Anime Writers' Review of Spring 2021 Anime!　5 Anime including "Godzilla S.P. <Singular Point>" and "Bakuten! and more! Anime Column

A comprehensive review of the hottest films that will have their final episodes in June and July of 2021!　Godzilla S.P. <Singular Point>" written by Akutagawa Award-winning author Tou Enjou, "300 Years of Defeating Slime, Level Maxed Out Before I Knew It" based on a fantasy novel from "Shosetsu-kaerou", Noitamina's original anime "Bakuten! , "Yakunara Mugugu no Moumo" about a high school pottery club, and "Puchimiku♪ D4DJ Petit Mix," a short anime from the "D4DJ" media mix project.

Godzilla S.P. <Singular Point

I wondered if people who were not familiar with Godzilla or science fiction would be able to understand this work, and my fears were proven true. In anime, what is not understood is merely a trivial matter. The charm of this work lies in the fact that the characters never waver from their goal of "protecting the earth from monsters," and we are impressed by the scenes in which they use their talents and experiences to solve problems.
The two genius protagonists get to the bottom of things through super-fast chat exchanges that are impossible for ordinary people to read. The town factory foreman uses his own robot, Jet Jaguar, to fight off monsters, and the protagonist's partner uses his well-trained physical strength to save the day. The old fisherman will try to defeat Anguirus with a whaling gun on his small truck, and the girl in the Japanese archery club will act as a decoy to help him escape from Radon. As someone who has been made acutely aware of the difficulty of making the right choices in times of emergency, I envy the world of "Godzilla S.P." where there are individuals and organizations that can make such choices.

After 300 years of slaying slimes, I had reached the maximum level before I knew it.

A 27-year-old office worker who died of overwork due to hard work is reborn as Azusa, an immortal witch, and this time enjoys a leisurely life in this otherworldly fantasy. However, one day after 300 years have passed since her reincarnation, she discovers that she has somehow become the most powerful person in the world, and she is at the mercy of visitors who have heard rumors of her reincarnation. ......
The theme of the film is about slow life, and the slow flow of time is impressive. The Azusa family is gradually growing with each episode, and before you know it, the Azusa family has become a large one. In the final episode, they open a coffee shop in their home. The finale, in which many of the characters we have met up to this point come to visit, shows the accumulation of days gone by. Some of the sound effects are voiced by the cast as "effect voices. This unique attempt is also matched with the calm worldview of the film.

Bakuten!

is an original anime in which the main character, Futaba Shotaro, joins the men's rhythmic gymnastics club upon entering high school, and together with his unique friends, aims to compete in the Inter-High School Gymnastics Championships. In addition to the spectacular rhythmic gymnastics performances, the dormitory life under one roof with the club members is also a highlight. The captain, Masamune Shichigahama, whose family owns a fish cake store, and many other food-related scenes are carefully depicted, including scenes in which all club members work together to prepare food. The scenes in which all club members work together to prepare dishes are also carefully depicted. The scene shows how a sense of solidarity develops day by day as they eat out of the same pot.
Episode 5 is a unique episode in which the members of the rival school play hide-and-seek with each other in the school building after school to deepen their friendship. The dark screen continues throughout the episode, giving the audience an unusual taste of horror. In the 10th episode, the students draw a dictionary to distract themselves from their desire to practice, a curious turn of events. Fans of the noitaminA series will be able to grin at the name of the dictionary. After the broadcast, a movie adaptation was decided. The youth of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Club can be enjoyed on the screen.

Yakunara mugs are also available.

Set in Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture, known as the production center of traditional Mino ware, this is a coming-of-age story about Hineno Toyokawa, a first-year high school student who moves to the city with her father and is drawn into the fascinating world of pottery. When we think of ceramics, we tend to imagine plates and teacups, but in this film, cute objects and huge monuments appear. The subject matter chosen by Hime-no for the contest is also an unexpected item, offering a glimpse into the depth of ceramic art.
The scenery of Tajimi is also beautifully expressed, and the finished work clearly shows that the area is blessed with abundant nature and water sources. Water, an essential element of ceramics, is depicted here and there, including in the opening title background. The scene where the light shines on the surface of the river is memorable, perhaps because of the strong sunlight in Tajimi, which is said to be the hottest town in Japan. The second half of the film is a live-action variety corner in which the cast members visit the area, making you feel as if you have visited the actual place.

Petchimiku♪ D4DJ Petit Mix

One might be tempted to think that the short anime in a media mix project is created as an alibi for the content's continuity, but this work is an ambitious and encouraging attempt to breathe new life into the series. The impact of the narration by Fumihiko Tachiki, who never appeared in "D4DJ First Mix," as the first voice of the first episode, is already captivating. The second episode, which somehow ends with an elephant's yell, and the fifth episode, which is a remote conference, are also exciting and experimental.
Episode 20, full of parodies, is a freewheeling episode that casts Ginga Banjo for a few lines and uses a logo to represent the characters. The mascot character Nyochio appears as a car, an expression reminiscent of the hits of 2021, and the mobility that only short animation can provide is put to good use.

(Text by Katsunori Takahashi)

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