Winter 2025 Preview: Grisaia: Phantom Trigger

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Summary

  • Grisaia: Phantom Trigger celebrates a decade of the franchise with a new anime premiering on Jan 2, 2025.
  • Unlike the original series, Phantom Trigger follows a new cast of characters taking on missions to protect national security.
  • Directed by Kousuke Murayama, the anime features detailed animation and some expectedly solid character art by Akio Watanabe.
Title Grisaia: Phantom Trigger
Director Kousuke Murayama
Studio Bibury Animation Studios
Release Date 01/02/2025

As someone who has been a fan of anime for over two decades now, I can’t help but get excited about the upcoming release of “Grisaia: Phantom Trigger”. The trailer alone had me hooked with its striking visuals and action-packed sequences that reminded me of Studio Shaft productions.

Previously discussed, there’s a unique charm about anime genres that focus on “girls with guns,” which undeniably captures attention. This was brilliantly demonstrated by the series, Lycoris Recoil. Despite being a specific niche, it’s populated by enough compelling stories to make it feel anything but narrow, and the visual novel series Grisaia has been effectively tapping into this appeal for more than a decade.

The most recent anime, titled “Grisaia: Phantom Trigger,” is an adaptation from the visual novel series by Frontwing, featuring artwork by renowned character designer Akio Watanabe, who also worked on the Monogatari series. This new anime continues the storyline introduced in 2012’s “The Fruit of Grisaia.” The narrative centers around a team of girls who have undergone specialized training in combat and espionage for the sake of national security.

10 Years of Grisaia the Animation

This fresh anime isn’t just a follow-up to the Phantom Trigger saga that kicked off with a string of short films in 2019 and 2020, but also a tribute marking ten years since the premiere of the first Grisaia TV anime. “The Fruit of Grisaia” by studio 8bit in 2014, along with its two sequels, revolved around Yuuji Kazami, a young assassin who aspired for a regular school life at Mihama Academy. As he bonded with his five female classmates, he discovered their past traumas and grappled with his own.

What Sets The New Series Apart

Phantom Trigger unfolds some years following The Fruit of Grisaia, when Mihama Academy and the secretive organization linked to it have undergone a transformation. Instead of focusing on a single protagonist, the narrative revolves around a group of new characters who are students at SORD (Special Organization for Research & Development) academy. Throughout the series, we follow these individuals as they embark on hazardous missions, utilizing their specialized abilities to overcome challenges.

Meet the Staff Behind Phantom Trigger

Bibury Animation Studios, which is at present developing the upcoming series, was established by Motoki Tanaka, famously known as Tensho, the original director of the Grisaia anime. Following its establishment, the studio initially worked on the Phantom Trigger films with Tensho directing some of them. However, since then, the anime has been led by Kousuke Murayama who directed Grisaia: Phantom Trigger The Animation – Stargazer in 2020 and is now set to lead the new TV series.

Murayama serves as an animator, animation director, and storyboard artist for the anime series Grisaia since its inception, which makes him an ideal choice to lead the project. Some of his notable works include the Monogatari series, Fate/Extra: Last Encore, Assault Lily: bouquet, Madoka Magica, and Magia Record, among others.

Without prior knowledge, it wouldn’t be surprising if someone mistook Phantom Trigger’s trailer for a Studio Shaft production or an ambitious project from a studio like Silver Link. This is largely due to the distinctive artistic style of Akio Watanabe, whose work on Shaft’s anime adaptation of Nisio Isin’s Monogatari series made it so iconic and visually striking.

A Hint of Studio Shaft’s Influence

Beyond just the eyes, Watanabe skillfully captures emotion through intricate attention to detail in expressions and carefully designed characters’ lips, making them feel incredibly expressive. Additionally, the trailer showcases several of Shaft’s iconic head tilts, which always manage to make a character appear even cooler. When you see these animations in motion, the comparison to Shaft becomes more evident, as Watanabe not only designs the characters but also oversees the animation as the chief director.

The action we’ve seen so far is crucial for a show like this, and it strikes all the appropriate chords when it comes to animation.

The action will make or break a show like this, but the glimpses of the animation shown thus far hit all the right notes. Small moments like Rena reloading her assault rifle are appreciably detailed and satisfying to watch, to say nothing of how detailed the firearms look throughout. The lighting, shading, and letterboxing lend the anime a cinematic quality that the artwork thus far doesn’t betray, save for one slightly stiff-looking shot of Maki firing two pistols.

In much the same way as the series as a whole, Grisaia: Phantom Trigger boasts a compelling narrative that grabs attention swiftly, with its strategic military elements and striking visuals. However, the challenge lies in maintaining that initial interest, and only time can determine whether the storyline will successfully tie everything together or if it will rely on intense combat sequences and beautiful artwork to keep viewers engaged. If executed well, these aspects might make this an outstanding title to kick off the new year.

Grisaia: Phantom Trigger will be available to stream on Crunchyroll starting January 2, 2025.

Sources: ANN

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2024-12-24 20:34