Hey guys.
Welcome back to another anime review. And this time, I am reviewing an anime that I did not expect me to grab me this quickly. I am dead serious.
Furthermore, I have to admit it has a really interesting title.
KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF EIZOUKEN!!!
But before I start, I must ask the guys…. The Question.
Are you ok? Feeling healthy?
If the answer is yes, then I am happy. Having said that, let’s go with the review.
STORY
Based on the manga series written by Sumito Owara, and published by Shogakukan seinen magazine, Monthly Big Comix Spirits, Keep Your Hands off Eizouken!!! (Eizouken ni wa Te o Dasu na!) tells the story of Midori Asakusa, who wanted to be an adventurer since she was a child, and then, she watch the complete 1978 anime Future Boy Conan (directed by Hayao Miyazaki, btw!), falling in love with Anime itself, to the point that her dream became to make an anime of her own. There is a problem though: making anime is hard, and she cannot do it by herself.
But then, her chance comes when another student, the famous actress, Tsubame Mizusaki, is transferred to the same school as Midori. Soon both discover their mutual devotion to anime, as Midori likes to draw landscapes, and Tsubame has a sharp eye with character models. And with the help of the money-obsessed Sayaka Kanamori, they have an opportunity to fullfill their dream, with all the passion and effort that will make their journey even more satisfying.
One thing that I want to point out about Eizouken, is that it reminds me a lot of another anime about girls making anime, Shirobako, which I really cherished from beginning to the end, especially since you learn of all the processes and departments involved in the production of a single anime episode; production assistant, animation, accounting, voice acting, foley artist, etc, around five girls who want to create anime. Moreover, because Shirobako is more of a feel-good story.
Here, Eizouken is more about a tale of high school, where very likeable girls put all their 100% to achieve their goals, while Shirobako is centred about how anime studios work too.
By the way, I will be doing a Shirobako Review. I promised.
Anyway. Yearsa fter watching Future boy Conan, Midori gets so passionated about anime, that she sneaks around the crowns to the screening of the anime club of the Shibahama High School. Well, in the middle of one of those screenings, is where Midori and Sayaka meet Tsubame, who is escaping from her bodyguards, for she has been forbidden to join the anime club, and must focus in following the same footsteps of her parents, something that she despises to a fault.
And then, Tsubame spills her strawberry milkshake on her blouse and jacket. There is when Midori takes Tsubame to her «secret place» which is really an old laundry; and after helping Tsubame to wash her clothes, she shows her sketches and her vision of anime.
Finally, with their respective abilities, both Midori and Tsubame create, and in fact, «act» their own sketch that leads the episode to deliver what, I feel, is probably one of the best animated landscapes of the 2020s anime, or at least the first of them. And of course, the rest comes together, they promised to make their own anime, they have the support of Sayaka, and they go on this «adventure» to change her school years.
Or at least, that is how I see it now.
Ok. Based on how I explained it, Eizouken sounds like your typical slice of life anime. But here is the thing. The animation is done by Science Saru, and directed by Masaaki Yuasa.
Do you know which other anime came from these two?
The Tatami Galaxy
And of course… their crowning achievement…
Devilman Crybaby
And does it show!!! The texture, the soft lines, the expressions of the characters, the backgrounds, etc.
And is in this weird simplicity and art that the animators took a lot from freedom in order to create the best moments of these two anime, especially with Devilman Crybaby; that is why all the gory scenes, the censored ones, and all the monsters looked and felt so creepy and unnerving.
Without mentioning the solid story.
And in Eizouken that same quirkiness, feeling of freedom and sweet extravaganza are present too. Trust me. I have not seen, or felt, something similar since I saw the work of Kunihiko Ikuhara (Penguindrum, Sarazanmai, Yurikuma Arashi). I know that is too soon to judge both the quality and relevance of this anime, for it has just released its first episode, especially for this 2020. Nevertheless, for those who cherished Masaaki Yuasa and Devilman Crybaby, he can argue that this is really a worthy alternative, even if it is for watching it once.
Another element that I believe is extremely beautiful of Eizouken is that is a Feel-Good-story, created for the purpose of generating optimism and joy of being alive to the anime fans, or in other words, to let them enjoy the present, that feeling of being part of the world, to relax and being grateful of Life itself, even if it is for a few hours. Carole & Tuesday is another anime created for that purpose.
Also, I am working in a review of Carole & Tuesday, and it will be released soon. Promised.
Personally, I am very happy of watching this anime for all the great potential it has. It can even become of the best anime of the Q1 2020.
The last detail before I wrap up. The opening song, Easy Breezy, performed by chelmico, is so damn good. Honestly!!! Yesterday I spent like one hour looping it. And I want to do that once more.
Like I said, Eizouken ni wa Te o Dasu na! is something you can check out, for better or worse. And you might get a surprise. And a cool way to jet this 2020.
Eizouken ni wa Te o Dasu na! is available at Crunchyroll.
AND REMEMBER… EASY BREEZY!!!!
Jainituos Presents 