Ningen Fushin: Adventurers Who Don’t Believe in Humanity Will Save the World
Short Synopsis: A band of Isekai misfits form an adventuring party.
Mario: Welcome to 2023 with – of course, the most cash-cowed genre in the anime world at the moment – an isekai offering. I will start off with a positive, Ningen Fushin has an amusing concept: a bunch of distrust members form an unlikely group and eventually save the world. In the right hand, this premise could turn into something affecting (they all go through traumatic events), or a satire in the same vein of Konosuba that pokes fun at its characters and the isekai tropes. Sadly, Ningen Fushin is destined to be mediocre. First, the mash-up elements between RPG fantasy and modern day idols are jarring (and only makes sense from an otaku’s point of view). Second, the episode tries to cram so much backstories from multiple characters that it has little room to breathe. Moreover, in order to give the characters a solid cynicism, it walks on many troublesome tropes that I am not keen of: a false rape acusation, an asshole partner who will turn the table at a flick of a finger… Ningen Fushin isn’t bad per se (we’ve seen worse), it’s just bland and average.
Potential: 20%
Lenlo: I’ve found the first generic isekai of the season. The idea is interesting enough I suppose. Rather than a single loser MC with a grudge against his original party, we have 4. Each one of the core party members has a chip on their shoulder from some past life event. If they had a decent enough personality, some kind of interplay, then I could get into it. Watching some misfits who really don’t belong together create a family is nice! But I just don’t have any faith in Ningen Fushin to be able to do that.
Potential: 5%
Bungou Stray Dogs Season 4
Short Synopsis: Various (loosely based) literary characters, headlined by Osamu Dazai, try to outwit (or outshoot) each other.
Amun: Let’s be honest: Bungou Stray Dogs is a B-tier show that just keeps getting renewed – and I love it. This season is starting off with a flashback on the founding of the detective agency, featuring Yukichi Fukuzawa (the Armed Detective Agency President) and Ranpo Edogawa (the actual detective of the detective agency). I remember there were throwaway lines about how the Armed Detective Agency was created as a home for Ranpo, and it seems this is exploring that. I don’t know much about the President, so it’s interesting to take a look – Ranpo has always been a pretty flat character to me (think Sherlock Holmes), so seeing him as a little kid is kind of fun. Also VERY interesting to see the President having serious parallels (cell phone, assassin background) to Kyoka Izumi, who he later brings into the fold. I bet this flashback arc lasts half a season, like others have in the past, but it’s still a nice twist on what can become a set-piece show. The noir aesthetics aren’t half bad either (especially considering this is a pretty flashy show). Of course, Bungou Stray Dogs always thinks itself overly clever when it’s really just entertaining, but four seasons in, this should come as no surprise. Good start to the season!
Potential: 75%
The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague
Short Synopsis: A rom-com between a stoic girl and her colleague, Weiss brother AKA Ice-Man.
Mario: Despite the cold title, the episode is much warmer than you might expect. It’s cute to see both characters slowly get to know each other and support one another in small ways, the real issue I have with it so far is that it is a bit monotone. We get to see Ice Guy blushing and bringing snow to the office multiple times and as a result it gets pale at the end. The show leans hard on the romance side as well. I don’t mean it as a negative aspect, but by focusing on this couple, the show doesn’t give enough spotlight to other members of the cast (well, except the cat). The visual is on a conservative side. It doesn’t look bad but it doesn’t excite me either. I can see myself returning to this series from time to time for the coziness, but don’t expect it to be a hit this season.
Potential: 30%
Lenlo: I’m very much in the same boat as Mario here. Ice Guy seems like a very calm, low-key sort of office romance. In a lot of ways I can appreciate that. I like romances involving young adults capable of having conversations and slowly getting to know each other more than I do highschool over reactionary crushes. In that sense, Ice Guy is right up my alley. However, just as Mario says, its visuals leave a lot to be desired and the characters themselves, while fitting the “chill” themes, have very little emotional range. I realize I was just complaining about over reactions, but there’s such as thing as not enough of a reaction. It doesn’t have to be huge, subtle moments are generally stronger. But I feel like we didn’t get much of either here. Maybe I’ll warm up (heh) to Ice Guy after an episode or two. But as far as first impressions go, I’m not feeling very passionate.
Potential: 20%
