Ishura

This is just my temporary opinion after watching the first 3 episodes. When I first read the synopsis of this anime, I thought it would be similar to "Record of Ragnarok." However, after watching 3 episodes, there hasn't been a clear discussion about the tournament. The three episodes only delve into the background of each character. If it continues like this, there might be only one fight in the tournament, as it would take many episodes to explain the background of each participant. In my opinion, this is less efficient.

The animation and visuals are nothing special, quite ordinary. The CGI is a bit uncomfortable to ... watch.

The anime lacks a compelling soundtrack, with too many moments featuring only dialogue. This makes the anime feel quiet and somewhat dull.

Ishura is a gem as a dark fantasy for those who appreciate deep storytelling, complex characters, and a world that's as thought-provoking as it is visually captivating. Merging drama, revenge shounen, battle royale, and isekai elements, it crafts a unique blend that defies genre conventions, where in my opinion sometimes feels like mature Fate/Zero and anime Game of Thrones with complex politics.

Eight episodes in, Ishura is unfolding a rich option of themes like revenge, power, and self-discovery while taking brave and decisive steps to explore these narratives thoroughly. This multifaceted storytelling experience promises to captivate viewers who enjoy a show that meticulously takes its ... time to reveal its depth while promising good action scenes.

Why Ishura is Worth Watching

Characters: Ishura shines with a diverse cast of deeply developed characters, each with their own unique abilities, compelling backstories, and complex motivations. These characters drive the heart of the narrative, transforming every encounter and conflict into a rich exploration of their personalities and relationships. Their growth and interactions reflect the series' thematic depth, making "" not just a story about a fantastical world, but a nuanced look at the journeys of individuals navigating their destinies within it.

The World: The world draws you into an expansive, vividly realized place where magic and politics intertwine, creating a setting that's as immersive as it is complex. With its detailed cities that pulse with life and landscapes hinted hold secrets, the series offers a rich backdrop against which its story unfolds. This world-building not only serves as a stunning visual enjoyment but also deepens the narrative and reminds you it is alive, making Ishura a captivating experience for anyone fascinated by the intricacies of fantasy realms.

The Story: Ishura captivates with a story that intricately blends dark fantasy with political intrigue and deep character exploration. Its narrative richness, marked by complex relationships and moral dilemmas, invites viewers into a meticulously crafted world where every decision carries weight. The series excels in weaving together multiple storylines, each contributing to a larger, compelling tapestry that keeps you guessing and deeply invested in the fates of its characters.

The Action: Ishura delivers action that's not only visually good but rooted in realism and character uniqueness. Each battle is a showcase of the characters' distinct abilities, far from typical or dull. The series invests heavily in these crucial scenes, ensuring quality animation that pulls you into the intensity of the moment. One thing sets Ishura apart from other anime fights is the dialogue and strategic depth during fights, avoiding clichéd exchanges for interactions that hint at complex relationships and personal stakes, making the action in Ishura both thrilling and meaningful.

What might bother some
Ashura’s deliberate pacing and some lower budget CGI scenes (where it is not that necessary in my opinion), which can sometimes detract from the immersive experience.

Is it for you?
If you love dark fantasy that's not just about battles but also makes you think and feel, you should definitely check out Ishura. It's a show that rewards you for paying attention and thinking about what's happening. Even if you don't like dark fantasy I believe depth and mature story telling will make a difference.

However, if you're looking for non-stop action from the start, Ishura might test your patience. It's more about slowly getting you into its world and the minds of its characters. But for those who enjoy a story that mixes action with deeper, thoughtful storytelling, Ishura is a journey worth taking.

Final Thoughts:
Ishura is a great example of how awesome fantasy can be when it focuses on building a detailed world, developing interesting characters, and exploring deep themes. Whether you're drawn to its complex themes or just want to dive into a well-built fantasy world, Ishura offers a unique and engaging experience.

Rating:
STORY: 10
CHARACTERS: 10
ART: 10
SOUND: 9
ANIMATIONS: 9

OVERALL: 9

Ishura is probably the most unique action anime I’ve ever seen. A slow but rewarding burn that has one of the coolest premises you’ll find and an immense amount of worldbuilding. This was one of the best shows of Winter 2024 and it’s a shame it flew under the radar.

While not an expert in the field of battle royale anime, I’ve seen a few and Ishura stands head and shoulders above the rest. What makes it so good to me is the wide range of characters with unique abilities who are all very OP and have unique fighting styles. Additionally, there’s the perfect amount of ... characterisation for each member of the cast. By the time they’re all introduced it really feels like we’ve established a connection with them. Every character is set up with their own episode that shows us their motivations, their abilities, their backstories and just what makes them tick. While at times it may seem a little tedious because you just want to get to the big battle royale, it was definitely a great decision because it made the fights at the end of the series that much more meaningful. The other big thing for me is that every character is strong. I mean the diversity of abilities in this series was shocking. The victor in a fight is just determined by how they match up with a particular opponent which made things fun.

Ishura has no main character, at least not yet, so the story kind of goes from one viewpoint to another depending on the episode. I liked this because it developed a rather large cast in a short period of time. While a couple characters felt underbaked, most of the cast I felt a nice attachment to and liked. Also made it difficult to choose who to root for because of the various goals of the characters. In a way, this 12 episode season felt like the longest character selection screen.

The worldbuilding is also really good in this. The magic system is nuanced, the political situation is interesting and there’s a ton of fantastical elements in this that just work really well. You can tell the author put a ton of time into fleshing out the world, characters and making you feel apart of a living breathing universe. It’s a bit frustrating at times though, because while you can tell the world is vast and detailed, sometimes I felt it wasn’t being utilised to its full potential. I’m sure that’s intentional as this is just adapting the first book I believe and there’s a ton more story to go. It just can be a bit slow at times. Nevertheless it has all the makings of a cool fantasy world.

The only downside I really have is that the story really just got going at the end. Like we spent so long building these characters up for a big battle and then the battle happens in a couple episodes and that’s it(not the end of the story, just the season). I wanted more! This world is so unique and the anime was a blast to watch. This is more a testament to how much I liked the show rather than a serious complaint though. I do understand it takes time to develop characters and appreciate the author’s intent.

Animation and fight scenes are really good. There’s some cgi, but it’s not distracting and the direction during the big set pieces is more than good enough.

Ishura is a must watch if you’re a fan of action anime, battle royales or if you just want something different to watch. I watch everything every season and I really can’t think of a show that’s been quite like this one. I had a blast watching it every Wednesday and I’m looking forward to reading it now.

Ishura gets 8 out of 10.

Ishura - to fight to the bitter end, however who expected the ending to be just that?

Meatgrinder, aka Battle royale, is a trope/genre that was popularized by Mirai Nikki and the Koushun Takami manga with the identical title in its heyday. Each author has a different take on this type of genre, but basically it's about creating a situation with a large number of characters who for some reason must survive and reduce their numbers as the story progresses. So what makes the difference between a good Battle Royale and a bad Battle Royale? Let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet and take ... a look at two shows: Jigokuraku (aka Hell's Paradise), which got an anime adaptation in 2023, and a new show called Ishura, which we were treated to this past 2024 season.

Ishura emerged as a web novel in 2017, and was even later acquired by ASCII Media Works under the guise of "Dengeki no Shin Bungei". The author of this creation is Keiso, a man who would go on to release a couple other works such as Gekitou in the future. Ishura received a warm welcome before the anime adaptation was announced, receiving good comments from critics, and in 2023 it was finally announced as an anime, produced by Passione, directed by Takeo Takahashi, and animated by Sanzigen, a studio that specializes in CGI graphics.

Ishura is about creatures with powerful abilities that can be compared to demigods and even gods. The Demon King has been killed, but by whom - it is unknown. Now the now wandering souls of the heroes (aka Shuras) are free to do whatever they please, but the question of "who killed the Demon King" becomes cancerous for them, to the point that they decide to organize a contest like a gladiator battle to find out the true identity of the winner. Well, at least that's what Keiso, the author of the work, willed. The first season of the anime adaptation will adapt the first volume of the novel, and will focus on the story's characters and the political conflict between the Golden Capital and the self-proclaimed new principality of Lithia. There is no main character in this story, the plot focuses on all the characters, some of whom get screen time and reveal in an entire episode, as if to save their time. Accompanied by solving two major problems, solving a political dispute and finding Keiso's true hero, we are "very happy", I heartily apologize for the quotation marks, with battles as it should be.... battle royale?

So, yes, Ishura is Battle Royale, and essentially the entire plot is a subplot to keep the viewer and reader in a state of anticipation of bloody battles and unforeseen moments. Battle Royale is good in that it allows the author to introduce a huge number of different characters and intelligently pit them against each other without depriving the rights of the target audience to enjoy the plot component at the same time. I'll call it the formula for a successful Battle Royale: spectacular battles + competent plot = good Battle Royale. For a perfect battle royale it is also necessary to have a logical conclusion of battles, balance, variety of characters, sharpness of the plot, but you do not think that all this is not in Ishura? Well, I won't be ironic, half of these things are really there. Back to the formula, does Ishura have the two main elements for a good battle royale? A competent plot is in place, even if it is a bit too rushed. The author brings us up to speed and does it very quickly, as if he is in a hurry, which makes our heads muddle after the first episodes. Spectacular battles? And there it is - the Achilles' heel of this show. Good battle royale must give the consumer a lot of emotions from battles, because that is the beauty of the genre. Starting to consume the product you bet on your favorite characters, which after a while begin to collide with each other, from which the viewer's eyes literally begin to move apart. In contrasting Jigokuraku I was not mistaken about this, for this work observes two factors of the formula of "good battle royale". The heroes, having appeared on the island with the purpose of fulfillment of the task, collide with each other spectacularly showing their skills and skills of battles, though the main character, Gabimaru, was made horribly invincible. Ishura, on the other hand, leaves you anticipating the same thing - but ends up doing exactly the opposite. Instead of spectacular battles, we literally get death with a single blow. Predictable? Hell no, but how frustrating it can be. The show is able to reveal a character over the course of an entire episode, only to end up with no trace of him in a measly few minutes. Keiso may have been going for realism, but Battle Royale isn't about realism, it's about spectacle. Imagine if on a gladiatorial battlefield everything would end with one blow, would the audience like it? I doubt it. As a bottom line, Ishura has a good story, but as a source of epicness the show is very weak.

Omitting the moments with battles I want to highlight the excellent work of the previously mentioned Sanzigen and animators, the picture is colorful and CGI animation is smooth and good. Character design is done at an excellent level, for which first of all we should praise Keiso. Each character has some zest in his appearance, thanks to which he stands out so well.

The musical accompaniment in this show is worth a special attention, but the fact that such a musical potential was mercilessly drained is worth the tears shed. Throughout the episodes, there are various musical compositions that reflect the emotion of the scene well, and this is a credit to Masahiro Tokuda, the man who also wrote music for shows like Deca-Dence and Platinum End. The opening splash screen of Sajou no Hana's "Shura ni Otoshite" shows all the characters in turn, and is generally good, I especially liked the wyvern scene. Konomi Suzuki's "Hakka" was also good, but it wasn't too memorable or special.

To summarize, I'd like to say two of the most obvious things at this point about a show like Ishura. Battle Royale is a very handy tool for an author, but even with a hammer you need to know how to hammer nails so that they don't stick out crooked. I won't be pessimistic, but I don't have any hopes for a spectacular sequel, especially considering that there are already 10(!) volumes in the novel, it's scary to imagine where Keiso's imagination has gone. And the second most obvious thing is that if they would translate the rest of the volumes into English as soon as possible, it would be fun to see what would come out of it.

“Ishura” is what happens when surface level writing meets a pretty solid idea.

This show is the perfect example of 2 things:
1. False advertising
2. Having lots of plot and almost no story at all.

Let’s start with the first point.

The first episode in any show is one of, and according to some, the most important. It has a simple, yet important function: it must aim to capture the audience's attention, establish characters, locations, set the tone for the rest of the series and, if the show will have an overarching plot, present the main goal for the main character. It’s a kind of a promise between the ... viewer and the show itself. Simple but by no means easy. A lot of shows struggle with this, not only anime.
In the case of “Ishura” the first episode lies to You in a big way. I will try to avoid spoilers for the episode but I need to talk about some things within it. If You were to trust the first episode as Your gateway into this anime You would think that it’s some kind of isekai powertrip focused on grand “Shadow Of The Colossus” type fights with a cringy, edgelord as a protagonist or at least one of them. The episode clearly shows the dangers of the world and introduces cringe personified as a character. I’m not even joking. Remember Shadow from “Eminence in Shadow” or Sasha from “Seikon no Qwaser”? Yeah. That kind of garbage character we’re talking about. The type that makes You feel secondhand embarrassment when he speaks and makes You question Your decision to watch the series. We see him destroy the golems that just slaughtered an entire city and I guess that was supposed to be a demonstration of the power scales but it makes no sense. A town full of scholarly type wizards, who have to spend a lot of time changing before the spell takes effect, being massacred because of a surprise attack by automatons who are rather resistant and strong doesn’t really showcase the difference between normal people and our edge lord. It’s like forcing high school teachers to fight against a well trained SWAT unit. Yes the show builds the power scales a bit later but a lot of it is done in the last 3 episodes so it makes even more sense.

After the first episode the show changes entirely. It’s no longer a show about grand fights, to be honest most of the fights are pretty badly choreographed and cut. It becomes a war tale between two nations. Both run by assholes. To be honest the change was weird but I welcomed it. Anything to not have to deal with the edge lord from episode one. For the next few episodes you spend time learning the inner workings of the conflict and meet characters who will inevitably clash with one another. I would call it interesting but it goes for 5 episodes. Yes, You learn, more or less, what’s the deal with the incoming war and the sides but to be honest it’s pretty bad. I think the show uses the war arc as an excuse to play around more with power scales. You get to see some badasses at work so when they finally fight You would get a scene of their power. You don’t. The introductions to the characters last half an episode during which most of them do jack shit to demonstrate their power. Some are feared but You don’t see why. You are just told they are badasses and as proof You get some lazy scene with them winning over some weaklings. There is one exception with the dragon. That introduction shows us two characters and their solid (for this trainwreck of writing level) interactions. The rest are just bad. You only learn that everyone has just one trait that is masquerading as full character. A lot of things happen but they change nothing in how you see the world or the characters.

Before I get to the second point I would like to give definitions for clarity. I use the definitions for “plot” and “Story” as Lisa Cron describes them:
“What happens in the story is the PLOT, the surface events.”
“STORY is about how the things that happen in the plot affect the protagonist, and how he or she changes internally as a result.”.
I decided to add those definitions so that we are all on the same page because some people have different understanding of those terms and I like to make myself clear.

Now… Almost all characters we are introduced to are either edge lords or have the brooding tough guy act to the point You would think they are trying to get published by DC Entertainment. An interesting choice is that there is only one character who could be called morally good and even that is the fault of her being young and idealistic. Everyother character is a sociopath or an asshole in one way or the other. Among there we have: A treasure hunter who wields magical items like some kind of fantasy batman and cares mostly for himself, a depressing lookin guy who likes to play the good guy but does jack shit when his angel starts the killing spree (expect quietly telling her to not kill) one edge lord who likes to fight, another edgelord who’s a mercenary that oversells his skills, A naked girl in a giant mech spider who likes to kill but plays victim of her fate and others. Yes. This show introduces a lot of characters and that’s a problem in itself. The first 6 episodes of a 12 episode season are just introductory, short plots for them. You waste, and yes I will call it a waste because the shorts are pretty bad and tell you nothing that couldn't be shown during some kind of main plot event. The show sets up a damn tournament arc so why not use that? Oh yeah… that would require actual writing skills.

To be honest the fact that the characters are assholes with no, or weak goals allows me to not give a damn when they are killed. Yes You showed me a naked chick in a robot spider. So what? You want me to care about her goal, that was stated in a conversation just once? Why would I? I haven’t seen how bad she wants it. For all I know she wants to be integrated into society because she’s bored, wants to freely walk and kill people or some other not very people friendly reason. Why should I care about her? The show gives You a throwaway line about everyone's motives and wants me to care. Yeah… Eff off.

The most interesting part of the plot for me were the political intrigues. The true reason for the war was pretty interesting and solidifies the rulers as pieces of shit for sacrificing so many non combatants to reach their goals… or goal… there is an interesting twist towards the end of the arc.
Some characters have their own agenda while pretending to work for someone else, I can appreciate that sort of thing. The execution of this is subpar at best but it’s still better than most of the other things.

Now for the sad part. There is very little story here. The scraps of which could be attributed to just two characters who actually change a little and have actual reactions to what happens in the world. Those are the “normal” girl from episode one and the young elfish, seemingly all powerful, young girl that can bend the laws of the world. One learns that sometimes You need a powerful asshole to defeat another powerful asshole and the other, through her experience during the war, is determined to use her powers to bring happiness. Everyone else starts and ends as the same character. Nothing is learned, nothing is earned and nothing is lost.

I think one of the most annoying things that is 99% useless is the narrator that verbalises a lot of things that were shown just a moment ago. Some of his narrations give new info about the situation and a little bit of context but most are just useless. I have eyes for effs sake. Above that the narrations strip almost everything of their mystery and prevent, at least for the viewer, solid twists in the future.

I know I don’t have many positive things to say about the writing and yes, I do think the writers are incompetent but there might be a saving grace. Those 12 episodes with their structure, introductions and short plots could work as a prologue to something. The building stones are there. Covered in all the incompetent decision dust. The fact that this show has 12 episodes works to its detriment. If it had 24 I think it could grow to be something… I don’t want to say competent, I’m not that hopeful but solid. As it is, it’s just a waste of time that sets up a lot of things that don’t have a payoff.

It's just a bunch of edgy nonsense... Nearly half the season has aired and it still hasn't begun to even attempt to weave a narrative... Each character if given a half to full episode of introduction and "backstory" but its mostly done through dialogue with a few flashbacks.

What it has going for it:
- Its a novel concept, maybe not all that original but definitely not overdone either.
- Okay action scenes
- Okay animation (when it isn't overusing CGI extremely poorly).

What it does wrong:
- It has too many characters to really be invested in them. Furthermore, once a character is introduced, we dont really see them again. ... At least not so far (again almost half the anime has aired).
- There aren't really any humanizing aspects about any of the characters we've seen so far. We are given no real reason to hate or love them.. not even any to like or dislike...
- No cohesive storyline so far. It's pretty episodic. It is kind of hinting towards something but only extremely vaguely. Really strange for an anime that takes itself so seriously.

Honestly, I feel like rating this a 3 is being EXTREMELY generous.
The only people I recommend this to are teenagers who collect knives and think trench coats look cool.

Taking in the first six episodes of Ishura, it becomes evident why initial reviews often echo sentiments from the early episodes. The narrative unfolds gradually, with the first five episodes primarily serving as introductions to key characters. While this approach may initially feel disjointed, there's a deliberate effort in world-building, gradually unveiling the dynamics between two conflicting nations. Despite hints of a looming war and mention of a tournament, the plot remains elusive by episode six, leaving viewers to speculate on the overarching narrative.

Story: 6.5/10
In this anime you will be introduced to a world of dragons, knights, pirates, guns, robots, giant robots, magic, and more. ... While the characters are well-crafted, the narrative feels stagnant by the sixth episode. Despite glimpses of a promising plot, there are no significant developments. With five of the six episodes dedicated to introductions, viewers are left yearning for substantial progression. The cliffhanger in the sixth episode feels somewhat frustrating, because of anticipation for plot advancement. Nevertheless, the world-building shows immense potential, awaiting execution (Hopefully in episode 7) to truly captivate us and give us what we've been waiting for.

Audio: 5/10
The Japanese voice acting is commendable, yet the overall audio experience feels average. The music and sound design lack the impact needed to leave a lasting impression on viewers.

Visuals: 7.5/10
Ishura isn't afraid of gore, which personally adds to the allure of action animes in my opinion. The first episode we see a girl, who we are made out to root for, brutally killed. Fight scenes are skillfully executed, with the 3D CGI looking better than the cringe CGI of some other series. While not reaching the pinnacle of top-tier anime (Jujitsu Kaisen S2 or Demon Slayer S3), the visuals are captivating, particularly showcased in the first episode's fight scenes.

Hype: 10/10
The potential of Ishura is undeniable, with episodes 7-9 serving as make-or-break moments. The amalgamation of isekais, mecha robots, magic, and monarchy promises an enthralling experience. However, the delayed plot progression risks dissipating the hype surrounding the series, emphasizing the critical importance of forthcoming episodes.

TLDR:
Ishura offers a blend of character-driven storytelling and action-packed sequences, promising to engage viewers seeking both depth and excitement. While the slow pacing demands patience, the payoff in terms of character depth and exhilarating fights is ultimately rewarding. The series thus far has demanded attentive viewing, delivering on its promise of thrilling entertainment.

Overall, Ishura holds immense potential, yet its execution on the plot will ultimately determine its success. With captivating world-building and well-crafted characters, the series has laid a solid foundation, eagerly awaiting the moment when the story truly takes flight.

In first 5 episodes anime steadily introduce the key characters. In these episodes we see each vivid and interesting characters, part of their story and really interesting world mechanics. Every character have solid motivation, cool powers and interesting personalities. After laying the foundation, in 5 episodes, story starts to develop in such a good way.

But be warned, it is really important what you expect in this anime. It is not a battle oriented anime, it has will have battles but it is more like a political anime with character-driven story. From the course of story and general setting, definitely there will be epic battles. ... Though, if you dont like politics or slowly developing stories, this anime might not be for you.

Story slowly developing, intriguing. 9/10
Characters, I really liked the characters, they are vivid and feel real. 10/10
Battles, good but could be better. 8/10
Animation Quality not too good or bad. 7/10 (Its because of CGI in first episodes)

If you like action and fantasy anime, disregard the low rating and consider watching this.

This anime approaches story telling from a slightly different angle, and I'm guessing it's due to that that the score doesn't reflect the quality that I personally see in it. For the first 5 episodes, the story was a bit confusing but interesting and enjoyable none the less. With each episode a new important character is introduced, which means you kind of jump from one part of the story to another. Once all the puzzle pieces have been laid on the table, the story starts connecting.

I've been watching this with ... great enjoyment, and honestly find it very refreshing. Unlike the typical main character power fantasy, this anime gives you multiple characters to follow and learn about. The main characters are each interesting in their own ways, and I especially love that there's non-human main characters.

The animation is nice and the music fits the atmosphere for the time period and cultural settings.

It's unfortunate that there will only be 12 episodes, because I'd love to see more of this world and its inhabitants, and its magic system. So far based on enjoyment it's an 8 to me.

There is a way of doing shows, you either come out with a bang, or you go creative wit it, or you miss the ball completely. As for this show, it's going in a creative direction for sure, and if it stays on that path, it may turn out to be a good watch.

Story and characters: 7
Normal animes will present to you a main character, set the scene, and then we're off to the races with what comes next, as follow them and their journey. This one has done something different. It reminds me of Restaurant to another World in it's opening stages. Instead of ... these episodes being episodic in sense of it's general direction. Instead while we get the Scene set, and focus. It seems so far, each main focused character, has gotten their own moment to shine, as if to really flesh out the world and it's landscape. Which I find really well done. It's a different way to present the cast members, and gives a different reason to care about said characters, and will give someone a particular character to root for.

As for the story itself, it's kinda like if you had finished a certain anime, then are going in with the afters. Which is another key reason to like the show. We always would like to see what happens next, but some shows just end, without giving us a follow up. But this will feel like we are. Long as it stays on track, it can be good.

Art and sound: 6
It's a mixed bag for me here. While there is some brilliant looking art, and presentation, that not only set the scene, but really show how good it can look. Along with a very well done sound quality, to really set the tone, and act like there is some care given there. But there is times where certain qualities are that do take away some points from it, and take you out of the moment when you notice it more. Not that it looks bad, there are times where it can look real good in context.

Despite the off seeming art in places, it's a solid start. The only trouble will be, is if they can keep it up. If they do, it'll be a solid show for the season. If not, then it'll be mostly forgettable by the seasons end. A good show, but you can see how one wouldn't enjoy it, but I'd give it a chance first, to see what you think.

This review may contain spoilers. I say “may” because I'm not sure if the discussed topics count as spoilers. Although they are light, you have been warned. From here on out, the review contains things people said about Ishura.

“A new seasonal isekai with no ecchi tags?!” I thought. “No way!” This was exactly what I wanted to watch, and the first episode was absolute perfection. Just like that, I'm hooked, eagerly awaiting the next episode...

Next episode: “What is happening?”, “Who is the main character?”, “Where is the mc from the first ep?” These questions rained down on the anime, while the light novel readers tried ... convincing people to keep watching. It's trying too hard. Is the payoff really that good? Sure.. let's wait another month and a half for the introductions to end and the fighting to start.

It’s pretty safe to say that the story’s connectivity is absolutely abysmal. The concept is great, introducing new main characters every episode, but it’s executed in such a way that it leaves a bad taste. It would’ve been completely fine if they released it all at once, you could then just binge watch it all and actually remember the backstory of the characters they’re introducing. Only then would it be more acceptable to watch.

The anime is missing a vital component any anime has to have, that being a connection between the main character and the viewer. Since we’re getting introduced to new main characters left and right, no real connection or affection is being built up. Many people won't care about these characters, as they're not relatable and little is known about their personalities. You can get a basic idea of how the main characters think, but it's not enough to drive the story forward. Kind of funny, but there’s pretty much no story to begin with.

I get that the anime is all about a tournament at the end, and, to say the least, it works pretty well in the manga form. I’ve played a lot of Tekken, so it felt like what they were going for is similar to fighting games. In Tekken 7, for example, you play through the story mode, discovering new characters, each with a unique moveset. Then, you move to VS battles to play online or offline. Not many cared about the characters' backstories, but those who did had the option to enjoy discovering the lore. Now imagine Tekken, but you have to wait a whole week for a new part of the story to release, and only after it's complete can you see the action and enjoy the fights. That doesn't work, does it? That’s how watching Ishura feels right now. Why should I wait that long? Time is a priceless asset, and it feels like it’s being wasted, achieving nothing and having no fun.

Animation plays a huge role in making a great anime. Unfortunately though, the CGI in Ishura is brutal. The first episode had some weird CGI, but it was so overshadowed by the epic story, characters, and all the chaos that it didn’t even matter. The second episode introduced wyverns with outrageous CGI, and it didn’t improve from there, only making the anime more uncomfortable to watch. That’s also when we find out the anime would introduce new characters every episode, making the episodes feel utterly disconnected from one another. I had to check if I was watching the right anime a couple times, because we kept going into episodes completely clueless. Nothing in a certain episode has to do with the previous one.

Then there’s episode four, eagerly awaited by anime fans, also known as the “fan service episode”. I initially chose this anime because I thought it was an isekai (even though it has little to do with the isekai genre), but more importantly, it had no ecchi tags. Well, I was dead wrong. This episode was about 20 minutes long, and I kid you not, at least half of it was fan service. It featured a guardian lady and a girl in a hot spring, completely naked. These scenes are usually brief and skippable (also considered to be a side treat by many people) but for some reason, they decided to explain the entire magic system of the world in that setting. If you were interested in the magic system, you had to sit through more than 10 minutes of an attractive naked lady explaining it. Are the authors so unconfident in their anime that they had to include this to maintain attention? It's hard to take the explanation seriously when it's so distracting and uncomfortable to watch. There’s also no guarantee the anime doesn’t come back with more of these sorts of scenes in future episodes.

That was the last straw for me. With everything combined, experiencing these last three episodes (2 to 4) was dreadful. I might return to watch the final episodes, AKA the tournament, but for now, I’m stepping away. I’ve had enough of its disjointed storytelling and random fan service. The chaos of the first episode was what originally drew me in, and the introduction of those two main characters was gripping. But sadly, it steered off course. Many people find this appealing, but it’s just not my cup of tea.

I have nearly only good things to say about this anime, so you can probably imagine my confusion and expression when I came to write this review and saw this show sat at an extremely mid 6.54 rating.

Have I missed some major controversy, or has it totally destroyed its source material?
As an anime-only, I do not know and am quite perplexed.

Now, picking-apart some of the overly negative reviews:
Does this show take a few episodes to introduce the important characters? Yes, it does - this is also known as character building. I would also say that the world is also set-up and built-upon in these ... first few episodes too.
I might agree that the plot doesn't progress too much in these preliminary episodes, but I would argue that it would be extremely difficult to set-up the characters and world in the way they did, while also progressing the plot, all within an 18-min or so time-frame (taking out the OP and ED from the run-time).

Speaking of the plot, even with the little we got in the first few EPs, we still understand that 2 countries are preparing for war, while one of them is also preparing a "battle-royale" style event to try to figure out who the strongest person in the world is, so it's not like we got absolutely nothing there.
As of EP9, the main characters all seem to have been introduced and now we're delving more into the plot and the ongoing conflict between the 2 major countries.

Now, this does mean I'm going to agree that, realistically, this anime is not going to be complete as of EP12 and will likely feature major sequel-bait, with any potential (if) S2 then going on to focus more on the battle-royale. This season likely would have been far better off it it had 23-24 episodes, or had been announced with 2 cours (if it has, I didn't see it).


However, that doesn't mean I'm agreeing with the negative reviews, or the score this has. I find this anime to be very well presented artistically, has an interesting plot going on and all the characters are unique.

Personally, I'd say this anime stands out as one of the better ones airing this season, but apparently I'm in the minority here.

Recommended - 9/10 (Great)

Quick questionnaire:
- Do you like good action regardless of story?
- Do you like watching content like Rooster Teeth's Death Battle?
- Do you love polished, high-speed, bad-ass action cutscenes w/ sword and gunplay such as the ones from Devil May Cry?

If your answer is yes to all, then Ishura is an anime for you! Definitely a MUST WATCH for action-enjoyers!

Ishura is set in a world where the "True Demon King" was defeated. This common enemy united everyone for a common cause, but now that the Demon King is gone, nothing is keeping all the battle crazed-warriors and other dangerous creatures preoccupied. To maintain peace, Aureatia, the ... largest country in the world of Ishura, answers this problem by politically creating the perfect battlefield to have these national threats kill each other.

Ishura Season 1 has a MOBA-ish setting with 2 factions and their respective heroes/champions battling each other, similar to Fate/Apocrypha, with the distinctive difference that Ishura has heroes of different species, not just humanoid ones, and that Ishura introduces their fighters with well defined characteristics, personalities, skills and arsenals, similar to MOBA games with their character spotlights and Rooster Teeth's Death Battle.

Ishura does not have good storytelling nor well-written characters, but it features a lot of well set up, and well matched battles; high-mechanic battles that show each fighter's abilities, speed, range, physiology, limitations, and how they fare against each other. They have well directed action storyboards paired with good action animation that are presented similarly to Hunter x Hunter Chimera Ant Arc and Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2, where battles are monologued or narrated strategically so that viewers will be able to follow and appreciate what is happening. All these, with good voice acting and decent battle music, and even trash talk! It's a toxic PVP gamer's paradise!

Things you can expect in the anime that I would like to highlight:
- 20sec of immersive, epic voice acting from Koichi, Makoto which delivers escalating levels of horrific pain; from groans, whimpers to screeches
- super strategic battle between a wyvern leader and his swarm vs their 6 core-item locked wyvern deserter
- ultra instinct sinbad/alibaba vs ghost in the shell spider waifu

tl;dr: very good action anime! go watch! enjoy!

Warning: very minor spoiler

A fantasy world with stellar worldbuilding. Every character is oozing with unique flavour, from their distinctive appearance and power, to the sometimes explained backstories. There are no background characters in this show, every single person has the potential to be the main character in their own right.

The animation style and fight scenes are passable but nothing noteworthy, but the voice acting is absolutely phenomenal. This helps bring even more to life the uniqueness of each character. The additional design choices such as second names, or the way they chant spells, are also super cool to watch.

This is one of the best anime ... in terms of character designs and uniqueness. It reminds me of overlord, where everyone has a distinct character rather than fitting a generic isekai role. However, Ishura's storytelling does not compete up to the standard of overlord. Essentially, the stories in Ishura are mini events to help portray the character. There was only one storyline involving the main world, but that only really got 3 episodes of air time. The big tournament doesn't happen this season, which is a major dissapointment. There is so much hype buildup for the tournament in this season, so much, infact, that there was not enough time to actually show the tournament.

You could say this season was a bit of a nothing burger in terms of progressing the content, but it laid a sound foundation for an exciting tournament, using solid worldbuilding and enriching characters. Was it necessary to spend the whole season laying the foundation? Debatable. Was watching the anime introduce these characters and their power portrayed in various events fun and engaging to watch? Absolutely, give it a try.

Ishura has this sprawling cast of characters, and is the rare example of a show that could have done with a little more exposition, to be honest. Despite dedicating a good half of the series just on establishing our characters, by the time the show was actually starting to move forwards in the back half of the season, I have to be honest I was pretty lost. They kept talking about some tournament or something, but in the end it ends up being more a political anime... I think? Just, keeping track of who was who, who was on whose side, what the motivations of ... each side were - let alone the basic rules of how this world even worked. Yeah I was barely clinging on, to be honest.

However, while that probably makes the show sound terrible, I want to make it clear, this complaint comes from a positive place, rather than a negative. It wasn’t like this world is alienating so I’m just gonna switch off and zone out. This is a world full of intrigue and the complaint comes from the fact that I wanted to learn more and understand better.

Even if you don’t end up at that point, every episode would deliver at least one well animated, well produced and directed - and just straight up kick ass - action scene. Almost every character here is imaginative in concept either/and/or has some kind of imaginative ability set, so whenever characters clashed it always felt like a treat. I also appreciated that generally whenever characters seriously clashed, there was a definitive outcome. Like I’m genuinely surprised by how few characters ultimately made it out of this first season and it makes me wonder what they’ll do if they make more of this.

So yeah, overall, kind of mixed on this. It is a very bingeable series because of its action, but with so much anime fighting your time always, it is kinda hard to give this a true recommendation.

Ishura was a nice surprise in Winter 2024, with a bunch of heavy hitters, I really thought Ishura was gonna be another generic fantasy action show. but I was proven wrong.

The true demon king is dead, as they mention a 100 times, and now there's a bunch of people fighting for the title of "True Hero". the list of characters range from a isekai protagonist samurai, to a skeleton spearman, to a wyvern that can use guns and swords, and that doesn't even scratch the surface. There is no main character here, anyone can and will die.

as far as the animation goes, it's pretty good, ... the fights are choreographed well, there's clearly a nice animation budget. Which to be honest, I didn't expect from studio Passione, especially considering what types of shows they usually do. Their trademark fanservice still shows up every now and then however.

Was I a bit disappointed that there was no tournament arc that happened between everyone? certainly. But I'd say what we got, still serves justice for those who enjoy action. Was this show great? no. I would just say it's a good show to binge and then ultimately forget about down the line, but regardless I still recommend Ishura to anyone who likes battle royale anime, or just wants a show you don't really need to think as you're watching it.

Ishura plunges viewers into a vibrantly chaotic world, freshly rid of its demon king, yet shrouded in mystery over the victor's identity. This premise sets the stage for a thrilling narrative, where candidates from different lands and realms vie for the coveted title of the true hero. The allure of Ishura lies in its adept fusion of myriad skills and the philosophical diversity it brings through its characters, blurring the lines between heroes and villains in an intriguing moral play.

Its presentation of main characters, deftly weaving their unique backgrounds and motivations into the fabric of its story. Despite the vast array of personalities, almost each ... character has been given enough depth and development to stand out, contributing significantly to the narrative's complexity and allure. There were certain characters that lacked backstories, sidelined, receiving minimal screen time and depth which disappointed.

The show's ability to blur the lines between heroes and villains enriches its storytelling, allowing viewers to connect with characters on various moral spectrums. This nuanced portrayal ensures that the protagonists are not just participants in the battle for recognition but are compelling individuals whose journeys and conflicts drive the narrative forward, making them memorable. Ambitiously, The City of Aureatia presents a board with 29 officials, a choice that admittedly can overwhelm. While each character adds their unique flavor to the story, the sheer number feels like a daunting catalog to keep track of.

The voice acting is commendable, breathing life into the extensive roster of characters, each introduced with enough intrigue that has kept me hooked. The soundtrack effectively matches the series' mood, with sound effects that align well with on-screen events. The audio contrasts between calm and intense scenes, supporting the narrative without overwhelming it.

The animation stands out as a mixed bag. On one hand, the overall quality and settings captivate. However, the CGI on the wyverns, while understandable from a production standpoint, is slightly jarring against the backdrop of otherwise sleek animation. This does little to detract from the engrossing fight scenes, which are a spectacle of choreography and gore.

Don't be daunted by the first 5 episodes! While they might seem overwhelming, they're essential in laying the groundwork for the world and its characters. These initial episodes are packed with information to immerse you fully. So, stay patient and keep watching. The setup is crucial for understanding the complexities of the diverse cast you're about to get deeply invested in. The narrative depth and thrilling developments awaiting beyond these introductory episodes are well worth it.

Ishura is a greatly underrated isekai themed gore filled battle anime that surprises with amazing visuals.


Animation / Art / General Visuals - 9/10
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Ishura employs a slight 3D effect to its art, creating at times slightly unnatural visuals, but ultimately provides a superior visual quality to most other anime.

The animations and visual effects are great, leading to some amazing combat scenes. From magical cannons that evaporate entire city districts, to swordplay between masters of the art.

... It is quite impressive.

Furthermore, Ishura employs a large amount of gruesome gore. If you've ever wondered how it would look if someone melted from the inside out, as their eyeballs popped out, you're in luck. That and many other gruesome scenes will be aplenty.


Sound / Music / Voice Acting - 7/10
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I wasn't overly impressed by anything in the sound or music department. Everything seemed to be solid.


Story - 8/10
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The story of Ishura is very interesting, though its short run-time really hurts it, as it spends an extreme amount of time fleshing out numerous characters, which reduces overall plot coherency and world building.

This may be one of the reasons for the low ratings here on MAL. The first half of the show is all but completely spent on fleshing out characters one by one, or in pairs. Meaning that the characters you see introduced in each episode, won't really show up again until everyone's introductions are done. This can make it harder to follow the story and get attached to the characters, as it's unclear who is the main character and who you're supposed to be cheering for.

Nonetheless, I find the story to be very intriguing. Ishura features a fantasy world that is apparently open to "visitors". Basically super powerful individuals from our world that get isekaid into this one. The method of how it happens is unclear and the whole isekai aspect is largely ignored in the story beyond that.

These visitors care little for the world of Ishura beyond seeking out powerful enemies to fight, so that's largely what we'll see happen in the show.

There are hints of many greater storylines and worldbuilding yet to come, so it's clear that this first season is only a rudimentary introduction.


Characters - 7/10
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It is a little hard to get a good handle on the various characters, since we are introduced to so many different important ones. Some of them get more backstory and screen time than others, but the show also isn't afraid to kill off characters they spend a lot of time on introducing.

As a whole, the characters do seem to be well written and interesting. But one can only hope that future seasons limit the flow of new characters and instead spend more time fleshing out those who are intended to be there for the long run.




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Total - 8/10

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I find Ishura to be an underrated gem in the isekai category. Doing away with most of the isekai tropes, and instead focusing on great visuals with tons of gore.

The first half of the season can be hard to follow, but the second half should hit all the buttons that any fan of the isekai battle genre would want.

Ishura has a few weird things.

First thing, certain fights did not last long. It's one of the weird tropes where victory is decided in one or two exchanges. The excuses being, when there is a clear gap between two fighters' strengths, the fight would be settled quickly; and realistic fights, where both fighters go for the kill, don't go on for more than two or three exchanges. It's a very unpopular trope, obviously because we're all here to watch cool action of strong characters trading blows. Like imagine every boxing or MMA match always ends with a knockout in one exchange, no wrestle, no ... dodges, no guard, people would be bored of it quickly. Two characters we've spent multiple episodes being hyped up finally met, and their session ended in two blows. It's quite shocking ngl, because other fights lasted a little longer. The shock value is nice, but it also feels like a waste of time and buildup.

Second thing, Ishura avoids writing likeable characters. Now, we all know likeable characters does not equal good character. I personally enjoy watching flawed, realistic characters, and I think Ishura did pretty well on that front. The main girl is absolutely pathetic and insufferable, but she represents the toxic POV of normal people in contrast to the superhumans, which is important to the plot's theme. Almost every core character in this show is an asshole and it makes sense because in a battle royale, the participants have to desire killing each other. Due to the large number of characters introduced, there aren't any complex or deeply developed characters, but that's not the focus of the show.

Third thing, Ishura has an otherworldly theme that is not introduced properly. "The True Demon King has died. The enemy of the world was defeated by somebody..." Every episode starts with this line, but most of the time is spent on introducing core characters, rather than exploring the lore and implications behind this line. However, that does not directly degrade the viewing experience, it's kind of like a magic trick. There is no urgency to learn the lore because we're busy knowing the current characters and their situation. I think it's an interesting focus of the story.

So far, despite several flops, I still feel Ishura is worth watching out for as it hasn't reached its full potential. Its fights are strategic and engaging. The characters are slightly deranged and interesting to follow. Whether Ishura is worth your time could depend on the next season and if you enjoy the slow burn.

Ishura - A pseudo-Juuni Taisen, or a much closer reference, Record of Ragnarok?

At first glance, novelist Keiso's Ishura sounds exactly like what many of you would be similarly comparing this to: mangakas Shinya Umemura and Takummi Fukui's Shuumatsu no Walküre a.k.a Record of Ragnarok, and you would be right in the broad sense: fighters from all walks of life gathering together for a fated battle that would redeem the last man standing as the triumphant winner regarded as a Hero. But, where the action-fantasy elements are what make both Record of Ragnarok and Ishura regarded similarly, Ishura has a finite twist to the series that ... at least makes the foundation for a traditional battle royale and turning it into a high-stakes fight to the death...albeit with some hits and misses.

(Cue the intro narration and music)

"The True Demon King has died. The enemy of the fear that filled the world with horizons of fear, it was defeated by a lone Hero. To this very day, that lone Hero remains unknown, both in name and existence. With the age of fear coming to an end, that person has to be chosen. But even then, the powers left behind writhe in multitude, and they cannot be subdued by ordinary strength...the strength of 100 Shura-like demons."

These Shuras are basically demigod-like people who have the capability to bring down kingdoms and nations, and yet, they wander free to do whatever life takes them to. But with the lone Hero being an unknown figure, the Shuras now go head-to-head in a battle royale to determine who's the strongest and be given the Hero title. "All the world's a stage, and the men and women merely players" of Shakespeare's quote resides in the largest nation of Aureatia, governed by 29 Generals who are tasked to select that Hero, but its supposed ally of the independent city of the New Principality of Lithia has a different plan in mind, to be ruled by fear and terror, separate from Aureatia's democracy. And that's where the plot of the Hero takes shape in a bloody mess of a fight.

Here are your candidates for the Hero title:
- Soujirou the Willow-Sword, the one who is Isekai-ed from his own Distant World, who can defeat golems with his sword, and exercises excellent swordsmanship that reduces widespread legends into mere truths: the last swordsman, the minia a.k.a human Blade. Accompanied by a fellow minia, Yuno the Distant Talon, who've lost everything from her previous inhabitant Nagan, to seek out revenge for those who've tormented her life with golems wrecking the Labyrinth City.
- Alus the Star Runner, the one who can handle weapons with exceptional aptitude, and possess unusual magic items, whatever the challenge is from labyrinths to enemies, he has conquered them all, surpassing all dragons: the Rogue wyvern. He has a close but strained relationship with the Hargent the Silencer, the 6th General of Aureatia, who saved him in his young self, but grew to the rebellious in the later stages.
- Regnejee the Sunset Wings, the one who possesses a genius intellect and a sharp battlefield acumen, rooting himself within the core of a nition, and commands a fleet of wyverns who are obedient to him: the Command wyvern. He is frustrated at Alus for leaving the wyvern army, and seeks revenge for going rogue, who is close with Curte the Clear Sky, Taren's blind adoptive daughter.
- Dakai the Magpie, the one like Soujirou, is a Visitor relative of the Distant World, and one who can stop bullets at the speed of sound with his remarkable eyesight and enchanted sword. And that's not all: his insight makes him valuable, as well as being a rebel in the most devious way: the minia bandit. He serves Taren the Guarded, once the 23rd General of Aureatia, and defected her way to form Lithia, seeking powerful Shuras to her rule.
- Nihilo the Vortical Stampede, a girl enough to defeat an entire army, and kept under bars in Aureatia because she is a bioweapon of mass destruction: the revenant tarantula.
- Kia the World Word, a young girl whose power perverts all laws of justice, who can dominate the world with a single word, but with her potential yet untapped: the wizard elf. She is taken care of by the 17th General of Aureatia, Elea the Red Tag, as a mentor of the kingdom's spy network, who proceeds like Taren to expand with greater allies, just like Lana the Moon Tempest which they would eventually meet for the same political agenda, but for Lithia instead.
- Higuare the Pelagic, the one who has dealt through duels with poison that no ordinary human being can stop, and his bizarre physique doesn't stop his infinite brillant swordsplay, yet obeys all and ruled by none like a free slave: the Gladiator mandrake. He is accompanied by another Shura, Shalk the Sound Slicer, who is an undead skeleton mercenary hired under Lana's recruitment to serve Lithia.
- Kuze the Passing Disaster and Nastique the Quiet Singer, the paladin assassin who works in tandem alongside the real Shura, who is an angel undetected and immune to interference to all but one, taking everything unseen as the embodiment of one: the Stabber angel.

Feel overwhelmed at the number of characters? Well, too bad, because that's the definition of a battle royale to showcase as many characters as possible to show that anyone could easily achieve Hero status, no matter their origins or achievements thus far. It's one for the taking as Aureatia and Lithia experience turmoil of their own as they grasp getting as many Shuras as possible over to each's side, which unwillingly sparks a war on the outset against the respective democratic and authoritative leads of the two cities. It certainly is a battle royale at the heart of it, and a bloody mess Ishura is one that I'm legitimately surprised at how it's able to capture the tension of a high-stakes death match scene, anytime, anywhere...that's if you can stomach through learning all of the Shuras involved, backstories included.

In terms of production quality, studio Passione is definitely not one of the studios coming to mind when it comes to action-fantasy shows. That's only when you take into account of the studio's chief managing director of Takeo Takahashi's directorial role from Summer 2015's Rokka no Yuusha a.k.a Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers, alongside director Yuki Ogawa of Winter 2020's Interspecies Reviewers and Fall 2021's Mieruko-chan fame, then everything aligns together like cakework. The anime also having to integrate 3DCG animation from outsourcing to collab studio Sanzigen (i.e. BanG Dream! franchise), it's not the best, but it's certainly better than a studio trying to incorporate 3DCG by themselves, and then looking pretty bad. Sure, Keiso's LN may not be the best in the storytelling sense of having to put the characters first before the war showcase, but both directors took cues as much as possible to streamline the anime adaptation as it is, covering the characters for the 1st half, and then the rest of the story and plot for the 2nd half. It is what it is, so take it as you will about endurance when watching this show.

The show's OST is decent, though it does give off a sense of unnervingness, given its dystopian setting with the typical fantasy that relates as such. Sajou no Hana's OP song, definitely fits the show's vibes for a rather dark and gruesome show and is terrifying good to listen to. On the other side of the spectrum, Konomi Suzuki's ED song certainly paints a path of a sliver of hope, but otherwise, just decent and fine.

Sadly, Ishura as a show, being the way it's produced, it does not give and inspire confidence that its unorthodox way of storytelling is able to reel in people watching this show from its half-and-half character-plot methodology. However, that being said, if you can truncate through the character backstories, the plot will burst into a single colour: red, the colour of death, and make this show interesting from its own standpoint.

Still though, give Ishura a chance if the plotline of the show doesn't deter you from watching an underappreciated show.