"Odd" is a nail-biting mystery and witty comedy, complemented with a superb cast of lively characters and a tightly-written script. The momentum of its crime thriller rarely eases up on the brakes. The brilliant writing delivers in droves, with references and social commentary keeping viewers deeply engaged. I had a pretty good idea of where "Odd" was taking me, but the many sights along the way easily rank amongst the most riveting anime you'll find all year. 8/10~
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Welcome aboard. I hope you're seated comfortably. This one's gonna be an especially wild ride; God knows how much of a blast I had myself. It's become increasingly common that I find myself in the proverbial driver's seat when interpreting the various shows I consume, and my admittedly self-aggrandizing role as a serial AL ranter hasn't exactly curbed my ego either. Articulating my thoughts on the shows I've watched is a natural process that is developing alongside my love for stories. I often enjoy cracking open what any given series has to offer. In the case of "mediocre" stories, my personal findings can often leave me rather dismissive and indifferent towards what a show is attempting to achieve. Personally I don't believe that this process is egotistical; given that time is precious, we need to decide how to best invest our time into the products that yield the most enjoyment. But as you can already tell from this pretentious introduction (so sorry for this, it'll make sense in a bit,) picking apart stories in this fashion can make me feel like I've got it all figured out, as if I'm lounging on that driver's seat. My love for stories hasn't diminished, but my exposure to them has grown. I still crave that sensation of being led on by writing that stays ten steps ahead of me, and have immense respect for the incredible pieces that reinvigorate my passions. With that said, I feel like I have a good grasp about what "Odd Taxi" is all about. But that understanding hasn't stopped the show from shoving me squarely in the passenger seat and taking me along one of the wildest rides I've experienced in quite some time.
Looks like our meter's running, so we best be moving on quick. Our destination: "Odd Taxi." This journey will be spoiler-free. Aaand we're off!
"Odd" certainly lives up to the title. Our story takes place in a curious reimagining of Japan, inhabited by anthropomorphic animals that live exactly the same way humans do. It's a less-allegorical spin on "BEASTARS," with a dash of "Baccano!" A sprawling narrative is laid out before us, with tangled webs pointing to the mysterious disappearance of a girl. Someone is missing; someone is responsible. And somehow, everything is connected. A billion Yen. A nurse with secrets. A broken phone. A corrupt policeman. A monkey on Tinder. An idol trio. A Twitter fanatic. A car camera. Plotlines constantly crash into one another in unexpected ways. Each of these seemingly unrelated subplots are entertaining in their own right, offering a great deal of variety to the greater mystery at hand. Fret not if these story threads seem difficult to keep track of, because this series expertly places each calculated twist and turn. Tight story structure is essential to ensuring a narrative of such scale succeeds, and "Odd" all but guarantees that level of precision. Brief recaps help fill us in on what relevant characters know at every stage of the narrative, and objectives are clearly laid out from start-to-finish. "Odd" has one more trick to ensure that its many threads are tied together, and that answer lies in the back of a cab car.
Odd is the unique perspective of a taxi driver. The man at the wheel takes passengers to a destination, but can inadvertently wind up as a passenger themselves; it's a two-way street. Such is the case with Hiroshi Odokawa, a jaded walrus in his 40s who strikes up straight-faced chats with his various customers. Much of this show's mystery unfolds through innocuous encounters in his backseat, as clues and key story beats are seamlessly integrated into charismatic conversation. Pessimistic and perceptive, Odokawa is an entertaining and essential presence in "Odd." His wit and deadpan observations of his various passengers assist the audience in understanding the various personalities and motivations involved in "Odd's" grand plan. He's highly intelligent, steering conversations far more effectively than his Uber. As the stakes escalate with the introduction of new passengers, Odokawa is driven to find his way out of a series of dire conspiracies. Adding to the intrigue is the skeletons inside our cabby's closet. Odokawa is keeping secrets of his own, and a fantastic ensemble cast follows suit.
This series' diverse characters keeps things engaging and entertaining as our odd mystery ensues. Odokawa may be the star of this show, but "Odd's" greatest asset lies with its secondary characters. Each brings a distinctly quirky energy to "Odd." With a cast so stacked yet well-balanced, "Odd" is sure to leave an impression, regardless of who you like most. Perhaps you're enamoured by the elusive Miho Shirakawa, or just prefer monkeying-around with the mischievous Eji Kakihana. The Daimon Brothers are especially cool, and it's fun seeing these identical twins confront their differing morals. And let's not forget Yano, a crime syndicate higher-up and rap lyricist. No seriously, every one of Yano's lines are straight fire, with a series of flows that could out-bar Biggie himself (hats off to the translators for miraculously maintaining the rhyme scheme in a different language.) My personal favorites are the comedians Shibagaki and Baba. They first appear during a radio programme that Odokawa plays on-the-job, as stereo personalities yearning to catch a big break in the industry. I absolutely love how their seemingly one-off conflict recurs alongside the duo, as these unseen background celebrities suddenly show up in Odokawa's cab and even receive their own melancholic sideplot. "Odd's" eccentric approach to writing sneaks up on you, effortlessly allowing its cast to shine while progressing this complex tale. With that said, let's take a detour and explore how "Odd" brings its stellar cast to life.
Fast-paced, layered dialogue makes for an oddly-satisfying change of pace. Kazuya Konomoto appears to have honed an esoteric command over dialogue in previous works, and "Odd" showcases an absolute mastery of his craft. I'd liken his screenplay as a fascinating blend of Aaron Sorkin's rapid-fire quips and Richard Linklater's stoner musings. Much of this series is effortlessly hilarious, with great line delivery and a ton of random references. These conversations aren't merely for killing time though, as they clearly establish the vibrant personalities throughout "Odd." Chats can take unexpected turns into any number of themes. The show isn't afraid to deftly transition into world-weary commentary on social trends and art, all while maintaining characterization and offering crucial clues to solving its grand mystery.
All these odd attributes meet at the intersection of variety and suspense. "Odd's" narrative is in-depth and in-breadth. Infectious charisma and ingenious jokes are seamlessly packed into a massive overarching plot. The show's intertwining plotlines capture a swagger reminiscent of Tarantino's best works. "Odd" offers a smörgåsbord of engaging entertainment, an all-you-can-eat buffet of themes and tones. This is a show so unpredictable that it isn't afraid to bring its multifaceted narrative to a screeching halt and focus on a single character's monologue about his childhood failures and adulthood addictions. Despite all the fun, this crime thriller still knows how to drop a good "Eureka moment" and have us re-evaluate its various variety-hour plot threads. You can never quite pin down what will happen next, but you can be damn sure "Odd" delivers. It's a rollercoaster from start to electrifying finish, embracing a cartoon-y artstyle that is more versatile than it initially appears. "Odd's" OP is an absolute jam, and the sound maintains the show's overall sense of playfulness and intrigue.
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Thanks for coming along this ride with me, be sure to leave a generous tip on your way out. If you happen to like my verbose rants, feel free to check out my other reviews for seasons past and present. Peace~
