occultic;Nine.

Set in modern day Japan, seventeen year old high-school student,Yuta Gamon, operates the occult summary blog site "Chojo Kagaku Kirikiri Basara". When an oppurtunity to interview the renowned supernatural specialist Professor Hashigami presents itself, Yuta jumps at the chance. Any kind of material involving Hashigami would be sure to increase Yuta's site traffic, but when he arrives for the interview he finds the Professor dead on the floor.

While Yuta desperately tries to make some kind of sense with his situation, he's unaware that his website has become a potential resource for a far greater mystery that's bordering on the impossible. Now all the incongruities of nine individuals, from nine different walks of life will come together to solve the case, and perhaps even turn common sense on its head.

Yet another bit of personal trivia that should come as no surprise to anyone reading this, is that I'm a pretty big fan of mystery stories. I wouldn't go so far as to declare it my favorite genre (as that is a three-way tie between action, fantasy, and sci-fi) but it's easily a genre I can get lost in for an extended period of time. Provided the mystery on hand, and the respective roles involved, are interesting enough to hold my attention til the end.

As far as I'm concerned, so far Occultic;Nine has all the necessary components for a solid mystery story. I've yet to be remotely disappointed by the cast, and every episode in the narrative feels like a substantial piece to the puzzle presented. If you're anything like me, you'll find yourself turning over ideas, predictions, and theories by the time the credits roll.

Unfortunately I may be one of the few reviewers out here on the web who actually has a positive outlook about Occultic;Nine, as a vast majority of the early impressions/episode reviews I've seen have been outright condemning the show. What are they so upset about? Apparently Occultic;Nine completely falls apart at the seams because its creators dared to feature *GASP!* a well endowed female character among the other dramatis personae who bounces on the odd occasion, which apparently offends a lot of people's delicate sensibilities.

OH GOD! WHERE DID WE GO SO VERY HORRIBLY WRONG! WON'T SOMEONE PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!

Seriously? That's the big complaint here? A character with a large bust somehow undoes what is easily one of the most beautifully animated and intriguing shows of the season? I comprehend how the character Ryoka (and her bewbs) can be a tad on the ridiculous side. Is it potentially pandering to the young adult male crowd who are looking for the next piece of waifu fap material? Sure, I'll concede to that notion, but she's merely a fraction of Occultic;Nine's considerably robust and impressive cast. While I could go into all the details available regarding the characters, and what makes them so significant, I don't want to spoil some of the solid reveals that have happened.

I absolutely refuse to go into that sort of territory, as Occultic;Nine is definitely not the kind of narrative you want spoiled for you. Figuring out the answers and discovering the truths behind every quandary is essentially half the fun of the experience. If anything else, try to understand that this is a show that (much like Drifters) is meant for a mature audience to enjoy, and isn't afraid to be provocative.

Regardless of fanservice, it can't be denied that this looks good.

Never mind that it's also a stunning study in yellow.

Another common gripe I've seen is that the show moves by at too quick a pace, or doesn't parse out enough information to "make you care" about anything. I'm going to have to strongly disagree with my peers here, as I feel Occultic;Nine more than imparts the imperative particulars to move the plot and characters forward. As long as you're paying close attention, Occultic;Nine blossoms into a very compelling mystery, that I (putting my own predilections aside) would be remiss in saying is perhaps one of the best ones to come along in a while.

The animation on display here is leagues above the other show's I've covered on the list, and is probably the most visually impressive show of the season, if not the whole year. Granted, this is coming from a guy who isn't bothered by bodacious bazongas, and is also on board with its fantastic use of its study in yellow. Regardless of one's personal stance on mammoth mammary matters, I don't think most will deny the sumptuously gorgeous work that studio A-1 Pictures has done. In fact, Occultic;Nine may be one of the best looking shows to have ever come out of the studio's entire history, which is really saying something when one considers their body of work over the last decade.

Overall Occultic;Nine is a visual marvel, that's also sporting one hell of a sufficiently killer soundtrack. Despite the criticisms my contemporaries have levied against it, I'm going to say that this show is more than worthy of your time. If you're in the mood for an engaging mystery with credible characters (and if you can tolerate the odd off jubbly jiggle) Occultic;Nine has got you covered.

Izetta: The Last Witch

Eat your heart out Bullet Witch, Izetta is in town!

Third on the list is studio Ajia-Do's latest effort Izetta: The Last Witch.

The year is 1940 and the Germanian Empire has set its conquering eye upon the small principality nation of Eylstadt. Ortfine' Fredericka von Eylstadt, daughter of King Rudolph III, and the crown queen of Eylstadt doesn't have the resources, or the military strength to combat the large-scale war effort of the Germanian Empire. Only through using a secret weapon can Queen Fine' hope to save her nation from a bloody demise.

That secret weapon is none other than the last of the white witches Izetta. Armed with powerful spells, and an anti-tank rifle as her flying broom, Izetta takes to the skies in hopes of turning the tide of battle. Can Izetta and Fine' do the impossible and beat back the seemingly unstoppable Germanian forces?

Laying my cards on the table here, this could easily switch places with the program I ultimately chose as my show of the season. Izetta: The Last Witch has so many positive factors going in its favor that if someone where to tell me they felt this was not only the best the autumn bunch had to offer, but was also the best show of the year, I wouldn't  really be hard pressed to argue with them.

It's only a few technicalities I think Izetta stumbles upon ever so slightly that honestly hold it back from  total perfection. Despite it's radical/inspired premise, and it's vigorous cast of characters, this series does unfortunately wrap itself up a tad too much in heavy melodrama. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate a weighty character drama, but there are a few times throughout the series so far that they lay it on a bit thick for my tastes.

The animation, while taken as a whole is outright awe-inspiring with it's fluidity and pure kinetic motions, does have some gaps and hiccups. Be it a character going off model for a scene, blatant CGI, or the stilted/awkward bit of movement, it's noticeable when these things occur, and it drags down what is otherwise a pristine-almost polished to perfection show.

Thankfully it doesn't take much to look past those slight hurdles, as there is a compelling fantasy war story to be had, and it's a completely original IP to cap it off. Despite existing in a climate currently and predominately ruled by high-budget adaptations, Izetta manages to be captivating without needing the pretense of an already established story in order to garner an audience. Much like my other top choice for the autumn season, just knowing that Izetta: The Last Witch stands independently as its own thing adds a ton of bonus points in my eyes. We so desperately need to get more original shows like this on the anime scene.

Overall, Izetta: The Last Witch comes highly recommended. Irrespective of technical foibles, this is unarguably one of the true standouts of not just the season, but of 2016-period. There is already enough interesting, quality material here to justify the making of a second season in my opinion, and we're not even half-way through this season yet. Here's hoping Izetta doesn't just end well, but ends spectacularly.   

Absolutely phenomenal animation where it counts!

German tanks mean nothing to the red witch Izetta!

Now for my top pick of the autumn season...

Flip Flappers

Don't let the title fool you, this show is badass!

Last to take the stage is the brand new IP from studio 3Hz called Flip Flappers. Before you start giggling at the title (which even I will concede is a bit on the inherently silly side) let me just put it out there that I think this may very well be one of the objectively best shows of the season. That's right, I'm saying Flip Flappers is that damn good.

In the not too distant future, Cocona is the ideal role-model high-school student. She's popular, gets good grades, shows up early to class everyday, and even exercises critical thinking like an adult wherever she can. There's just one problem for Cocona, she always seems to be hesitant to embrace new opportunities, which has made deciding what she wants to do with her life (once she's done with school) exceedingly difficult.

Matters get even more complicated for her though when a mysterious girl named Papika suddenly appears, fearlessly searching for a wish granting crystal called "The Shard of Mimi." Claiming to be from a place called "Pure Illusion" Papika brings Cocona on a journey that's sure to change her outlook on life forever.

Flip Flappers has almost everything I'm looking for in a quality show. The animation is topnotch, the score is catchy as hell, the acting is superb, and the main premise is wholly familiar, while still being refreshingly creative. I emphatically encourage anyone who's reading this entry to stop what they're doing and watch this show.

Words almost fail to articulate how stupendous I think this series is. In a lot of ways Flip Flappers is a not only a modern testament to the levels of beauty we can manifest in animation today, but also stands as a love letter to the power of a child's imagination.

I can see many a viewer finding themselves waxing nostalgic of their personal imaginary childhood adventures from years past, just by completing the first episode alone. Every frame of Flip Flappers has been filled to the brim with bright, whimsical colors, paired with some jaw dropping, downright astounding animation sequences that immediately tap into the greater recesses of one's creative cortex. This is seriously some Studio Ghibli levels of inspirational material here. I think it's safe to say that many aspiring creators who are watching Flip Flappers this very instant will be referencing this show years from now when they themselves are the storytellers inspiring a new generation.

It truly isn't often in this day and age that we get to witness an anime of this caliber come across the airwaves. Not since the likes of 2013's insanely incredible Kill la Kill (or to some extent spring 2016's Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress) have I seen a show that isn't based off of an already established IP in some way, get the big-budget treatment. Among today's anime landscape, these gems are a rarity, and seeing so much effort being put into an "unproven" product is certainly something the industry could use more of.

My biggest hope is that Flip Flappers will prove successful across the board, and it will embolden other studios to start taking on more original stories. It's not that I don't like seeing adaptations anymore (in fact, we're living in a time where we're getting some of the best ones to ever be made) but really I just want to see more creative/inspired shows. Far too often I feel we get the same stories regurgitated at us time and again, which is exactly why I fell out of regular television watching practically a decade ago. Most of these works lack passion, they lack vision, and ultimately they lack identity. What I want is to see the message being conveyed in Flip Flappers to be taken to heart. Don't be hesitant or afraid to embrace new ideas. Let your imaginations soar, and most importantly, just take a chance.

This is truly a masterstroke in animation.

There's never a dull moment in Flip Flappers.

And that about does it for the Autumn Season Anime- Early Impressions! I can only hope that my quick overview of each of the shows has been informative in helping you make a decision on what to watch as the leaves change color and we all get pumpkin flavored stuff.

2016 Autumn Season Anime- Early Impressions (Part 1)

Once again I find myself in the thick of the autumn season, but unlike previous years, I have some very entertaining shows to tide me over until the splendid spring weather returns. I've stated before on this blog that I'm not much for television watching, but the current glut of anime shows for this season are frankly just too amusing to ignore.

Just like how Thunderbolt Fantasy grabbed me for the summer and refused to let go, there are at least six different animes currently airing that have my attention. While none of them have even remotely gotten to their respective half-way marks yet, so far I'm enjoying each of these series immensely. Despite the fact that I don't tend to binge-watch any given program (unless it's that damn good/fun) to be completely blunt, I also haven't had much reason to tune in on a weekly basis for close to the last decade of my life.

Thankfully there are enough engaging shows this season to pull me out of that slump, and it's absolutely refreshing to finally be able to look forward to a multitude of episodes from several shows every week. My only hope is that each of these stories can maintain their quality and momentum for the duration of the fall season, because this is perhaps the most fun I've had all year, if not in years. Whether I'm alone or with friends, it's a great time when it comes to these animes, so much so that it's almost like this when we're watching them...

This is my jam!

Now I want to clarify upfront that these are just my personal preferences for the season. Please keep an open mind, as I'm not making a definitive statement when I say that these are the most "entertaining" shows available. This is all simply a matter of opinion, but if you're willing to hear me out on some of them, you might find yourself checking a few of these shows out too.

There are a few honorable mentions that I want to get out of the way before I jump into the early impressions proper. While I may be a fan of the usual full-length series, I also have a slight affinity for micro-series. I feel a micro-series (if done right) can really sell an idea on the short hand, not too unlike that of a music video. These are just a few of the micro series that I'm watching to help stave off the occasional bouts of banal boredom. Most of these can be run through fairly quickly, as they're not huge time sinks or require that much investment.

Honorable Mentions/Micro-Series

Tawawa on Monday

Tawawa on Monday is perhaps not the best example of a micro-series, but it's serviceable nontheless. Based off of a series of online illustrations by character designer/illustrator Kiseki Himura (who some may recognize as the artist from the Sword Art Online: Progressive manga) Tawawa on Monday follows a young unnamed salary man who has a chance meeting with a girl named Ai while riding the morning train. After consecutive meetings, they begin to become friends, and the salary man starts to take on the role of Ai's "bodyguard" while they ride the train and chat.

While I am enjoying Tawawa on Monday, I don't find it to be exceptionally special when it comes to other micro-series out there. What really sells this show to me is the excellent character designs, the bright colors, and the risque appeal of the animation itself. Beyond that I don't see this one being nearly as entertaining as Please Tell Me Galko-chan was from earlier in the summer. All the same, I'd still say it's worth a watch though.

Kaiju Girls

Kaiju Girls has been a good deal of fun so far. The general plot is that after humanity won the war against giant monsters, a new era of world peace began. Several years later though young girls possessing the "spirits" of the now legendary Kaiju begin to emerge. An organization called GIRLS is formed in the wake of their discovery, and they collect/recruit the various ladies so that they may learn the extent of their abilities.

I think something like Kaiju Girls may be more in a line with what I think a micro-series really should do, as it keeps the jokes coming and the premise simple. Irrespective of the obviously very limited animation of the shorts (which would normally turn me off as I'm a bit of an animation snob) I do find myself tuning in every time a new episode pops up. The overall designs of the characters are exceedingly charming, and the j-pop music is just too damn infectious for it not to have my attention.

Aggressive Retsuko

Aggressive Retsuko is a great example of what a micro-series can truly accomplish when it knows how to deliver on its humor. With each episode clocking in at just a little over a minute (and brought to us by Sanrio studios, the guys responsible for Hello Kitty) the series follows an accountant red panda named Retsuko and her everyday life. It can certainly be a struggle, as Retsuko deals with a lot of  the same problems we all do, be it annoying co-workers, passive-aggressive encounters, or indecisive friends. How does Retsuko cope with it all? By rocking out to heavy death metal, that's how!

It's a novelty gimmick for sure, but somehow the creators keep finding hilarious ways to have Retsuko freak out and go into a death metal tirade. I truly do find myself empathizing with her quite often though, as I've found myself having several of the thoughts she has as well, although probably not nearly as bombastic.

Now onto the Autumn Season Early Impressions! 

  

Keijo!!!!!!!!- Hip Whip Girl

Summer never ends in Keijo!

First up to bat is none other than the now somewhat infamous Keijo!!!!!!!!- Hip Whip Girl.

Based off the manga of the same name, Keijo is set in an alternate modern Japan, where at the turn of the 21st century, a new female-only gambling water-sport called "keijo" is launched. Since its introduction keijo has become a popular national pastime, with many of the athletes rising to major celebrity status. Matches are held in gigantic water arenas, and are performed on top of floating platforms called "lands" where swimsuit clad players compete to either incapacitate or knock one another off, and into the water, being allowed to only utilize their breasts or their butts to do so.

Now that the sport has been around for over a decade, many of the prominent figures have either moved on, or retired, leaving a new generation of girls to pick up the mantel. A gifted young gymnast, Nozomi Kaminashi, enters the keijo arena in hopes of winning the large amounts of money on offer to help pull her family out of poverty. Despite her exceptional gymnastic skills, Nozomi soon learns there is far more to the sport than simple hip whips. Only through rigorous training and the help of her friends at the Keijo Academy can Nozomi hope to best her rivals, and become the greatest Keijo athlete in the world.

Before anyone gets any funny ideas, let me make it known that I don't think this is a "quality show" by most conventional standards. Keijo is an unremittingly trashy show that's completely self-aware of how silly its premise is and what that premise is set up to do. With that said, I also want to say that there is a difference (to me at least) in regards to what makes a show "good" to what makes a show "entertaining."

A story can be implicitly doofy, but still be a blast to watch, either with friends, or as a solo venture. It's precisely for series like Keijo that I invented the whole "Craptacular" rating for my reviews, so I do think it's possible to enjoy a story that you know deep down is fairly schlocky. Regardless of objective qualities, we all can indulge in stuff like this as long as we're willing to be honest with ourselves about it.

Notwithstanding the overwhelmingly silly premise, at its core this is a sports show through and through. Filled to the brim with over-the-top action, bold black lines on the characters to emphasize power, vapor trails to sell speed, and the naming of legendary moves, are all anime sport tropes we've seen several times before. But Keijo has this way of employing all these tropes and turning them on their head. It's sort of like like watching Shokugeki no Soma (aka Food Wars) where something as benign as the culinary arts becomes almost completely sexualized. In the case of Keijo, it inverts a great deal of its sexual escapades by making the fanservice a far more serious element that's pivotal to the characters participating in the sport. 

Due to the rules of the fictitious Keijo water-sport, a lot of the fanservice strewn throughout the animation feels somewhat honestly justified, and in an odd way makes the show less titillating and more engaging. Knowing that a character can only use certain parts of their body makes for some creative moments during the competitions so far, and it all culminates in a show that's hard to turn away from.

These matches get intense. This is some next level stuff.

Like I said, vapor trails and bold outlines.

This could be one of those rare situations where I think Keijo may be one of the best modern examples of how to implement major amounts of fanservice into a narrative without it being distracting. I don't know if I would say it's outright case-study material, but it's certainly one that potential fanservice storytellers should be taking notes on if they want their respective works to take things to the next level.

Keijo is totally unapologetic for its content, and more-so comes off as truly believing in its concept. To be frank, I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. Much like another fanservice laden anime I reviewed (Manyuu Hikenchou) the charm of something like Keijo is that its lighthearted tone, combined with its never-say-die message, create an infectious vibe that's hard to shake. You find yourself starting to believe in the inherently silly sport of Keijo, because the characters themselves believe in it with all their hearts. Seeing characters get serious in the heat of a match is legitimately enthralling, and besides, who can't love a show where they have a move called the "vacuum butt cannon" or a girl who's butt attack has a dragon spirit attached to it? It's moments like this throughout Keijo that truly make the show charming as hell, if not downright magical to witness. Keijo is exactly what I want from a fanservice focused romp.

If anything else, I simply love Keijo's summer spirit. As I've been watching these first few episodes, it's almost like I can smell the water on the beach, or feel the cool summer breeze in the air, or taste the gellato the characters eat. Keijo is (in a weird sort of way) essentially pure, distilled summertime fun, and it's for that reason the show will forever have my vote for evoking those nostalgic sensations within me.

Tiger Mask W

The King of the Wild shall be crowned!

Next up to the plate is Tiger Mask W, a pseudo reboot (but mostly a sequel) to the original Tiger Mask anime that ran from 1969 to 1971. 

In a world where kayfabe is real, and pro-wrestling organizations fight for complete dominance, Naoto Azuma and Takuma Fujii are two young trainees at the small promotion Jipang Pro-Wrestling. When a rival promotion (called Tiger's Den) crushes JPW in a less than honorable series of matches, both Naoto and Takuma make it their life's mission to avenge JPW by destroying Tiger's Den at all costs.

Naoto trains for three years at the base of Mt. Fuji, assuming the mantle of legendary wrestling hero Tiger Mask, while Takuma deliberately joins Tiger's Den, taking on the name Tiger the Dark, in hopes of destroying the organization from within.

As Tiger's Den re-emerges onto the wrestling scene under the new guise of Global Wrestling Monopoly, both Naoto and Takuma set their plans in motion to topple Tiger's Den once and for all. With the odds stacked against them, can these two heroic tigers hope to defeat the maniacal GWM, and save the sport of wrestling before it's too late?

This probably comes as no big surprise to anyone, but I'm a huge pro-wrestling fan. For as long as I can remember I've absolutely loved watching matches take place in the squared-circle, and I don't see that love disappearing anytime soon. The two aspects I've always loved the most about pro-wrestling though is easily the gimmicks and the storytelling that happens in matches as a result.

While I'll be the first to admit that most storytelling in wrestling is (or at least can be) overly melodramatic, if not an outright joke, I also will say that's sort of its appeal and charm. Despite how the majority of wrestling stories have a penchant leaning toward goof-ball shenanigans, there are a select few that hit the mark just right, and elevate into something legendary. Not too many other mediums of entertainment available out there can honestly hope to ever tap into such gratifying visceral potential, but one of those few is Shonen anime, so if anything else, something like Tiger Mask W fundamentally has my full attention in spades. Much like Keijo, the overly campy dialogue, combined with the earnestness of the cast congeals into a winning combination that makes the show so incredibly fun to watch.
  
The character designs are classic and distinct in the best way possible. Seeing the static roaring face of the iconic Tiger Mask is gloriously cheesy, and getting to see a darker/edgier version in Tiger the Dark is just as glorious. Seeing all the different wrestler gimmicks and how they are all so over-the-top only adds to the charm, never mind that each one is painted as a bigger, more menacing threat than the last.

Tiger Mask, the legend returns once more to save pro-wrestling from tyranny and evil!

Unfortunately for all Tiger Mask W has to its credit in charm of character, it's lacking in almost every other department, thus keeping it from legitimate greatness so far. The largest elephant in the room is Toei Animation as the studio behind the show, and for those who don't know, they have a bit of a rep when it comes to cutting corners in regards to animation budgets. While I can't say that any of the animation is objectively terrible, it is lacking by many modern standards. Several times throughout the aired episodes we have characters going slightly off model, still shot action beats, and some overall janky movements that just don't look natural. Worse offenders exist out there for sure, but in a world where the caliber of animation standards have been somewhat raised (by studios like UFO Table) I feel Toei should've at least upped their game a little bit. This level of animation probably would've been exceptional in the early 2000's, but today it just looks cheap.

What ultimately keeps me coming back to Tiger Mask W is once again its uproariously hammy nature. At many intervals during my time with the show so far I honestly felt like I was watching a time capsule piece that was right out of the 80's, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Never mind the fact that several prominent wrestlers from New Japan Pro-Wrestling (a promotion I absolutely adore) are featured as major characters who either help or hinder our titular Tiger Masked heroes. Whether it's Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata, or Togi Makabe on screen, I'll be completely honest in declaring that I totally geek out seeing these guys as anime characters.

At the end of the day I think Tiger Mask W just takes me back to a period when wrestling (while undeniably ridiculous) was simply a blast to watch. The heroes were virtuous and mighty, going up against the slimy and conniving villains. It's not Citizen Kane, but it doesn't need to be. Tiger Mask W is an anime that makes us remember a time when wrestlers weren't just performers, they were living legends.

Look Out For Part 2 Coming Soon! 

Blood Code Radio- Broadcast 3

Greetings once again faithful readers!

The newest installment to BCR (Blood Code Radio) is up for your listening pleasure! I'm joined by my good friend Rob (Clear Skies) creator of the Roan RPG, who some may also know as The Game Mechanic, and we discuss/review perhaps 2016's biggest runaway hit, Thunderbolt Fantasy, from Pili Studios and Gen Urobuchi.

Slight spoilers, we absolutely loved the show, and we go into some pretty significant details as to why in the broadcast. Give it a listen here and let me know what you think!

You have just entered the Blood Code!