ART: 6.5/10
Pretty good at times, pretty standard at times. I like the designs of Sam and Casey the best. Backgrounds look good, and the animation is great at times. Awful design awards go to the main villain, floating claw lady, Russia white hair woman, and vitiligo girl.
SOUND 5/10
Something about cowboys + robots + anime just screams Nujabees or J-Dilla type music. Something with soul and rhythm. None of that was here. I know that's something up to personal preference, but even so, the soundtrack was very unmemorable and felt kinda quiet and lacking impact during intense scenes. Not horrible, not amazing— but I guess that’s kinda worse in a way.
WOLRD 3/10
One of the worst things in this show, other than the story, is the world building. Nothing in this world feels coherent or logical. There are no established rules in this world, or a pecking order of sorts. We see royal castles, samurai, cowboys, robots, magic, furries, discount Zalem from Gunnm— all kinds of shit. In this regard, it feels like Space Dandy, the difference being it actually WORKS there, because they are hopping galaxies, dimensions, and planets— NOT driving across state borders.
How does anything in Cannon Busters fit together? All of this is happening on one world. It would be nice to have a sense of scale, or progress, or some kind of hint as to how this world functions, but apparently Philly and crew can just fucking drive anywhere they want, because all these conflicting areas are right next to each-other, connected by simple roads.
The world feels like random set pieces strewn together, with an emphasis on cowboys. It doesn't help that we never really see these different kinds of worlds overlap in some major way. Where were the cowboy knights, furry samurais, western themed castles? They are utilizing all of these themes, yet they never combine them to create new and interesting ideas. It’s just goes to waste.
CHARACTERS/STORY 2/10
I'm a fan of cute, dumb, friendly robots, so I am giving Sam and Casey a slight pass. It still would have been nice to get more character development on them, as the only thing we know about either of them, is that it’s very easy to convince Casey to go commit Sudoku, and that Sam is the Prince’s protector.
Everyone else however, not so much. No one is interesting. At all.
Am I really supposed to give two hoots about the prince? lmao
The bad guy in the show, Ifor’Got-hisname, is so awful, so generic. He’s like the villain in Justice League. This show did not need ANY of his scenes. Honestly, just cut out all the scenes with the royalty, or big bads. Change the whole plot. Make Sam need Philly’s help with some kind of Mcguffin retrieval job, or have Philly steal Sam and Casey or something.
ANYTHING but the royalty plot. Please.
Verdict: 4.5-5/10
The show was kinda enjoyable at times, but eh, you could watch much better stuff. This season finished, but it just left me saying, "That's it?”.
I'm not sure if this is getting a second season, but to sum up my thoughts, I think Philly the Kid said it best during the final episode:
"You mean I'm supposed to go after the same damn kid all over again— only this time with even more idiots I can't stand, annoying the crap out of me? Yeah, no thanks."
