Zenshu Premiere Introduces Meta Isekai Adventure

Summary

• MAPPA’s Zenshu anime has a meta take on Isekai.
• Hirose’s creative crisis leads to a fantasy adventure.
• Episode 1 sets up the potential for exciting story arcs.

The latest anime from MAPPA, titled “Zenshu“, chronicles the journey of an aspiring animator dealing with writer’s block, leading him on a whimsical escapade. Directed by Mitsue Yamazaki, who worked on “Attack on Titan“, and written by Kimiko Ueno from “Delicious in Dungeon“, the anime offers an innovative perspective on the Isekai genre. Although the first episode of Zenshu requires some patience to unfold, the satisfying resolution in Act 3 makes the wait truly rewarding.

The first episode, titled “First Stroke,” opens in a typical office setting. The main character, animator Natsuko Hirose, is faced with challenges like tight deadlines and high standards. Later, an unfortunate case of food poisoning causes her to step into the world of one of her favorite anime movies. But to rescue her cherished characters, Hirose must rediscover the enthusiasm that initially sparked her love for drawing. This newfound ability sets the stage for a season full of potential adventures.

Millennial Burnout Kills the Anime Star

In the initial episode of Season 1, titled “First Stroke,” we meet Natsuko Hirose, portrayed by Anna Nagase in Japanese and Madeleine Morris in English. She’s a talented yet mysterious figure who saw her anime career skyrocket after high school graduation. Following her success with a magical girl series, this budding director embarks on a new challenge: directing a romantic film. However, production of the movie is running late.

A Dull Office Atmosphere Brings Writer’s Block to Life

In a scene that mirrors the turmoil many creatives face, Zenshu’s initial portrayal vividly depicts Hirose’s creative predicament. The picture of the young animator, bent over her desk with unkempt hair, resonates deeply for those who have walked this path. Hirose grapples with the weight of her own high standards. Cramped within a cubicle barely larger than a shoebox, she discards fragments of her incomplete storyboard. The jovial demeanor of the persistent executive belies their financial concerns. Whispers of doubt hint at the uncertain future of the film.

It might surprise you that the office scene in this episode has the highest level of tension, even though there’s an intense battle later on. The camera offers a detailed look at Hirose’s struggle with procrastination. As she glances at her phone, every social media comment seems to weigh heavily on her, whether they praise her work as life-saving or criticize it harshly, wanting her off the project already.

In a more casual and straightforward rephrasing: Hirose’s tough attitude often creates frustration among her team members. Instead of accepting submitted keyframes for the film teaser, she demands a complete overhaul. Overhearing this, one of her colleagues rebukes her inflexible independence. When confronted, Hirose, much like Sadaka Yamamura with her uncut hair, stares menacingly at him, enhancing the tense atmosphere.

An Ambiguous Food-Poisoning Leaves Questions

Upon hearing about Kamataro Tsuruyama’s death from food poisoning, Hirose’s calm demeanor suddenly shifts. Following the shock, she takes a moment to compose herself before eating her lunch and revisiting Tsuruyama’s famous movie, “A Tale of Perishing.” Sadly, Hirose is oblivious to the fact that she has carelessly consumed spoiled clams in her meal.

The heavy atmosphere in the workplace is abruptly shattered when Hirose unexpectedly faints, landing on the floor. A group gathers around her, among them an anxious executive, as the exhausted artist loses consciousness. As Act 1 concludes, Hirose’s tired eyes eerily roll to the back of her head, hinting at a deeper struggle.

It’s uncertain if Hirose actually died, making it doubtful that the clams were responsible. However, regardless of her current state, she appears to be reliving her life’s moments as if they were frames on a storyboard. A different scene depicts Hirose as a child, holding popcorn while watching the sorrowful events in “A Tale of Perishing” unfold. Abruptly, she finds herself awakening in a desolate wasteland of debris.

We’ve Seen This Before, and So Has Natsuko Hirose

In the second part of episode 1, Hirose gets transported into the universe of one of her beloved movies, “A Tale of Perishing”. As she interacts with some cherished characters, her gut feeling alerts her to the impending danger in the film. She alerts The Last City’s heroes about this threat. In the end, it falls on Hirose to write a heroic chapter for herself.

Waiting for the Inevitable Is Boring

Following an unfortunate encounter with spoiled clams from a stale bento box, Hirose finds herself in a desolate landscape filled with crumbling old structures. However, her moment of bewilderment is soon cut short by a ferocious, insect-like creature known as a void. Luckily, the brave and handsome knight, Luke Braveheart (Kazuki Ura in Japanese, Ryan Negron in English), rushes to her aid, vanquishing the monster.

In this narrative, the sequence of events is quite predictable. Hirose experiences the usual phases of disbelief common in Isekai stories. Initially, she assumes she’s at an anime convention surrounded by expert cosplayers. Subsequently, Hirose finds herself in The Last City, a civilization that miraculously survived the destruction brought about by the void. Upon witnessing a scene from “A Tale of Perising” exactly as it appears in the film, Hirose comprehends that she has been transported into the world depicted on screen. Eventually, another unexpected revelation unfolds.

In Hirose’s recollection, a distressing moment from the story “A Tale of Perishing” is portrayed where an onslaught of void creatures assaults the Last City. Despite their victory, the city suffers a heavy loss as the cherished unicorn mascot character, Unio (voiced by Rie Kugimiya in Japanese and Luci Christian in English), makes the ultimate sacrifice. This heart-wrenching event plunges Lord Braveheart into despair, foreshadowing more sorrowful events to unfold.

Hirose desperately begs Unio, Braveheart, and others to take her warning seriously to prevent Unio’s demise, but her pleas seem to be ignored by indifferent listeners. (Great performances by Nagase and Morris as Hirose, showcasing both her stoic skepticism and nerdy enthusiasm. Their acting effectively portrays a character whose face is largely unseen throughout the episode.)

It can be disheartening to observe Hirose being overlooked due to her psychic abilities in anime. Yet, the series has become somewhat monotonous, as we’ve already witnessed similar dark fantasy shows and the repetitive “Groundhog Day” narrative. However, there remains an intrigue about the charisma or unique appeal that Zenshu possesses, which hasn’t been fully revealed yet.

A Newly Empowered Artist Invigorates the Third Act

Events unfold as foreseen, with the vacant army appearing, the heroes charging onto the battlefield, and Unio instructing Braveheart to retreat for a self-sacrificing act. Hirose witnesses this grim spectacle with growing frustration and terror, unable to intervene in any way. All of a sudden, her earbuds whisper to her from within her hoodie pocket:

In response to a powerful call, Natsuko Hirose springs into motion, marking the start of an exciting adventure. She dashes onto the battlefield, pulls out her peg bar, and launches into a dazzling magical girl routine. With a swift maneuver, she soars through the air onto a temporary desk using her chair as a projectile. Upon landing, the talented animator swiftly begins to draw, revealing her face for the first time. A massive monster, born from her pencil strokes, demolishes a wave of threats in a burst of paper. The day and Unio are successfully protected!

In the climax of Zenshu episode 1, it’s evident why this anime keeps audiences hooked. Characters like armored knights, robust mayors, mystical unicorns, and talking animals might be commonplace, but the real star is the limitless creativity of the artist. With Hirose now possessing her powers, viewers are eagerly looking forward to seeing what she does next in episode 2.

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2025-01-07 21:35