Spring Anime 2014 (Part 7)

Title: Mekakucity Actors
Release Date: April 12, 2014
Studio: Shaft
Genre: Supernatural, Sci Fi, Action/Adventure, Comedy, Mystery
Premise: Based on the series of Vocaloid songs. A series of incidents on August 14th and 15th draws together a group of teenagers with eye-based powers.

Verdict: Jesus Tap dancing Christ that was pretty. It may not be clear what exactly is happening by the end of the first episode, but it's certain that Mekakucity Actors is a feast for the eyes. For the uninitiated, the show is based on a hugely popular series of music videos using the popular Vocaloid software. Each song deals with members of a group of gifted teens who call themselves Mekakushi Dan (lit: "Blindfold Gang").

It is probably due to the established fandom that the first episode dives right in with little exposition. The first character introduced is Shintaro Kisaragi, a NEET shut-in with a mysterious AI , named ENE, living on his computer. After a mishap involving an open soda bottle and a keyboard, Shintaro works up enough courage to venture into the outside world and off to the nearest hardware store. Things go smoothly for Shintaro's first day back in society...until a terrorist group attacks the same hardware store and holds everyone prisoner. Things only get more interesting for there.

As mentioned above, Shintaro's world and its wonderfully weird goings-on look absolutely amazing. Shaft is still fond of playing with colors, painting the locales with a bright, vibrant palette. Director Akiyuki Shinbo, already winning this year with the super-fun Nisekoi, seems to be having a lot of fun teasing viewers with hints of the craziness to come. And I can't wait to see more.

Spring Anime 2014 (Part 2)

Title: Soul Eater Not!
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Studio: Bones
Genre: Supernatural, Action, Comedy
Premise: This series returns to the halls of Shibusen's weapon meister academy with a new central trio of heroes: Tsugumi Harudori, Anya Hepburn and Meme Tatane.

Verdict: I have a general rule about not reviewing sequels or second seasons of established series, but spin-offs provide a nice loophole. Although set in a familiar universe, they give audiences a chance to experience a brand-new story or revisit past events from a new perspective. Set before the events of the original series, Soul Eater Not follows Tsugumi Harudori, a first-year Shibusen weapon with the ability to become a halberd.

When her weapon abilities manifest during an accident in her apartment, Tsugumi decides to hop on a plane to America, beginning studies at Shibusen. Joining her are a pair of first-year meisters: air-headed Meme Tatane and aloof rich girl Anya Hepburn. Together, the trio of female leads tackle their first day of classes - attending orientation, picking weapon/meister partners and even battling a few unruly classmates.

There are a few pleasant cameos by regulars from the original series, but it's doubtful that they will turn up again if the show plans to spin a separate narrative.

The gang's all here! ... But only for five seconds at a time!

Although the faces are new, Studio Bones' A-list production talent is instantly recognizable. Director Masakazu Hashimoto appears comfortable at the helm, deftly handling the emotional beats of the three female leads. Even after four years, Shibusen still feels like a lot of fun.

Winter Anime Season (Part 10)

Title: Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecil
Release Date: January 12, 2014
Studio: ARMS
Genre: Supernatural, Law Procedural, Action/Adventure
Synopsis: In 2018 Tokyo, humans and wizards live side-by-side; criminals who use magic are defended in special courts by public servants known as wizard barristers. At 17 years old, Cecil Sudo is the youngest wizard barrister to ever practice magical law, and her arrival at Butterfly Law Offices is sure to ruffle some feathers.

Verdict: Anime is especially good at genre-bending, usually by applying extraordinary circumstances to familiar settings (The Devil is a Part-Timer - the Lord of Evil flipping hamburgers) or vice versa (Planetes - a workplace dramedy in space). Wizard Barristers is, at its core, a criminal defense drama...but with magic. It makes for a far more action-packed legal drama than, say, Law and Order or The Good Wife when the typical case includes a defendant who killed a bank robber that arrived on a metal dragon. Studio ARMS, which usually produces fanservice-heavy series like Ikki Tousen, has outdone itself here, seamlessly blending 2D and CGI animation during magic battles. Director Yasuomi Umetsu, who also directed last year's Galilei Donna, seems to have hit Strong Female Lead pay dirt again with Cecil Sudo. An early scene with two magic-phobic police officers serves as a perfect introduction to her character; sweet and a little bit ditzy on the outside, but a formidable debater when the situation calls for it.

Don't let her size fool you.

The rest of the cast is not lacking in character development either, whether it's Cecil's quirky new cohorts at Butterfly Law or sultry, chain-smoking Inspector Quinn. Everything is adding up to one unique law procedural series. With only one episode in the books, Wizard Barristers is already gunning for the top spot this season.

Winter Anime Season (Part 7)

Title: Hoozuki no Reitetsu
Release Date: January 9, 2014
Studio: Wit Studio
Genre: Comedy, Supernatural, Workplace Comedy
Synopsis: Based on the popular manga by Natsumi Eguchi, this series follows the day-to-day adventures of Hoozuki, Chief Administrator of Hell and Personal Aide to King Yama.

Verdict: Hell hasn't been this funny since Yondemasu yo, Azazel san. Much like that show, there's something delightfully absurd about the juxtaposition of fearsome cruel demons having mundane water cooler conversations. Compound that with Hoozuki's deadpan delivery as he commits unspeakable acts, e.g., slapping the shit out of Japanese folk hero Momotaro, and you've got a winning combination.

What's not to like?

Hoozuki's most winning quality, however, is that he is not wantonly destructive, spreading violence with no endgame in mind. In a hilarious twist, the very next scene sees him offering jobs to both Momotaro and his talking animal companions in understaffed departments. The show looks to get only more bizarre from there, and I can't wait to see what comes next.

Winter Anime Season (Part 6)

Title: Hamatora
Release Date: January 7, 2014
Studio: Naz
Genre: Detective, Action/Adventure, Supernatural, Comedy
Synopsis: Friends and business partners Nice and Murasaki are the joint leaders of Hamatora, a freelance detective agency operated from inside a bar. Each member of Hamatora possesses a type of Minimum, or a special ability that activates when certain conditions are met.

Verdict: This may only be the second ever project for studio Naz, but it is already making the case for being one of the most fun and exciting series of the year. The pilot serves as a nice introduction for each member of the team and his/her special power. Nice, the scatterbrained leader, has the ability to see sound waves; much like his namesake, he often takes jobs that will allow his to help others. This often puts him at odds with the more practical Murasaki, who blames Nice's predisposition for their inability to pay the bills. To drive this point home, two jobs, one well-paying and one well-intentioned, arrive simultaneously; thinks go about as well as you'd expect.

Not pictured: Two rational adults reaching a consensus.

Meanwhile, their coworkers and fellow Minimun users, Birthday (yes, that's his real name) and Ratio, leave to work a third job as bodyguards. This allows veteran director Seiji Kishi (Seto no Hanayome, Angel Beats!) to highlight each character's separate strengths and, when a lead reveals that the cases are all related, how they work well together. By the the time the loose ends have come together, Hamatora is firing on all cylinders. The team members each have their own personal charm, and, more importantly, their own set of sweet moves to bust out when they activate their Minimum. Nor is the story lacking; the solution to the cases is unexpected (and amusing), and the first hints of an overarching villain are introduced as rumors of a Minimum user serial killer begin to spread. Between the winning cast, slick visuals, jazzy score and enticing plotlines, Hamatora is looking to be a fun watch.

Winter Anime Season (Part 3) (NSFW!)

Title: Saikin, Imouto no Yousu ga Chotto Okashiinda ga (aka Recently, My Sister is Unusual)
Release Date: January 4, 2014
Studio: Project No. 9
Genre: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Supernatural
Synopsis: Yuya Kanzaki is thrown for a loop when his usually frigid stepsister, Mitsuki, suddenly becomes upbeat and affectionate. The cause: the disembodied spirit of Hiyori Kotobuki, who has possessed Mitsuki in order to earn Yuya's love.

Verdict: Oh myyyy. If this doesn't turn out to be the funniest anime of 2014, it's certainly making a case for being the steamiest. Never since the era of Seikon no Qwaser has there been such wanton display of girl-on-girl fanservice.

Seriously, I can't see the tits through all this story...wait.

The episode begins innocuously enough, with Yuya and Mitsuki joining their newlywed parents for breakfast before going through an uneventful school day. Mitsuki is cold toward her new brother at times, but there appears to be nothing out of the ordinary. That is, until Mitsuki unexpectedly collapses on a footbridge while walking home. When she comes to in the hospital ward, she does the unthinkable...and wraps Yuya in a great big hug. The move surprises everyone, including Mitsuki, and it's not long before we are introduced to the culprit, Hiyori, and her unique (very adult, often censored) way of saying hello.

Hint: They're not shaking hands right now...

...Or playing video games.

When it's not busy devolving into a steamy pile of entangled school girl limbs, the show displays some talent for evoking laughs at the bizarre situation and teases some more supporting characters. Judging from the fact that most of them are female, it's safe to say that Mitsuki and Hiyori won't be the only girls competing for Yuya's attention. Judging from the first episode, first-time director Hiroyuki Hata only has more (literally) juicy moments in store for viewers.

Anime is for children, you say? Good luck watching this with your mom.

It remains to be seen if an actual plot will develop between healthy helpings of kissing and fondling. Until then, expect plenty of opportunities to break out your best Takei face.

I'm sorry...but I'm not sorry.

Winter Anime Season (Part 2)

Title: Noragami
Release Date: January 5, 2014
Studio: Bones
Genre: Supernatural, Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Comedy
Synopsis: Up-and-coming god Yato finds himself down on his luck when his Sacred Treasure, a type of living weapon, tenders her resignation. He resolves to fight evil by himself until a chance encounter with a high school girl changes his fortunes.

Verdict: This could be an early candidate for best anime of the Winter season, if not the year. Studio Bones has a successful track record as long as my arm, so the world of mangaka Adachitoka springs to life with vibrant colors and smoothly animated action sequences. Phantoms, supernatural ripples caused by strong emotions, come in all shapes and sizes; the first episode alone finds Yato facing down a giant red snake born from the malicious competitive spirit of exam week and a towering, gluttonous neon blue frog. Playing opposite Hiroshi Kamiya's Yato is Maaya Uchida as Hiyori Iki, a spunky, MMA-loving high school girl who finds herself caught up in the fledgling god's world after saving him from getting hit by a bus. Hiyori serves as a fitting stand-in for the audience since she often balks at the bizarre nature Yato's swashbuckling lifestyle. Although it looks like this is Kotaru Tamura's first turn as director, so far he seems to be doing a good job of balancing the fantastical with the everyday. After learning that her new companion fancies himself a god of immeasurable power, Hiyori's initial reaction is to call the police. Light moments like these sprinkled in between impressive supernatural action sequences make for an engaging viewing experience. If Noragami doesn't turn out to be one of the best series of the year, it'll still be one of the most fun to watch.

Winter Anime Season (Part 1)

Title: Witch Craft Works
Release Date: December 30, 2013
Studio: J.C. Staff
Genre: Supernatural, Magical Girlfriend, Harem, Comedy, School Life
Synopsis: Average high school student Honoka Takamiya suddenly finds his life turned upside down when a building mysteriously drops on him from the sky above. Honoka's is suddenly rescued by school idol Ayaka Kagari, who reveals herself as a witch sworn to protect him.

Verdict: Impressive production values and an intriguing premise save this from being just another harem. Based on Ryu Mizunagi's popular manga, the anime wastes no time throwing Takamiya into the over-the-top, silly and often dangerous world of witches. Facing such perils as falling buildings, armed bunny robots and Kagari's own rabidly jealous fan club, Takamiya rarely has time to process all of the weird circumstances in which he finds himself. His bumbling surprise and amusing observations are comically offset by Kagari's unflappable stoicism. Director Tsutomu Mizushima is right at home thanks to his work on gut-busters like Genshiken, Yondemasu yo Azazel san and +Tic Nee san, and the magical battles by J.C. Staff (Shakugan no Shana, Toaru Kagaku no Railgun) balance a sense of absurdity and danger. Much like Takamiya himself, the audience barely has time to breath in between new revelations that raise new burning questions. How does magic work? Who are the "Tower Witches" and why are they after Takamiya in the first place? Is Kagari always an emotionless doll? This show is enticing enough to warrant a second look.

The Fall Anime Season is Here (Part 8)!

Title: Kyousogiga
Release Date: Oct. 10, 2013
Studio: Toei Animation
Genre: Fantasy, Supernatural, Action/Adventure
Premise: A monk whose drawings come to life and his anthropomorphic bunny wife create and inhabit a fictionalized version of Kyoto for several years before disappearing. Some time later the monk's son, who has taken his name, encounters a young girl - the first human to cross into the "other" Kyoto in several years.

Verdict: Every once in a while an anime comes along that is so original, so wildly creative and ambitiously different, that it demands to be seen. At the turn of the century, it was FLCL. In 2010, it was The Tatami Galaxy. And when industry powerhouse Toei Animation trotted out the first Kyousogiga ONA roughly two years ago, I had a feeling that another masterful experiment in animation had come along. After viewing the first episode of the series proper, that feeling is quickly crystallizing into certainty.

Serving as a prologue of sorts, the first episode sets up the origins of "Kyoto" (spelled using the characters for "Mirror Capitol" and pronounced "Kyoto"). We meet Kyoto's creator, Myoe, a monk whose enchanted drawings become real. Myoe's unique talents get him relocated to a remote village in Kyoto, where he is immediately shunned by the superstitious town folk. Lonely, he draws a bunny with black hair and red eyes for companionship.

The bunny, named Koto, begins to develop feelings for her creator, and her love is noticed by a bodhisattva residing in a nearby Buddha statue. The bodhisattva offers to give Koto a human form, so that she may express her feelings for Myoe more clearly, and she obliges. At first reluctant, Myoe gradually warms to his bunny wife, eventually starting a family with her: Yakushimaru, a human boy, Kurama, a boy born from Myoe's drawing, and Yase, a demonic girl with bouncy blonde curls. When disdain continues to pour in from the outside world, Myoe and his family decide to depart to a different Kyoto that has been created from his drawings.

In this separate dimension, the family lives out many happy days until Koto reveals the unfortunate truth about her human form. Although she was given a human form to express her love for Myoe, she was supposed to relinquish it the moment her feelings were returned; although Myoe has loved her back for quite some time, she has selfishly remained in her form, not wanting to return to the world outside. Touched by her devotion, Myoe agrees to leave Kyoto with her, leaving his son Yakushimaru with the title of Myoe and appointing him to watch over Kyoto in his absence.

The story then jumps forward several years, when a fully grown Yakushimaru, now going by the name "Myoe," notices a disturbance at the entrance to Kyoto. Thinking his father has returned, he rushes to the source...only to find a magical hammer-wielding teenager named Koto and her twin younger brothers.

What brings Koto to this dimension, her connection to Myoe, and the whereabouts of the original Myoe and Koto remain to be seen. All that I know is that I'll be along for the ride. Despite the heavy exposition, newcomer director and series creator Rie Matsumoto is able to string together beautiful image after beautiful image. The streets of Mirror Capitol Kyoto are colorful, bizarre and teeming with character; Matsumoto has created an interesting world for her characters to inhabit, and if Koto's sudden arrival is any indication, it might not be the only one out there. I will definitely be tuning in to find out.

The Fall Anime Season is Here (Part 6)!

Title: Gingitsune
Release Date: Oct. 6, 2013
Studio: Diomedea
Genre: Supernatural, Slice of Life
Premise: Shortly after the death of her mother, 4-year-old Makoto Saeki begins to see a silver fox spirit lounging on the roof of her family's shrine. Several years later, Makoto, now a high school student, has become something of a local favorite, working with Gin, the fox spirit, to tell people's fortunes and give them advice.

Verdict: A solid pilot from a simple premise. Studio Medea has primarily been known for its lighthearted harem fare, but their latest series seems to be going in a more serious, girl-oriented direction for them.

Makoto is your average high school girl, barring the fact that she and only she can see a gigantic talking fox with supernatural abilities. Gin, voiced by the incredible Shinichiro Miki, has served as the herald, or spirit messenger, for Makoto's shrine for 15 generations. Understandably, Gin approaches his responsibilities as herald with the jaded dutifulness of a veteran blue collar worker. It doesn't help matters that Makoto routinely uses his divining powers just to tell fortunes for her classmates. One such girl seeks Makoto out after a fight with her boyfriend. Makoto relates Gin's advice (apologize) but leaves out a key part (apologize humbly) and ends up making matters worse. Instead of owning her mistake she blames Gin, who subsequently departs the shrine in a huff. In his absence, things begin to fall apart for Makoto, and her client isn't the only one who's learned something by episode's end.

I could see this quickly turning into a series of after school specials, with each week bringing a problem that teaches a different moral, but I will stick around as long as the beautiful art keeps coming. The scene where Gin first summons his divining powers can only be described as majestic, and the shots of the shrines that the spirits call home are faithful depictions of classic Japanese architecture. You probably won't get any earth-shattering revelations out of a show like this, but the art direction is worth repeat viewings.

The Fall Anime Season is Here (Part 5)!

Title: Outbreak Company
Release Date: Oct. 3, 2013
Studio: Feel
Genre: Comedy, Harem, Supernatural, Ecchi
Premise: After acing an online pop culture quiz, bona fide otaku Kanou Shinichi is recruited by an undercover government agency to serve as an economic liaison between Japan and a newly discovered fantasy world in another dimension.

Verdict: Pretty funny for a harem. I tend to steer clear of anime that is too heavy on the fanservice, but so far OC has given some substance to a genre that is often nothing but ass n titties. As is customary for a typical harem character, Shinichi is a thoroughbred geek. He is fluent in all pop culture references and tropes, maintains a significant collection of figurines, games, and tankobon, and, most tellingly, has no love life to speak of, having long since been rejected (by his childhood friend, no less!) for his peculiar interests. Likewise, the female characters introduced so far all fit into particular moe tropes: the timid and clumsy petite maid, the busty and mature older sister, and the fussy, temperamental younger sister.

Where the show really gets its legs is the unique setting: the magical kingdom of Eldant. Shinichi wakes up in this fantasy world filled with dragons, elves and lizard men after coming to what he thought was a job interview for a tech company. His interviewer turns out to be a government big shot who has scouted Shinichi to manage mass media distribution for his company, Amutec's, newly formed Eldant branch, in charge of marketing anime, manga and video games to Eldant's population. The job's appeal is easy to see - I don't think there's an otaku alive who would pass up the chance to explain the merits of Street Fighter compared to Dead or Alive to a real live elf - and this should give the show some substance in between conveniently angled panty shots. All in all the pop culture references and celebration of geek culture make this one harem I can get behind. Give it a spin!

The Fall Anime Season is Here (Part 4)!

Title: Nagi no Asukara
Release Date: Oct 3, 2013
Studio: P.A. Works
Genre: Supernatural, School Life, Romance
Premise: Hikari Sakishima and his three friends, all children from a race of sea-dwelling humans, must attend school with humans on the surface after their underwater middle school closes its doors. Hikari must contend with the ridicule of his land-dwelling classmates, the ire of his fellow sea-dwellers, and a surface boy who has taken a special interest in his childhood friend, Manaka.

Verdict: I probably should have expected this since P.A. Works was involved, but this really registered with me on an emotional level. This will probably hold true for any viewer who has known young love, especially love of the unrequited variety. As Hikari opines in the opening scenes:

"What can I do? Without someone else, she just wouldn't get through life. I have to be with her."

By the time the end credits roll, however, it's apparent to everyone (except perhaps Hikari himself) that he may actually be the one who needs her. The surface boy, Tsumugu, throws many a wayward glance in Manaka's direction, and she doesn't seem to mind the attention. To make matters worse, Manaka's friend Chisaki carries a flame for Hikari; and there's a touching scene where she reveals she is torn between her feelings for Hikari and her friendship with Manaka. Experience says this unrequited love rectangle is sure to only get more complicated as time goes on.

To keep from telling another stale young love story, Nagi no Asukara also adds supernatural elements. Legend has it that all humanity is descended from the ancient sea god, originally living underwater. When a faction of mankind ditched their gills to live on land, the sea god became angry, leading to mankind's travails with droughts and fights over fresh drinking water. Mankind sent sacrificial maidens out to sea in boats to appease the sea god, and sea dwellers are supposedly the offspring of the sea god and said maidens.

Despite these shared origins, it is clear that tensions between the land and the sea are running high. Surface kids tell Hikari and his friends that they "stink of fish" and vandalize his older sister's workplace. The men of his underwater village gripe about fishermen who fish outside of their designated zones. Hikari, who is heir to the shrine where his father serves as high priest, must lend an ear to his fellow villagers' complaints and try to make sense of it all.

It makes for an interesting mix of elements. There looks to be a large ensemble of characters, and write Mari Okada (whose past credits include the excellent Wandering Son and tear-jerking Anohana) seems more than able to communicate everyone's frenzied jumble of emotions. Supporting characters like Lord Uroko (who is already my favorite) should flesh out Hikari and co.'s underwater world and provide some lighthearted moments between bouts of teenage angst. P.A. Works looks like they have another hit on their hands with this one.

The Fall Anime Season is Here (Part 2)!

Title: Kyoukai no Kanata
Release Date: Oct 3, 2013
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Genre: Action/Adventure, Supernatural, Slice of Life, School Life, Comedy
Premise: Easy-going high school student Akihito Kanbara's peaceful life is interrupted when he thwarts the suicide attempt of Mirai Kuriyama. When Mirai rewards Akihito's bravado by stabbing him through the heart, he, an immortal half-human half-youma, and she, a Spirit World Warrior sworn to hunt youma, find their fates irreparably intertwined.

Verdict: A surprisingly pleasant first episode. This one initially swept under my radar because of the cliche setting ( high schoolers dealing with supernatural powers? again?), but the writers have created an interesting dynamic between the lead characters. After their initial encounter, Akihito does his best to avoid Mirai's constant after school ambushes. The last scion of a special clan of Spirit World Warriors with the ability to harden their blood and shape it into weapons, Mirai is something of a pariah in the Warrior community. She has yet to kill her first youma, and has resolved to use the immortal Akihito as target practice. Akihito's childhood friend (and fellow literary club member), Mitsuki Nase, also happens to be the daughter of the most prominent local family of Spirit World Warriors. She warns Akihito not to become further involved with Mirai, although it is not clear whether this is out of concern or flirtatious jealousy (since this is an anime, it's probably both).

Studio Kyoto Animation has a significant track record of "school life with a twist" series under its belt, having previously released such classics as Full Metal Panic and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and their experience is apparent here. Lighthearted segments of everyday high school life are peppered with dazzling bits of smoothly animated supernatural fighting action, and the transitions between the two feel very natural. Writer Jukki Hanada has done a good job of whetting my interest and setting up some intriguing questions to be answered in future episodes. This remains one to watch.

Summer Premier Season (Part Seven): Blood Lad

Title: Blood Lad
Release Date: July 7, 2013
Studio: Brain's Base
Genre: Supernatural, Comedy, Action/Adventure
Premise: An otaku vampire promises to return a human girl to life after she wanders into the demon world and dies during a skirmish over his territory.

Verdict: Ah, yes, another anime adaptation of a popular manga. This is the bread and butter of the anime industry, along with visual novel and video game adaptations, and the success of such work usually depends on the quality of the resources and staff being thrown at the project.

So far, so good. Studio Brain's Base has been responsible for some pretty stellar shows over the past few years. The seiyuu for main character Staz, Ryota Osaka, is also having a breakout year so far with lead roles in two other anime I've enjoyed: The Devil is a Part-Timer and Valvrave the Liberator. The series is currently listed as scheduled for 12 episodes, so I doubt they'll be able to adapt all nine volumes of the source material, but judging from the animation quality this is a going to be a solid piece of work.

Vampires have undergone a sort of renaissance over the past decade. Once dismissed as soulless monsters, they have been recast as everything from reluctant allies to (most popularly) love interests. This has been pulled off with varying degrees of success, both good (thank you Joss Whedon) and very, very bad. Staz and co. seem poised to end up in the first group, but if not, it'll still be better than at least one story about vampires...

Summer Premier Season (Part Six): Uchouten Kazoku

Title: Uchouten Kazoku
Release Date: July 7, 2013
Studio: P.A. Works
Genre: Supernatural, Comedy, Drama, Slice of Life
Premise: In the city of Kyoto, humans, tanuki (raccon dog spirits) and tengu live among one another without intermingling. Except for Yasaburo Shimogamo, a tanuki who is fascinated by the world of humans and tengu, using his shape-shifting ability to move between societies.

Verdict: This seems like a slow burn, but a slow burn worth watching nonetheless. Aside from Yasaburo's opening narration, which basically reiterates the premise, there isn't much exposition; it's a welcome change from most anime that waste airtime by having characters or a narrator explain how the world works. Instead, the audience is dropped into the story and follows Yasaburo around town, learning the dynamics of Kyoto as he goes about his day. There's plenty to learn in spite of this hands-off narrative approach.

It's apparent Yasaburo doesn't hold much clout in his family due to his habits. He runs into two of his brothers, one older, one younger, and both view his shape-shifting with disapproval or confusion. He also pays frequent visits to his "Master" an old tengu who has lost his ability to fly, and, consequently, his sense of pride. Most importantly, he seems to be acting as a go-between for his Master and the mysterious Benten - a tengu with a sultry femme fatale vibe who might have a romantic history with Yasaburo, his Master, or both.

So far the show is playing its cards pretty close to its chest, but there's definitely hints of a bigger story waiting to be told. I have every confidence that said story will deliver because 1) P.A. Works has yet to disappoint me (seriously, go watch Angel Beats! if you haven't already) and 2) it's based on a novel by Tomihiko Morimi, whose other novel The Tatami Galaxy has already been adapted into one of my all-time favorite anime. With credentials like that, I have no problem waiting until next week to get the whole story.