Get a taste of what’s to come in the first episode of this original Japanese anime series with this spoiler-free Zenshu review.
Renowned animation studio MAPPA, responsible for acclaimed series Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen, unveils Zenshu, an original Japanese anime television series directed by Mitsue Yamazaki and written by Kimiko Ueno.
With Crunchyroll holding the global streaming rights, this all-new series will debut worldwide on January 5, 2025.
The story of Zenshu follows Natsuko Hirose, a reclusive anime director, who dies from overwork while struggling to create a romantic comedy series. She unexpectedly awakens in the world of A Tale of Perishing, her beloved childhood anime.
Remembering the grim reality of the anime, Natsuko discovers she can rewrite the story by animating new scenes, forcing her to confront her own artistic limitations and the power of storytelling.
A spoiler-free Zenshu Review — an alternate world where ink and magic collide
As soon as I finished episode one, I had one immediate take away: the first episode itself wasn’t spectacular, but I can see where this anime could be going, and I’d gladly board that train.
Before I even watched Zenshu, I had very little idea of what I was getting myself into. I thought I knew enough after seeing the trailers and reading what little there was online, but actually seeing the story unfold made me realize there was something more to look forward to.
We meet Natsuko our protagonist right away and learn how she dies just as quick (classic Isekai!), however we learn so much about her life and personality before she’s whisked away to another world.
The world she ends up in is her favorite anime of all time, A Tale of Perishing.
Sadly, this place is just a tragic as the name implies. It’s a classic Fantasy world where magic and monsters run rampant, the catch is that Natsuko already knows of all the bad things that’s going to happen in this world.
So, while Natsuko is pleading for the local inhabitants to listen to her, I enjoyed listening to the little back and forth conversations they were having. The show’s writer, Kimiko, did a great job assigning personalities to the main on-screen characters as none felt flat nor lifeless.
Although action takes a backseat for now, episode one showcased a lot of potential, particularly with the colorful magic scenes that hint at the visual feast to come, typical of a MAPPA production.
After the end credits began rolling, I could see where Zenshu’s story could go. Sure, the story didn’t make me go “wow”, but it gave me enough to want to know more about this new Isekai world, it’s locals, and how Natsuko plans to impact it.
I like the idea of giving someone the chance to rewrite a sad story, and I’m happy to give Natsuko the opportunity to show me what she’d do.
She’s a fan herself, after all.
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