Anime Review: Sarazanmai Episode 1

Sarazanmai Episode 1

Studios: MAPPA & Lapin Track

Genre: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural

Stream: Crunchyroll

“I want to be connected”

I’m a big fan of Kunihiko Ikuhara’s previous series so when I heard he was involved in a new anime airing this season, it was on my ‘must-watch’ list straight away. He’s previously been involved in other eccentric works such as Revolutionary Girl Utena, Mawaru Penguindrum and most recently, Yuri Kuma Arashi, the latter of which features gun battles between lesbian bears. His works are heavy on metaphor and symbolism, and some of the most thought-provoking out there at current – Ikuhara also doesn’t shy away from potentially controversial topics and issues around gender and sexuality.

The first episode of Sarazanmai sets out to be weirder than all these previous series, an accomplishment in its own right. The story follows Kazuki, a high schooler who carries around a box and speaks of having to perform daily rituals to keep the connection with his ‘special someone’. This relationship appears to be a secret one, and one he only contact through his mobile phone – potentially with the fortune telling idol girl who is splashed across advertisements across the city, it seems. Kazuki’s day takes an even stranger turn than usual however after he has an altercation with aggressive delinquent Kuji Toi, which concludes in the destruction of the city’s kappa statue.

The next day things get… strange. Both Kazuki and the new exchange student at his school (who turns out to be Kuji Toi) start acting in odd cartoonish ways – it seems at first that they don’t notice this personality shift before realising that the events of yesterday have put them under the control of the kappa. Together they go to confront the kappa, and it’s here that things get… really, really weird. Kazuki, Kuji and Kazuki’s friend, who stumbles into the scene, undergo a disturbing transformation and are forced into the world of the kappa. Their escapade there is both surreal and symbolic, beginning with an odd musical scene and culminating in a battle with a huge creature who Kazuki defeats by… well, let’s just say this isn’t a series you want to watch with any children around. It’s both ridiculous, somewhat offensive, but somehow still kept me watching to the end because as nonsensical as the plot seems, there is definitely something deeper going on underneath the surface.

There are strong themes prevalent throughout of secret desires, the fear of those desires being revealed and of the lengths some people will go to hold a connection with someone. The frequent use of mobile phones, the internet, and technology point perhaps to a social commentary on how the internet has changed us, and how easy it can be for our most personal information to be leaked to the public. Perhaps, this is going in a different direction but I’ve seen enough Ikuhara series by now, to know he usually has something intellectual going on behind all the tomfoolery.

The animation is a definite strong point of the series, and the character designs are fairly attractive. The opening and ending song both play in this first episode and are equally strong, showing hints at some of the deeper themes in the series but not giving too much away. This is definitely going to be one of those series however that will turn some people off straight away because of the weirdness – but I’m interested enough to stick around for the crazy ride!