Story: 7
- When I say experimental, I actually mean it. The details in dialogues and world-building is going off somewhere away from the mainstream, toward a social movement prop up in Japan for the past few decades now. The idea of abandoning the outdated traditions and embracing a change in the status quo. I straight up thought it was going to be a another harem at first, and it has elements of it, school life, all-female companion, challenges Ittoki (MC) have to face, etc. But when I pull myself back and see the bigger picture, I noticed more.
What this anime is trying to explore is by asking the question: "How will ninja, which historically serves as spies/infiltrators/assassin to whichever warlord in Japan pays the highest realistically (as much as possible) survive in the 21st century where wars almost never happens anymore?"
Well, the answer is just remove "assassin" from few sentences ago, and the whole anime will be how the radical ones are trying to make sure the tradition will stay in forever instead of dying out like in real life or as seen in the show where one clan outright said their next generation all left for the city.
The ending shows that everyone carrying on their ninja tradition with a more peaceful means other than killing and rivalry with other clan.
- Grim moments in this anime stays grim. People dies in this show. When Ittoki's mother dies, she stay dead, and not revived by BS magic.
- There are no real romance in this show, which I also like. I watched too many harem school drama where the MC have to decide which one he should falls in love with when there's no real substance with any of them, and the way the story was written, I am glad they didn't force one to appeal to the market.
I can see why people don't like the show because of the subject matter, but I can't see it as criticism because the show isn't someone's cup of tea.
However, what I don't like is the potholes, and the rush.
Plothole 1: The ninja police in the show is basically like the FBI meme, they do nothing, and will do nothing unless you murder someone right in front of them. Why would you release the main antagonist Kidou, when he is the major suspect involve in multiple crimes? If you say it is because of Japanese law; Japan follows the "civil law", which in short, Kidou will stays in jail through out the rest of the anime until hard evidence are presented.
Plothole 2: Kousetsu was a sleeper agent (unwillingly). But why doesn't the bad guys activates her have her killed Ittoki or Yumika (Ittoki's mom/Clan chief) earlier?
Plothole 3: In the end, Koga were exposed (The ninja police have hard evidence), and Kidou shows intentions to kill everyone. So why was Tokisada treated like a criminal when he kills Kidou in self-defense?
With all that said, I just hope they have the funding or time for extended episodes, because as things stands, it is a little bit rushed, but with the way the markets were, I am willing to look past it.
Art: 7
Nothing impressive, everything feels smooth.
Character: 7
Again, with a 12 episodes season that ends right then and there. I know there is no way the writer can explore everything in time. Rather, I am more impressive that most of the character gets to have their motives and personality written to the show, and you can empathies with it.
People said the MC, Ittoki is bland, which I asked, in what way? Because if you said he just go along with whatever people tells him to, how could he not? Because within a period of just a semester (a Japanese semester), he actually almost died to a spy, have the responsibility of a clan with hundreds of lives handed to him, went to a school with almost everyone shunning and betraying him, and witnessing his mother died. He hates his life, and it takes slapping him around constantly for him to develop a character. This is not bland, this is someone who makes something out of his messed up life after being hit in the head with a baseball bat, it hurts, but in the end you have to stand up.
Enjoyment: 7
Every episode is consistent, and no episode where I said "Can you just move along with it, please?"
Overall: 7
There are definitely better anime with the same theme, but they are few and far between. If you want something down to Earth whilst being fun and keep you on your toes throughout the whole season, I will definitely recommend it.
