Alice Gear Aegis Expansion

Every so often a special type of show airs. It's full of soul, heart, and questionable production values and an off-kilter setting, but it always earns a place in my heart. It often stars an incompetent all girl cast and always features a dark setting that is brushed under the rug. Previously this show was called "Estab Life", "Arsnotoria", and "Hanabi-chan". This season, that show is called "Alice Gear Aegis".

I don't play mobages so I have no idea about this coming in, but it doesn't matter, the majority of the show is damedame slice of life with a bunch of idiots that make for some ... surprisingly good watching sessions. Strange weird subversive humor is abound all the time, which keeps jokes from getting stale. I like that the show keeps you guessing at what kind of punchline it'll throw at you. I do wish other characters get more of a focus, it's usually just the Narukozaka crew most of the time with occasional guest spots from other characters from the game. Some additional spotlight episodes would have been nice.

The final two episodes do spoil the show somewhat. I don't get the deal with evil Chihaya at all, and it feels like it was written by someone else for a totally different iteration of the show what with the 180-change in characterization or how it just begins and ends abruptly with no fanfare. Do yourself a favor and pretend episode 10 is the finale.

Still, Alice Gear Aegis manages to be a fun romp for most of its runtime. Cute girls doing weird things is always a great genre to fall back on, and the show certainly knows how to have fun.

7/10

It's really hard to rate this anime, as it requires a certain taste to enjoy such. Depending your taste, will determine if you like this anime or not. But if this kind of style isn't for you, then it's best to move on.

Story and characters: 6
The story feels like one massive troll job. Presenting itself as something else, when it's not that at all. As if that is part of it's comedic stick. Which if it lands for you, then you for sure are going to get amusements out of it. But if it doesn't, then it's going to be a mild OK show that ... you would be putting on the background, while you are waiting for another show to come up, or another activity you are planning today.

The characters are a mix as well. While they do seem very one note in some cases, but there is a lot of personality to go over, to make up for such. They remind you, as cute girls doing cute things, pure and simple, and there is nothing wrong with that. I wouldn't even say, some turned me off the show as well. They're nice characters. The sort that you'd find in a short page chapters gag manga. There is a lot to enjoy if it is to your taste.

Art and sound: 7
I actually feel like this is one of it's stronger points. The reactions and voice acting is on point, and the way it's shot, with the mix of simple colouring that really does it's job, and makes it look nice. I cannot really complain about it. It does it's job, and really matches itself well with the show's context. Looking brilliant in other areas too, as if it's not come off as a lazy mess, and more of a well put together product, that's good on the eyes.

Alice Gear is a lot to take in, and if it lands, then it's certainly enjoyable. But if it doesn't hit, then it's best you look elsewhere.

Alice In Fever Dreamland.

With a premise and plot with no rhyme or reason to it and jokes so quirky yet bland that they actively alienated the audience, watching Alice Gear Aegis Expansion is akin to having a seizure caused by multiple flashing lights.

I could forgive the show's purposeful(?) direction of not giving a fuck about its strike witches vs alien invasion premise in favour of a slice-of-life moé comedy if the show was funny, but episodes two and beyond had left me in a state of confusion and boredom I haven't felt since the second season of The Rising of the Shield Hero. Couple ... that with a cast of boring paint-by-numbers moé blobs and a main moé blob who is also a weird sex pest, and you're left with a show that feels like it's for no one.

The only compliment I can give the show is that the production looks fine. This is a Nomad production. You can feel the Jashin-chan Dropkick inspiration in the animation and artwork, but unlike Jashin-chan it has none of the charms or competent humour.

There is little left to say about Alice Gear Aegis Expansion. It is literal nonsense. I never thought I'd ever watch the anime equivalent of trying to laugh along with friends at an in-joke I'm not a part of, but here we are. That said, I cannot think of a single hypothetical person who would enjoy this anime. If you are a hypothetical person wasting your time on this, that is between you and God.

1/10