The anime scout report is in. Irregular Reconnaissance is a round-up of mini-reviews for anime shows you can (probably) easily find on Amazon or stream for free right now.
How does this intel work? Surprised by Scout (on the right) we have a half-dozen or so anime shows, each gets a quick commentary and then a status report. Is the show a recommendation or not? If so; how strong a recommendation is it?
The most important role of Irregular Reconnaissance is to be a platform for Geek Native readers to make anime suggestions – either for or against – in the comments below. There’s no shortage of anime online and in stores, but it remains expensive, intel reports and scouting suggestions are appreciated by the community.
In this Irregular Reconnaissance;
Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign
Episodes 1 to 24
It’s hard to discuss this anime without giving too much away. 24 episodes is a lot, and they make good use of the space; there are at least two stories in here, perhaps three. Yes, it starts off with the characters as youngsters, but it progresses.
A virus has wiped out so much of humanity that the vampires no longer need to hide. They openly feed on the population, taking children back into their underground cities to be used as blood cows.
Seraph of the End is dark at times, as the summary above alludes to, but at other times it’s more like an action anime with high-powered fights with abilities and posturing.
I found it a tiny bit slow, to begin with, but liked the grim overtones and then, as they began to fade, the tempo picked up.
Status: Recommended.
Where: Netflix
Children of the Whales
Episodes 1 to 12
Children of the Whales starts off strongly. It’s an interesting set-up with a small village of people essentially sailing around a sea of sand on a rocky island. There are two types of people there; those with magic and who die very young, and those without magic and who can live to be older.
Now and then their island ‘floats’ close enough in the quicksand to another island for brave people to hop over and rummage around for food or other basics.
Unfortunately, once we start to get involved with other factions, I think the show wobbles. It’s easy to want to get back to the floating whale island and not care about the politics of some distant city.
That’s what happens. The anime swings back to where it should have been for the duration, and we finish much more strongly. It’s a good show that’s just shy of being a great anime.
Status: Worth watching
Where: Netflix
The Seven Deadly Sins
Revival of the Commandments, Episodes 1 to 23
A return to form for The Seven Deadly Sins and, so far, the best season yet. The Sins are drifting apart, and at the same time, demons are escaping their world and invading ours. Not any ordinary demons, but especially powerful ones.
We also meet Escanor, Lion’s Sin of Pride, for the first time. He’s quickly become a fan favourite, and it’s easy to see why. He kicks ass but only when charged up by sunlight.
The plot is much better than the first few episodes suggest. Why? It would easy to conclude Revival of the Commandments was front-loaded just to set up a series of fights. It does better than that, though, and the plot takes directions you probably won’t have predicted straight-away.
Status: Watch it. Don’t let the filler mini-series before put you off
Where: Netflix
A.I.C.O.
Episodes 1 to 12
I’d call this an action anime with a twist. We have got a near future where some sort of bio-hazard has escaped into the wild and become a creature. For the most part, this gloopy mess is held up behind a dam, and so life can go on.
However, our team has a reason to go into the heart of the outbreak.
The result is a mini-mecha anime with rolling power armour and shooting scenes. There’s also pretty healthy character development and a tiny bit of mystery and politics scattered in for interest.
Status: Good but not great.
Where: Netflix
B: The Beginning
Episodes 1 to 12
I wish Netflix had promised the B: The Beginning creative team that they had two long seasons in which to tell their story. Instead, we have everything squeeze into 12 episodes, and it feels like two or three shows in one.
I liked the start of the show the most. We have got a murder mystery, and we know it’s wrapped up in some evil powers.
B: The Beginning dips in the middle, I fear, as we get an elaborate back story dumped on to us and then recovers as we get back to dealing with the present-day murderer.
The series is really well illustrated, and most of the characters are really good. It’s easy to see why Netflix wanted it.
Status: Recommended
Where: Netflix
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