Appare-Ranman!

No dream is too big for Appare Sorrano, a socially-awkward inventor living in a small rural town in Japan in the late 19th century. Fascinated since childhood by the creation of steamships that can connect people across great distances, he's learned to make machines of all kinds from various scientific texts. His goal is to sail across the sea, beyond the sky, and ultimately, to the other side of the moon.

Unfortunately, through a string of events, Appare finds himself stranded in the middle of the sea on his mini steamship. Floating alongside him is a skilled but cowardly samurai, Kosame Ishikki, who was tasked to keep his eccentric behavior in check. Just when all hope seems lost, a large steamship saves them and takes them to Los Angeles. With no money or plans, they decide to participate in the "Trans-America Wild Race," which gives Appare the chance to build his own automobile, and Kosame the opportunity to use the cash prize to return home. However, against rival racers and unknown challenges residing in the wilderness, just how far will this adventure take Appare and Kosame?

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Edit

Background

No background information has been added to this title. Help improve our database by adding background information here.

Episode Videos

Edit

Related Anime

Adaptation:

Appare-Ranman!

More characters

Characters & Voice Actors

Sorano, Appare

Main

Hanae, Natsuki
Japanese

Isshiki, Kosame

Main

Yamashita, Seiichirou
Japanese

Jing, Xia Lian

Supporting

Amamiya, Sora
Japanese

TJ

Supporting

Sugita, Tomokazu
Japanese

Riesman, Richard

Supporting

Tsuda, Kenjirou
Japanese

Lyon, Al

Supporting

Saitou, Souma
Japanese

Taylor, Sofia

Supporting

Orikasa, Fumiko
Japanese

Hototo

Supporting

Yuuki, Aoi
Japanese

Ordin, Dylan G.

Supporting

Sakurai, Takahiro
Japanese

Chase the Bad

Supporting

Inada, Tetsu
Japanese

More staff

Staff

Cook, Justin

Producer

Tokumura, Kenichi

Producer

Usukura, Ryuutarou

Producer

Isogai, Noritomo

Producer

Edit

Opening Theme

"I got it!" by Mia REGINA

Edit

Ending Theme

"I'm Nobody" by Shoutarou Morikubo

Reviews

Sep 25, 2020

KANLen09

Recommended

Jojo's Steam Ball Run: the Animation, that is yet unfortunately another COVID-delayed show.

It's hard to believe that this one show that's full of experimental creativeness and perceived notion is all conceived by one man alone: Masakazu Hashimoto. From the story to the series composition that's tons of wacked insanity, it's more than enough to stand out in its originality, yet also be a callback to his career days of starting out as a director over at P.A. Works circa. 2011 (after flailing around from different anime projects in the 2000s with varying degrees of success). His first directorial and series composition work being Tari Tari ... way back in 2012 wasn't game-changing, but the way that it was done certainly had the early otakus take notice of his idea of a unique storytelling that's totally Hashimoto's: a fairly simple tried-and-true story plot, but with a pinch of inspiration to carve out its own identity and stand out as so. But as is with HaruChika's somewhat odd approach and consequence of people attacking him (as the director) vs. the novelist that has somewhat of a mish-mash of ideas that are not put well together, it's sad to say that it was kinda a defining moment of unnecessary hate strewn from that.

But now, after some time, Hashimoto is back with a story setting about a cross-country race that spans cities and people from the East to the West within a 19th century modernized Wild Wild West take, and it's honestly a thrill to follow the many characters who have defied dangers whilst participating in unforeseen deathmatches, fighting to save theirs and others' precious lives from time to time. "It's a strange world" as the quotes say, with the bombastic bizarreness of a plot and setting that only complete once they are joined together.

"Who says death-defying races are just for the Americans, both locally and natively?" This is a question that always pops up in my mind about people from different cultures entering into another culture, and totally getting that "culture shock" factor, and that is exactly what the 2 main characters are here for: the "Alexander Graham-Bell" of big-ass inventions of a dreamer that is Sorano Appare, and the skilled coward of a samurai who needs to pluck his courage, Kosame Isshiki. The idea of steamships in the 19th Century was a thing when transportation was getting ready to ship the masses across vast distances, and with Appare enamored at the idea of it, he so desperately wanted to create one for himself. Fortunately (or unfortunately), the playful strings of "A Series of Unfortunate Events" landed both Kosame and Appare in another continent (that is the U.S. of Los Angeles) and a particular race (of which the prize money won will be used back to Japan) sets the both of them on a course that will teach each other about camaraderie, and the dependence that will prove to be both MC's biggest character tonal shifts from time to time.

A "Trans-America Wild (car) Race" that's sponsored by organizers of big coporations who call themselves B.I.G. Boss (that you can see where the inspiration when it comes to automobiles), and within it, an assassination plot of the most mind-numbing kind that only weaves its unwelcoming stance the more is revealed...that suddenly isn't so much of a race anymore against rivals, but a fight to the death with a group of bandits wreaking havoc all around. Simple and overly cliche, but it works as a final product altogether.

To properly understand this show in general, there are many characters that play a part in this expedition:
- The Appare-Kosame team of an unusual steam-powered car, along with Hototo, a "Red Indian"-ish native American of a child, whose gain is to seek revenge for a gang that killed his tribe and family after being rescued from thugs.
- Jing Xialian, an assistant for a racing team that is constantly being accused and judged by her gender in an all-male society, and her #MeToo statement being a forthcoming judgment to see her in a totally different light, that women can also be like men and race wild.
- Al Lyon and Sofia Taylor, potential family heir and the heir's chaperone of one of the B.I.G. Boss corporations (BNW), with a desire to win to prove his solidarity and firmness of being his family's next in-line to the corporation.
- Race organizer Seth Rich Carter (you can call him Mr. Carter), whom has been ridiculed in the past as an engineer for another B.I.G. Boss corporation (G.M.), but like Kosame, holed up due to cowardice and not being able to stand up for himself.
- The Bad Brothers Tristan and Chase, whom like native Hototo, are burly Americans but whom first came under the wrong impressions, and are some of the kindest characters in the series.
- Last but not least, the "Thousand Three" outlaws which form the basis of B.I.G. Boss: skilled gunmen Dylan G. Oldin (racing for G.M), "Crazy" TJ (racing for Iron Motor Company) and the leader of the bandits Richard "Gil (the Snake) T. Cigar" Reeseman (lone driver).

All characters get their lone times of character development, which is to say that for 13 episodes of a shit-ton of concurrent events happening at different times, every character has their definite background moments to shine their light and shoot over the moon. Take Appare and Kosame for example: Appare is like a gifted bookworm, very focused on what he needs to do and forgets about the outside world instantly, while Kosame is loud and obnoxious, with a clear reason for his vengeance and redemption as the series progresses, both characters shrug each other off at the very beginning, but the apparent figures of simultaneous events that force them to double-team up and understand each other's motivation is always nice, and it only gets better from there on. Needless to say, the character department will be one of Appare-Ranman!'s stronger aspects when considering about the final product (which is the show itself in full glory).

P.A. Works is NO stranger to original shows in the past few years, but the records have been few and far in-between if there is any level of hype to back it up. Of course, this show had it in the Spring season, but the COVID push-back of a seasonal delay definitely hurt the enjoyment more (of people forgetting that it exists, DUH). It was a constant treat to see the art and animation show its legs, and even with some CGI (on the race), it will not win any awards, but at least it'll get the race done and dealt with. Overall, I'd never think to see 19th Century America so well-thought out, even resembling with the Wild Wild West of olden days past with a good sprinkle of animation to accompany it.

The OST, well oh well, it had a very nostalgic feel to it...that's if you feel inclined about 19th Century worldly standards. A good job on taking what is already well known and putting a nostalgic spin on it, kudos for setting the appropriate atmosphere for what it is. Good pairing of the OP and ED, and YES, finally a good song from Mia REGINA that screams "I don't give a F***" at how balls-off-the-wall the series has been flexing its personality. Long-time veteran Shoutarou Morikubo with his ED is also a good way to finish each episode, and anticipating what's to come, step-by-step. Truly the "I've got it!"A-HA moment.

The above-average spectrum of P.A. Works's catalogue of original shows, and watching people do what they love is a nice gesture, on top of just going bonkers and sticking lackluster endings of the shows gone by. At most this was a passion project done pretty good (not great, but passable), but at least I enjoyed my run with this show.

Now if you'd excuse me, I must now muster my creativity to make my own dream automobile and enter the race of a "lifetime".

Open

Gift

Sep 25, 2020

Manoha007

Mixed Feelings

What I didn't like about this anime,

I will start with the major con I have with this anime. There are many anime with the over-powered main character, viewer watches those anime for How the MC defeats or overcomes the hurdle? rather than does he actually able to overcome it. There can be many ways to show the characters are intelligent. Minor spoiler:The Main character(Appare) within a split second can calculate the objects trajectories and able to escape, in one scene. If it is limited to the MC (Appare) itself it would have been okay. The other main character (Kosame) able to split the bullet in ...

Open

Gift

Jan 28, 2021

PixelB

Not Recommended

Preliminary (4/13 eps)

"Eccentric genius" gets "coincidentally" paired with a "normal" man that acts as both a chaperone and a straight man to the genius. I wonder where I heard of this plot idea before?

Appare-Ranman takes a classic trope and tries to run off with it. There's so much rushed pacing and irregularities in the plot in order for the story to progress as fast as possible. You don't get to see any of the character interactions go beyond a surface level. Before you know it, the story progresses and new, random characters get thrown into the mix in order for there to be more diversity. It's pretty ... clear that Appare-Ranman is a story-centric show that uses characters as a mean to make the story happen. It doesn't even try to hide how bad the pilot episode is because it's a mere way for the actual story to come into play. Right from the start we get the very obvious plot devices that get spam thrown at the viewer. Appare is a "eccentric genius" that likes to tinker with gadgets, is unsociable and unpredictable, and our other main character, Kosame is forced to keep watch over our character. In no more than a single episode we get the common tropes thrown at Appare. He gets berated by his father for not having a proper job, he gets into big trouble but is able to get out due to his genius intelligence, and he doesn't think about the consequences of his actions because there are none, no matter how severe it actually is. Why? Because our boy Appare is the main character with plot armor given by the gods. Anything and everything he does goes his way no matter what. Kosame's just a character to keep Appare "in check" and a "normal" character to be a contrast with Appare, making a "dynamic duo."

There's a lack of logic in many of the characters and the way they act towards Appare, because if they didn't do that, he wouldn't be able to get away with all the things he does. Get stranded? Don't worry, help comes miraculously. Stand in front of car throttling through at top speed at the dead of night? No worries, Characters get introduced in a similar fashion. Luckily meet the same characters over and over, random scenarios lead them to meet different characters, and they all become great friends after interacting for a few minutes even though they were complete strangers just before. Then, they obviously have to spew their entire life sob story in front of Appare and Kosame, where then they will become a side character that will help the duo in some way shape or form. Appare's eccentric and life threatening actions would normally kill or jail a person immediately, but his smarts and plot armor seem to make his actions without consequence.

And the story? Win a million dollars in a race to go back home to Japan. You'd think that for a story that cuts corners in every way shape or form, this would be some sort of psychological thriller that needs to be paced this way, or nothing would be done. No...in the end it's the most simple racing show there is. Seriously, this story was so rushed in the beginning, for what? Some simple racing game? Was there really no better way to introduce the main plot? The only thing that this show focuses on is the racing aspect, I guess. It really makes me wonder why there had to be such an elaborate concept for such a simple plot. Redline was able to do that in 2 hours, so why wasn't Appare Ranman in 4?

Characters that are thrown in and introduced within minutes in order to progress plot don't appeal to me, and nor does this simple story that the plot is trying to get through. The races are the only thing worth noting, but is it worth going through mindless exposition? No. Not at all.

Open

Gift

More stacks

Interest Stacks

No Need For The Source, I'm Looking For Something Original

by Theannoy3rd1

50 Entries · 804 Restacks

Doppiati in italiano //3 di 3

by _Tamasha_

35 Entries · 9 Restacks

Autistic Main Characters!

by Omakiii

6 Entries · 4 Restacks

More recommendations

Recommendations

More news

Recent News

North American Anime & Manga Releases for June

Here are the North American anime, manga, and light novel releases for June Week 1: June 1 - 7 Anime Releases Appare-Ranman! Blu-ray Black Clover Season 3 Part 4 Blu...read more

Jun 1, 2021 1:15 AM by ImperfectBlue | Discuss (13 comments)

Summer 2020 Simulcast List [Update 9/15]

In this thread, you'll find a comprehensive list of anime acquired for simulcast release during the Summer 2020 season. Anime series licensed for home video rel...read more

Jun 25, 2020 6:35 PM by Snow | Discuss (47 comments)

More discussions

Recent Forum Discussion

Poll: Appare-Ranman! Episode 8 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Stark700 - Aug 21, 2020	55 replies	by Selleri_UmU »» Apr 11, 7:54 PM
Poll: Appare-Ranman! Episode 3 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Marinate1016 - Apr 24, 2020	77 replies	by Selleri_UmU »» Apr 10, 8:45 PM
Poll: Appare-Ranman! Episode 13 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Stark700 - Sep 25, 2020	79 replies	by Purplik »» Dec 10, 2023 3:07 PM
Poll: Appare-Ranman! Episode 11 Discussion Stark700 - Sep 11, 2020	45 replies	by RyshaiLord »» Dec 4, 2023 4:31 PM
Poll: Appare-Ranman! Episode 10 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Stark700 - Sep 4, 2020	83 replies	by i-loathe-sasuke »» Nov 9, 2023 3:37 PM

Recent Featured Articles

The Best and Worst Episodes of Summer 2020

In this first of a three-part series, I go over the highs and lows of nearly every anime that aired in Summer 2020!

by Shymander

60,559 views

Spoiler

In Numbers: Spring 2020 Premiere Rankings

The season is now fully underway, but which shows took off running and which tripped at the starting line?

by Shymander

58,245 views

Appare-Ranman!

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Available At

Resources

Streaming Platforms

Synopsis

Background

Episode Videos

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-

Related Anime

Characters & Voice Actors

Sorano, Appare

Isshiki, Kosame

Jing, Xia Lian

TJ

Riesman, Richard

Lyon, Al

Taylor, Sofia

Hototo

Ordin, Dylan G.

Chase the Bad

Staff

Opening Theme

Ending Theme

Reviews

Interest Stacks

Recommendations

Recent News

Recent Forum Discussion

Recent Featured Articles

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Appare-Ranman!

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Available At

Resources

Streaming Platforms

Synopsis

Background

Episode Videos

Visit MALxJapan MALxJapan -More than just anime-

Related Anime

Characters & Voice Actors

Staff

Opening Theme

Ending Theme

Reviews

Interest Stacks

Recommendations

Recent News

Recent Forum Discussion

Recent Featured Articles

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-