Posted by Guardian Enzo on First Impressions / Kekkai Sensen / Series Introduction
「魔封街結社」 (Ma-fuu gai kessha)
“Mafuu District Association”
That was one fascinating mess.
Kekkai Sensenhas been one of the great unknowns of the Spring schedule for me, a series from a great studio (Bones) with a hugely promising young director (Matsumoto Rie,Kyousousgiga) from a legendary mangaka (Nightrow Yasuhiro, author ofTrigun). The staff and cast are off the charts, generally speaking. Yet I know more people that seem to dislike the manga than I’m comfortable with, and that’s given me considerable pause as I try to figure out just what my expectation level for the anime should be.
Cue the premiere, and while I would say it was a bit of a mixed bag on balance, my overall take is very positive indeed. My feeling based on one episode is that the vision of the director is very prominent here, as we see a lot of the same frantic visual style, absurdity and comic timing inBlood Blockade Battlefrontthat we did inKyousougiga. But just as much as that series, what I was reminded of wasBaccano!– for obvious reasons like the New York setting and jazz soundtrack, but also because of the jazzyattituderunning through the piece and the way Matsumoto connected the dots (albeit loosely) and jumped around in the timeline.Baccano!was like a jazz composition in a way – it felt improvised, yet in the end one could see how everything fit together. And there’s something of that inKekkai Sensen, at least for a week.
A combination ofBaccano!andKyousougigasounds a pretty heady mix – those are two series I love dearly. And mostly this works in the premiere, as it seems to me that Matsumoto’s vision is a pretty good match with Nightrow’s. One could also say that this premiere had a vintage Gainax feel, though the mention ofKyousougigamakes that almost redundant as that was the most Gainax show sinceTengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. We’ve seen other shows recently try and bottle that magic –Rolling GirlsandYoru no Yattermanspring to mind, along with that one by the director who should know better – and fail pretty miserably. But to me, the eventual failure was obvious a the start of those shows – they had the basic template roughly copied, but none of the spirit and soul, none of the cool factor Whatever “cool” is,Kekkai Sensenhas it.Kyousougigahad it,Baccano!had it, vintage Gainax had it. Going through the motions doesn’t mean you have it – it just makes you a poser. Matsumoto’s pedigree makes it clear she understands the kind of show she’s trying to make here, and the success in pulling it off in the first episode gives me considerable hope.
As to what’s actually going on here, I have to say as someone who hasn’t read panel one of the manga, I have very little clue. But you know, that’s fine – can anyone honestly say they hadKyousougigafigured out after the ONAs? We know that New York is inside some kind of dimensional bubble and is now known as “Jerusalem’s Lot” (nice nod to King there), and that humans are trapped inside with a bunch ofrejects from the cantina scene inStar Wars. We know (from his own words, in aletter to his kid sister) that the protagonist is a “shrimp” with no self-confidence who’s gone to Jersusalem’s Lot and seenhislot change. And we know that JL is a chaotic, violent clusterfuck that gives Matsumoto-sensei and her crack team of visual artists (mostly Bones and Gainax vets) a fantastic canvas on which to paint.
I’m not generally nuts forSakaguchi Daisuke, but he seems well-cast asLeonardo Watch(the crazy names are another reason for theBaccano!vibe).Something happenedduring a visit to the border of JL with his sister (who’s never been able to walk)Michaela(Mizuki Nana) and parents, resulting in Leonardo hating himself as a coward and now having “God’s Eyes” which he perpetually keeps closed. He’s broke, searching for some kind of answers whose nature we don’t fully know, and hangs out at a diner patrolled by waitress Vivian (Sawashiro Miyuki). One day his camera isstolen by a “sonic monkey”and the chase ends with his almost being killed in an explosion and being found byZapp Renfro(Nakai Kazuya), who mistakes him for a dead person named Johnny Landis.
Landis was apparently supposed to join the group Libra (pronounced like “library” and not the astrological sign), which is headed byKlaus von Rheinherz(Koyama Rikiya), with assistance from Zapp andChain Sumeragi(Kobayashi Yuu). Just what Libra does besides pull offfantastic swordfighting posesis unclear, but they’re apparently some sort of principled resistance group trying to maintain peace and order by kicking asses. There’s alsoFemt(Ishida Akiraat his most trollingly outlandish), like Klaus an extra-dimensional being and seemingly focused on relieving his bordeom by fucking with people. This chance meeting between Leonardo and Libra is seemingly the butterfly flapping its wings for the rest of the story, though just how the pieces fit together is still a mystery.
All of this is, as a I said, a mess – but I’m pretty sure it’s supposed to be. We’re not supposed to understand all of it, not yet, and that frees us up to enjoy the ride. And a hell of a ride it is, a real rollercoaster of dizzying speed, slo-mo, violence and visual humor. The exposition at the start is clumsy, but likeBaccano! Kekkai Sensensort of makes a joke of it. Simply put this show looks and sounds fantastic, and it’s a great deal of fun. Itwillneed to do more soon enough, and perhaps that’s where we’ll find out whether the source material does indeed have shortcomings that will hamstring the anime. There’s so much talent on display in the premiere, though, that I’m feeling pretty good about this series’ chances.
Preview
33 Comments
Looking forward for this so much.
It’s good but I still feel like it should be split into 2 episodes.
Vermillion April 6, 2015 at 5:40 am10 years ago
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I don’t know about the others, but this show reminded me somehow of Kill la Kill, Devil Survivor 2 The Animation, Tokyo ESP, and Hamatora The Animation.
I am sad to say this first episode didn’t live to my expectations…
Red HeartGold ZX April 6, 2015 at 5:43 am10 years ago
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and me Blood (from screen shots) used as Weapon of Deadmen Wonderland (or Tokyo Ghoul)
WorldwideDepp April 6, 2015 at 5:47 am10 years ago
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Oh yeah, that. But that gave me more of an idea of Kill la Kill where blood is used as a ‘fuel’ for the weapons (uniforms). Also, to add reference, DEM WORDS: https://randomc.net/image/Kekkai%20Sensen/Kekkai%20Sensen%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2032.jpg
Red HeartGold ZX April 6, 2015 at 5:59 am10 years ago
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The whole aliens thing reminded me a bit of Star Wars.
chibi-killua April 6, 2015 at 11:39 am10 years ago
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From what i understand they are supposed to be more like demons, eldritch horrors and Cthulhu-esque dudes more than aliens, but i get the whole star-wars vibe some people might get.
Hunter-Wolf April 6, 2015 at 2:21 pm10 years ago
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interesting…it reminded me of Gungrave, Big O, and gunbuster2?…………that zoro fight scene animation though….
BROOKLYN otaku April 7, 2015 at 1:59 am10 years ago
See AlsoKekkai Sensen | NovaMangaReply
It’s not surprising that it reminds you of Gungrave, since both Gungrave and Kekkai Sensen are by the same person, Yasuhiro Nightow.
HitsuWTG April 7, 2015 at 5:25 am10 years ago
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You know, this show won’t be getting score for subtlety, that’s for sure. But when it comes to pure entertainment value, it wins by a large margin compared to any other spring shows premiering so far. The animation is stellar, the fighting sequences are super cool, among all else, i especially like the sheer absurdity of it, where nothing’s normal, stuff blowing up, and scenery chewing is commonplace. Overall i enjoyed it and excited for the next episode.
Amiluhur April 6, 2015 at 5:47 am10 years ago
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Well, when you rename a town Jerusalem´s Lot you sure are in for a ton of action and crazyness, it gets you the feeling you have to be badass at the very least to survive day 1 in this city.
haseo0408 April 6, 2015 at 10:36 pm10 years ago
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The dub names the city something else, losing the nod to the King.
Also, an entire top of a building is chopped clean off and no character ever bats an eye! You KNOW you’re head-deep in Baddass Fiction Land.
starss June 28, 2015 at 9:43 pm9 years ago
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https://randomc.net/image/Kekkai%20Sensen/Kekkai%20Sensen%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2019.jpg
First thing that came to mind was a female Nicholas D. Wolfwood. No surprise there since this is Nightow’s work.
Zhinvu April 6, 2015 at 5:54 am10 years ago
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That doesn’t speak well for her future. o__O
Ryan Ashfyre April 9, 2015 at 4:01 pm10 years ago
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The moment they showed the black cat that appeared in every episode of Trigun, my hype level went off the charts. Loving those little shout-outs/continuity nods.
HitsuWTG April 6, 2015 at 6:01 am10 years ago
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I just so glad I’m not the only one who got a distinct Baccano! vibe from the first episode. It actually made me go back and start a Baccano! rewatch today, and it’s made me really excited for this show’s soundtrack. I’m looking forward to the next episode.
April 6, 2015 at 7:10 am10 years ago
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A little love for Kill la Kill. lol
https://randomc.net/image/Kekkai%20Sensen/Kekkai%20Sensen%20-%2001%20-%20Large%20Preview%2001.jpgAni_BEE April 6, 2015 at 7:58 am10 years ago
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Nudist beach would be proud XD
Hunter-Wolf April 6, 2015 at 2:14 pm10 years ago
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The fudge was that animation quality is great but the story and the characters are like an x-man high on shrooms was writing it.
April 6, 2015 at 9:31 am10 years ago
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I’d watch high-on-shrooms x-men any day, love all the lovecraftian Cthulhu-esque dudes and nightmarish horrors all over the place XD
Hunter-Wolf April 6, 2015 at 12:24 pm10 years ago
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This is the first anime since (ironically) Kyosougiga that I have been blown away by. Personality! Energy! Owning their own cliches by the end of the first episode! Great use of sound and music! Fantastic attention to detail! This is the kind of anime I live for – the kind that proves that the medium can still be fun, and not just riding on the success of franchises that don’t live up to their budget or hype. In fact it brought me back out of the coma I was in after watching the new Unlimited Blade Works anime… this is basically everything that UBW should have been!
Hogart April 6, 2015 at 6:38 pm10 years ago
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Ultra excited about this series hope someone will pick this one upnfor blogging!
ori April 6, 2015 at 6:46 pm10 years ago
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I found it quite funny how Leonard (aka Shinpachi) ended up riding on a scooter with our white-haired Zapp. Quality is really nice, looking forward to what this is all about.
LightHawk April 6, 2015 at 9:50 pm10 years ago
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one of the serious contender. That first episode show how much they put money on the show. Now, how they tie this up into something magically absurd or keep it simple. For now i will go for the 3 episode rule.
Shinwinds April 6, 2015 at 10:09 pm10 years ago
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I’m not too sure how I feel about the show as of episode 1, but I must admit the premise seems intriguing enough for me to stick to it. There’s a lot of ‘in your face’ scenes (not fanservice, thankfully) that are oddly refreshing and appealing in some way to me, though the whole thing does feel a little chaotic and might lose a couple of viewers here and there with the crazy action sequences and scene-jumping.
It does, however, have great potential as a rather entertaining show. this being the first time I’ve ever come in touch with the series or any of it’s ilk, I’m hoping it turns out well.
Owaranai April 7, 2015 at 7:39 am10 years ago
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Neat coincidence: Sakaguchi Daisuke (Leonardo Watch) and Kobayashi Yuu (Chain Sumeragi) also had roles in Baccano! as Jacuzzi Splot and Nice Holystone, respectively.
voor April 8, 2015 at 1:13 pm10 years ago
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Protagonist has an annoying voice, refers to himself with “boku” and prostrates on the floor all before the halfway point or the ep? Three strikes. Sorry, you’re dropped.
Litho April 8, 2015 at 4:24 pm10 years ago
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You’re doing it wrong.
Ryan Ashfyre April 9, 2015 at 3:40 pm10 years ago
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Not sure I like a “baccano with kyousougiga style” since till the end of the premiere I still don’t think those match well, but okay. I’ll try to watch few more episodes before deciding to dig in completely (or not)
zeroyuki92 April 9, 2015 at 6:37 am10 years ago
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https://randomc.net/image/Kekkai%20Sensen/Kekkai%20Sensen%20-%2001%20-%2032.jpg
I’m not the only one who thought of this guy when I saw this, am I? Seriously, these guys could be brothers, amirite?
Ryan Ashfyre April 9, 2015 at 4:03 pm10 years ago
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Strangely reminds me of Baccano!
https://randomc.net/image/Kekkai%20Sensen/Kekkai%20Sensen%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2041.jpg
Particularly the girl.
https://randomc.net/image/Kekkai%20Sensen/Kekkai%20Sensen%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2019.jpg
KF April 10, 2015 at 12:35 pm10 years ago
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Rip off from Code Geass – that eye-hand pose
Food April 28, 2015 at 3:51 am10 years ago
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CAAAT!!!
https://randomc.net/image/Kekkai%20Sensen/Kekkai%20Sensen%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2006.jpg
starss June 28, 2015 at 9:35 pm9 years ago
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I actually think EVERYTHING is explained to use either through voice, animation, or text. But the editing is so frenetic, I can’t follow half of it!
starss June 28, 2015 at 9:41 pm9 years ago
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