So another Sunday is upon us already which means so is another instalment of Otaku Digest! We take new anime series from each and every season and cut them right down to size and by that we watch the first episode to see whether they are worth committing too. Anime is a marathon not a race you have to be ready to dedicate yourself to a series and more than likely a sequel, fair warning anime newcomers nonetheless we hope our season dissection helps you choose the right series for you. We are truly into the Winter season now and have lined up another three series to the chopping block this week called Active Raid: Kidou Kyoushuushitsu Dai Hakkei, Dagashi Kashi and Bubuki Buranki.
Active Raid: Kidou Kyoushuushitsu Dai Hakkei
First this week we have the original anime Active Raid: Kidou Kyoushuushitsu Dai Hakkei or just Active Raid a mecha, action and police anime that originally aired on January 7. As mentioned before this a completely original anime that is based in a section of Tokyo that has sloped into a swamp. Our anime follows the Unit 8 of the 5th Special Public Security Section’s 3rd Mobile Assault Division which is more often referred to as ‘The Eighth’. This is a unit that wear ‘Willware’ exoskeletons in order to help combat the rising crime levels in the section. Asami Kazari an assistant inspector is assigned to the unit in order to assess its status which she must report to her superiors but she has an ulterior motive in this assignment and that is to rehabilitate the now chaotic, disordered and justice-less group.
I have been genuinely looking forward to this anime this season, there are few series I would say that for as I usually stay away from hype surrounding the new releases per season but I could not avoid this one. I used to be a massive mecha anime fan but felt they were becoming repetitive in story over the years so I lost interest but with the announcement of this new original mecha anime I was intrigued. The opening theme that kicked this episode off was top notch, nothing from the series was spoiled and the theme was catchy in a get up and dance kind of way. I very much liked that almost Iron Man inspired mecha that they were using. The animation in this episode was sublime to say the least, where the CGI was used was flawless and did not distract from the episode itself with over use but in fact added to the action scenes where it was used. The normal animation used was also flawless with epic character design. Bringing me to what won this episode for me, the characters are top notch, although we did not get much to any back story or development they were all done exceptionally well with no one character pulling the main focus.
Will I Continue to Watch: Yes, this has restored my faith in mecha!
Dagashi Kashi
Next we have the shounen and comedy anime to brighten our day a little called Dagashi Kashi an anime which was adapted from a manga of the same name and first aired on January 8. The anime is based around a rural sweet shop owned by the father of Shikada Kokonotsu and it is her father’s dream that she would one day take over the shop. Kokonotsu has other plans however, she wants to become a manga author instead! Hope walks in the door for her father when weird but cute Shidare Hotaru from a famous sweet company visits the store, Kokonotsu’s father is apparently famous and Hotaru wants him to join her families company. Kokonotsu’s father makes a deal with her that he will join only if she convinces Kokonotsu to take over the family shop first.
They may have left the actual genre title off it but this series just screams slice of life at the top of its little lungs, nonetheless I am dedicated to watching it. There is a nice opening theme that sort of seems like it would be more suited to some sort of Japanese drama somewhere rather than this random opening theme for an anime which was generic stills from the series with candy thrown on top. I do see the appeal of these little series, they can at times be very entertaining but at other times just as boring. Saying that this series did have some interesting points and even some quite funny moments but oh wow it needs less preachy speeches. Hotaru and Kokonotsu’s father were the two more interesting character than Kokonotsu himself who just sort of blended.
Will I Continue to Watch: Unlikely, too much exclaiming characters with no draw!
Bubuki Buranki
Lastly this week we have Bubuki Buranki or BBK/BRNK a sci-fi and action anime which began airing on January 9. The anime begins with Azuma Ikki returning to Japan after ten years only to be struck and assaulted by a horde of armed men who take him as their prisoner. He is rescued by his childhood friend Kogane Asabuki, she saves him using a weapon on her right hand which is known as a Bubuki, and these are weapons that have their own mind. Azuma Ikki learns of the existence of the Bubuki and becomes a user himself. He along with the companions he has found set off on a journey to try and awaken Oumai, a Buranki or Titan who is asleep underground.
The first thing that struck me about this episode near instantly is that fact that straight off the bat there is so much CGI used in this series, very much along the lines of a RWBY style of animation. While ultimately impressive, is a little jarring at first.
The opening to this anime was utterly confusing when it started off but actually made sense about mid-way through. I have to commend the way it gave us the backstory of our protagonist in this episode then jumped straight into current time story. I think it will be a running trend in this anime to confuse the hell out of its viewers which in turn makes you want to know more and keep watching just to understand what on earth is going on but also to know more about these characters and these creatures. Each character is so unique in their own way that I cannot wait to learn more about them and the creatures in this series.
Will I Continue to Watch: Yes, the story and the characters are intriguing!
