HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! These words and I'm sure plenty of other words have been used by me and other viewers to describe our feelings for this show. There is in my opinion NOTHING else like this show in how it paces and draws the audience in through a captivating story, the immense dynamic relationships between characters which challenges societal norms, and ultimately a brilliant yet subtle intertwining and overarching plotline. I'm going to go over 5 reasons why this show has become my number 1 show of all time. (fyi this is long, analytical and has spoilers)
1.) The Plotline
Originally, Re:zero was written
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off as a generic "Mmorpg new world" type of anime. It tried too hard to be funny like Konosuba in its first two episodes and lacked the same punch and light-hearted ironic tone that Konosuba did so well. Yet what we see on face value is not what actually develops over time. Re:zero is NOT like any spinoff we have ever seen and in fact, is possibly the most successful adaptation of this "mc in new world" genre.
(SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD) - With a very basic summary, Re:zero is about a NEET, Natsuki Subaru, who finds himself in a new world. Like traditional anime tropes, he believes he is the protagonist of this world and now must save the world from some sort of evil. He quickly finds out two things. First, that his enemy is ultimately the Witch Satella and her cults. Second, after meeting the main girl protagonist, Emilia, he has an obligation as the mc of this world to help her so she can fall in love with him and regain political power, in a different struggle to find a candidate to lead the kingdom.
Pretty basic stuff. Yet what Re:zero excels at is creating such a generic plotline into a complex and realistic atmosphere. The twist here, is that the mc, Subaru, has the ability to come back alive to a certain point in his life before he was killed. Essentially, he can return by death to some sort of "savepoint" to change his future as a result of his knowledge and actions in his previous life.
It is simply fascinating to see and understand how Subaru operates in this world as he tries to understand the rules, the mannerisms, and the customs in order to fit in and be able to change the world. In a sense, Re:zero is a trial and error process for Subaru and with each life that he loses comes with both a benefit and a price. For benefits, Subaru gains another important set of knowledge that helps him in his next life to make better rational decisions to achieve his goal and desirable outcome. Yet, remember that death is not something to blow over. In fact, one of the big themes of this anime is how death actually would affect someone like yourself in real life. What type of psychological damage does Subaru incur? What type of emotions does he feel after having to rebuild his relationships back up every-time only to fail and have to do it again? How much mental-fortitude can you sustain before you break because your efforts have been in vain? These are the themes that Re:zero deals with quite effectively. White Fox does a great job in doing this both explicitly through Subaru's increase of rational and intelligent actions while also implicitly as we see a change in his personality overtime.
Another thing the show excels at is pacing and setting up an actual nuanced and intriguing plotline. Re:zero takes many of the generic plot devices (i.e. Seven Deadly Sins) and symbols and spins it in a way that keeps the watchers hooked. After each arc, more and more of the plot is revealed and shows how deep and involved the conflicts really are even in everyday life for commoners. Every episode is incredibly important in setting up the next one and each detail is important insofar that it comes back or relates to something else. Furthermore, this plot actually deals with and interacts with the characters in a meaningful and realistic manner. Racism and other discriminatory practices are blatantly shown as a primary incentive and impact of many characters. Like the real world, there are everyday conflicts between people and they have consequences. People don't just forget and don't judge in the real world. They do. Re:zero exploits this because often times other shows are unwilling to be bold and accept this truth.
(Spoilers) As more of the plot is revealed, we begin to see how this story comes full circle a little bit at a time. The mc is here for a reason. Re:zero isn't simply a story about finding love and defeating the bad guys. It's about a story of self-discovery and change. When you see the nuances of the mc and his power Return by Death and how that is actually linked to the witch, the plotline inadvertently becomes so much more fascinating. Is Subaru actually Pride and a part of the Witch's cult? Will he eventually turn against Emilia? Is Satella simply a manifestation of what is wrong with people? This is the narrative that Re:zero challenges the audience on and that is what makes this show so great. Nothing is as easy as it seems and nothing is safe.
One thing to note is that during the last episode of the show when Betelguese is chasing down Subaru in the cart, he (Betelguese) says things eerily similar to Subaru. What we see is that while motives can be perceived good or bad by the audience, ultimately every character can be considered rational and relatable. In fact, Betelguese's emphatic love for Satella drives him to carry out her orders and do what he does in the name of love. Similarly, Subaru does the same for Emilia. She is his love and he will do what he thinks benefits her. This interplay and dialogue between the protagonists and antagonists actually reveals a far more intertwined plot line between the protagonists and the antagonists. I would personally love to see a season 2 that develops this even more.
I'm sure there are plenty of other things I can talk about that I'm not mentioning in this review as well as expanding more upon those that I did. But at the end of the day take away three things about the plotline for re:zero
It's engaging, it's nuanced/complex and it's realistic/relatable.
2.) Character Development
Three things I want to talk about in this review: humanism/realism, the cycle of character building and why it's so unique to Re:zero, the impact of dialogue as a mechanism of creating organic change.
First on humanism and the development of relatable characters. I think what anime in general has a habit of doing especially in the genre that Re:zero falls under is provide a mc as well as supporting characters that is unrealistic (i.e. SAO, Log Horizon etc.). When you do so, you target the classic niche anime community (which hey is a corporate incentive) where typical NEETs can fantasize about. Everyone wants to be overpowered. Everyone wants to get the girl. Everyone wants to be the protagonist and save the world from evil. This isn't realistic. No one is the main character in the world and your actions when you act like one has consequences. People will not simply accept that you are better than them. You need to develop your image and reputation with one of respect and credibility for people to trust you. This is how the world works and this is the basis of how Re:zero operates. I personally believe that many anime are too afraid to challenge the norms and question the very way our reality works. This was a new and refreshing change of pace that ultimately worked effectively.
What does this look like? For the mc, Subaru, I believe that his actions and the way his personality has evolved over the show provides a reasonable picture of what would happen if I were in his shoes. In the beginning after Emilia shows up, it's very obvious that Subaru believes he is the white knight. He has to save Emilia, win over her love, and save the world. Who wouldn't want to believe that after being transported to a realm that you have no clue about? However, after using his ability Return by Death, we slowly see the darkness that is in every human: fear, savagery, detest, jealousy, envy etc. Death is no simple thing. Often times, anime blows this way out of proportion and simply slides it under the rug. Death goes against every fiber of our living body. We are built to survive and ultimately to help ourselves.
For every death that Subaru encounters, it slowly erodes his soul and his personality. The first major arc focuses mostly on how Subaru can use his actions to change the future in a "parallel" or different world. He learns and adapts quickly to the situation and in fact willing dies to reset. Yet, among this arc we see constant foreshadowing of a deeper problem ingrained in Subaru: his emphatic and sometimes unrealistic devotion to Emilia. In the next arc, we see the beginning of the "true suffering" - the development of the "suffaru." The 2nd arc primarily deals with the backlash and the psychological damage of dying. At the point where Subaru cannot express any of his emotions and his struggles to anyone in any lifetime, this burden ultimately is too much for one single being. This is realistic. Too many times, do main characters disregard death or their own abilities as inconsequential. They use what they have to change the world around them without actually questioning their motives or their sanity along the way. Re:zero explicitly shows the impact of what happens when a person goes through consistent traumatic experiences and how it affects you. This is what would happen to you if you were Subaru, an ordinary person.
Second on the cycle of character building. As mentioned already, Re:zero specifically focuses on Subaru and how his actions are perceived and interpreted by others. Recognize that Subaru is not the only actor in this world and that everyone else is affected by his supposedly irrational actions. Why are they irrational? Because he cannot talk to anyone about his ability, he has to assume to some degree that they can understand him somehow. There is simply no other way for him to stay sane. He needs to believe that they understand that he is trying to help them without actually conveying it to them. The problem is, is that one when Subaru never talks, no one actually knows his motives and intentions. This is realistic. Second, often times his actions seem irrational because he simply knows more than he should. Why does he want to take Emilia with him to somewhere else? Can she actually trust him? At the point in which Subaru gives no explanation, the only course of action is to psychologically break down.
This is unique to Re:Zero. By episodes 10-15 roughly, most viewers hate Subaru for what he is becoming. He is becoming a detestable, selfish and loathsome mc which is unappealing to most audiences. However, I see that as a way that the story is challenging the standard narrative in these shows and in reality. Why is the show suddenly so cringeworthy and hard to watch? It's because it breaks down the facade that is society. Everyone puts on a good face but at its core we human beings have dark emotions. When the show explicitly presents us with a realistic adaptation of what would happen in these situations, we must confront ourselves. Are we like that? Or we are not?
This cycle of building, breaking down characters only to rebuild them and remold them differently is extremely new and refreshing. Most shows take 5 steps forward, 1 step back (usually because of someone's death), and then another 5 steps forward. This doesn't always seem reasonable. At the point which death is probably the most traumatic experience one can have, the average person is probably far more affected than it is portrayed in most shows. Subaru takes 5 steps forward, each a smaller step, falls and slides down and finally picks himself up again on a different more effective staircase. Overall, Re:zero is probably the only show ever to truly break down a character at its core after building it up a certain way only to remold them into a different person with a similar set of values. This sort of nuance is not any other show I've watched
Finally on to dialogue and why it's so effective in Re:zero. I think in most shows dialogue is rarely used realistically. If the main character is feeling down, generally someone comes up to him, says a few words about how it's not his fault and how he has to believe in himself to keep moving forward. And that's about how they solve any sort of internal crisis. Re:zero doesn't do this. Instead, they take more time in developing interesting and complex arguments that are realistic. During Subaru's breakdown with Emilia, their dialogue is extremely reminiscent of their previous actions. They explain themselves to the best they can just like people would. They understand their own incentives and motives. Putting a band-aid on a break in consciousness does not suddenly fix it. Re:zero resolves these issues in meaningful and realistic ways. The supporting characters are literally there to support the mc (i.e. Rem best girl). Re:zero dedicates almost 2 and a half episodes solely on the recovery of Subaru with the help of Rem. In fact, they spend a whole episode having Subaru talk with Rem over his problems. Their dialogue gets to the real crux of the problem and ultimately resolves the issue.
Re:zero shows and tells. It shows you why and how people behave when they break and they tell you how you get back up. You don't get back up with a few words and a pat on the back. You get it after you have meaningful and long discussions about the root problems and how to fix it.
3.) The voice acting
Plenty of other shows have had exceptional voice acting and Re:Zero is no different. This show has been the only show in my entire life that I have watched both anime and Western tv series that has emotionally charged me to the point of getting chills. I have never resonated so much with anyone else and their struggles.
Yuusuke Kobayashi, the VA for Subaru, is perfect for the role. He exemplifies both the inflection and tone during crucial parts of the show. Particularly, when in episode 7 when Ram kills him and questions "What have I ever done to you for you to hate me," in episode 12 or 13 when Subaru breaks down in front of Emilia, episode 15 when Subaru roars with anger to Betelgeues after he kills Rem, "I will kill you," and finally in episode 18 when he talks to Rem about his feelings. Every scene that should be emotional is emotional because of the actors. Every action and word that should be charged with either sadness or pure anger is done so.
Particularly Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, the VA for Betelguese, is fantastic. Despite being the mc for a completely different anime Shokugeki no Souma with a completely different taste, he absolutely nails the main arc 3 antagonist. The speed and inflection and the arbitrary emphasis on certain words exemplifies the insanity of Betelguese effectively. Re: zero is definitely not short on excellent VAs and they did an excellent job portraying humanistic elements and emotions in the show
4.) The animation/directing
Unbelievable. White Fox Studio absolutely nailed it. Everyone praises them for adapting the show accurately and it's true. They truly hit the mark on the spot. In fact, many times they were so dedicated in providing the material and the content that they eliminated the opening and ending or even extended the length of the episode to give the viewers the best possible experience.
The animation is crisp and clean. I think the animators did a fantastic job showing the fight scenes as well as displaying scale (i.e. the White whale). Furthermore, much of the lighting and use of backgrounds is often used to foreshadow or to emphasize the mood of the story. There were no lapses of bad animation quality and it was consistent throughout the show.
Furthermore, the choice of words was super important in the show. When people say words like "aishiteimasu," it has far more meaning than the english sub would make it seem. In english, I love you is pretty the strongest emotional words you can get. In Japanese however, there are many ways to say I love you. In fact, most shows say "daisuki or ashiteru." These are much less powerful forms of love in the sense that they are more casual. If you say "aishiteimasu," to someone, you better be breaking out the ring soon.
When the production studio explicitly uses language as means to achieve a certain understanding, it demonstrates the willingness to go that extra step. White Fox Productions is dedicated to this show and uses any sort of mechanism to further the plot and the characters. In this sense, the directors have a great idea of direction and how to get there in the most effective way possible.
5.) The Music
The music in Re:Zero is spectacular. The serious tones during the serious moments as well as the light hearted ones during more cheerful times. One thing that really stuck out was that the show used a variety of different types of music and styles. For example, at the end of episode 15, they use a very beautiful yet solemn elegy for Rem as the credits rolled up on the screen. White Fox was willing to experiment and see what worked and what didn't
Furthermore, they nailed the timing down for when to put music and when not to. The silences were extremely effective at bringing out the suspense and mystery. During around episode 21 and 22 when Subaru and company go off to fight the White Whale, the sound of the 1980s ringtone was incredibly eerily. White Fox productions literally went out and searched for the actual phone type and its ringtone in real-life rather than creating it inside its music production studio. This level of dedication is so unique and is really effective only in Re: zero
At the end of the day, Re:zero comes out to be a unique and refreshing experience. Its complex plot, nuanced characters, and challenge of societal norms provides intelligent discourse and conversations about what it means to be human and how can we be better? With the special attention to animation, directing, acting and music, Re:zero simply nails home the whole package.
Tl;dr watch the show. It's fantastic on all levels.
Sep 18, 2016
HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! These words and I'm sure plenty of other words have been used by me and other viewers to describe our feelings for this show. There is in my opinion NOTHING else like this show in how it paces and draws the audience in through a captivating story, the immense dynamic relationships between characters which challenges societal norms, and ultimately a brilliant yet subtle intertwining and overarching plotline. I'm going to go over 5 reasons why this show has become my number 1 show of all time. (fyi this is long, analytical and has spoilers)
1.) The Plotline Originally, Re:zero was written ... 
Jul 25, 2016
Koutetsujou no Kabaneri
(Anime)
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Given the plethora of negative reviews, it's fairly easy to dismiss this anime as one of the worst animes of all time. Scroll after scroll, I see countless reviews giving 2s and 3s, ripping the show into pieces. What many of the other reviews do a fantastic job is diving deep into the root of the problems of this show and most of their complaints and concerns are justified. The characters are quite undeveloped and their actions seem unexplainable. The plot turned into quite the shitshow by the end and the amount of random asspulls started looking like naruto for a moment. But looking beyond
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