What They Say:
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The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
A painful eight days after its Japanese airing, The Anime Network finally gets to start streaming the new Shaft show for this season, directed by the studio’s signature director, Akiyuki Shinbo. This combination has yielded some masterpieces like Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Bakemonogatari, but due to Shinbo’s unbelievable ability to pump out series after series like nobody else with half his talent in the business, they’re not all of that level of quality. However, there are a couple of things we can generally expect when this team pops up with something new: fantastic visuals that you know couldn’t be from anyone else and, should the writing allow for it, absolute insanity. The former is a given, and one of the most enjoyable parts of this first episode, and in the case of the latter… the writing certainly allows for it.
The Sasami-san of the title (which is kept entirely intact despite TAN’s decision to cut off all honorifics used) is a 16-year-old NEET and hikikomori (watch the likes of Welcome to the NHK if you’re unfamiliar with these concepts) who allows her creepily doting older brother to do the most basic of tasks for her, including bathing, drying, and dressing her. Her older brother, who perpetually keeps his face completely obscured regardless of the situation, is a little too happy to comply with all of these wishes, himself desiring to go to even more extreme levels with his little sister. Starting off the episode with a naked girl calling her big brother in to wash her was disappointing after being taken in by the brilliant visuals, but for anyone familiar with this team’s work on the Monogatari series – particularly Nise – this is hardly anything new, not to say it’s any more appreciated because of that. When her brother goes to the school he teaches at for the day, Sasami takes to her computer to somehow monitor everything he does in the third person for the day, seeing him come across three girls of varying degrees of cliché and bizarreness, who are all revealed to apparently be sisters. Their interactions with him are nearly as strange as his home life, all in different ways, and he’s no more normal.
And then things start to get weird. The latter portion of this episode is a nonsensical assault on the senses, complete with some impressive battle sequences of sorts that show off some more of the notable qualities of Shinbo’s directing skills. We are given no indication as to why any of this should make any sense, and with the way this series is starting off, I wouldn’t be surprised if we never do, and instead we simply get more visually captivating but inexplicably crazy scenes to proceed to never be touched upon again. However, I can’t pretend I have any idea where this series will head from this point forward. If nothing else, this is not a predictable little story we have on our hands here. One interesting thing about the cast is that there doesn’t seem to be anything close to a straight man to counter all the insanity going on. Sasami is the closest I suppose, at least when faced with her brother going a little too overboard, but she’s far from normal herself.
For those who like references, this episode has some nice touches in that regard. An entirely random performance of the Hare Hare Yukai dance from Haruhi Suzumiya is followed by Sasami browsing the Internet to come across a series of subtle references to a number of recent anime, as well as world events and other relatable content you’d find in a normal day. This definitely isn’t an entry-level anime experience; while TAN provides the occasional subtitle note to explain a pun or reference, there are plenty of terms related to otaku fandom and Japanese culture that may be lost on a less seasoned viewer. Of course, anyone worried about being confused should stay far away from this title altogether, but the hikikomori issue specifically seems to be building up to the one possible series subplot of the series, which could end up becoming a big part of the plot, should the series decide to work more toward telling a coherent story, rather than just going completely off the walls in every way possible, as it’s doing right now. Although it’s certainly not the goal for the very beginning of the series, I could see things moving in that direction around the middle of the series.
In Summary:
Shaft and Akiyuki Shinbo bring us another display of insanity that doesn’t give us much to think about beyond wondering what on Earth we just spent the last half-hour watching. As usual, the visuals are unique and creative, although they may not work for everyone, but incest-themed tropes and associated fanservice also work their way into things in a somewhat unsettling way. Fortunately, this is at least all played for laughs, and the only hints at things becoming serious in the future look much more dramatic and emotional, from the very minor glimpse of that side of things that managed to slip in between the overpowering walls of crazy on every side.
Grade: C
Streamed By: The Anime Network
Review Equipment:
Toshiba Satellite L655-S5191 PSK2CU-1C301U Notebook PC.
