by It would only end after one episode.
A surprising number of anime works are broadcast every season, which is great for fans, but it has become difficult to check them all. Therefore, some people may only watch the first episode and decide whether they want to watch it or not.
However, depending on the work, there are many cases where the story becomes interesting around the middle. Among the spring 2024 anime, some works had online reviews that skyrocketed. This is a testament to the influence of social media in shaping the perception and reception of anime series, making viewers feel more involved and part of the discussion.
“Sentai Daishikkaku” The anime “Sentai Daishikkaku” is based on the manga of the same name by Negi Haruba, which is serialized in “Weekly Shonen Magazine.” It depicts the battle between the “Dragon Keeper Sentai (commonly known as the Dai Sentai)” and the evil monster army that plans to invade the ground but is defeated by the Dai Sentai.
The main character, “Sentai D (CV: Yusuke Kobayashi),” belongs to the monster army and has been performing “Sunday Battle” every Sunday for 13 years, battling the Dai Sentai. However, only one year after the first invasion, the Monster Army’s executives were wiped out by the Great Sentai, and the fighters were putting on a farce of desperately thinking about the monsters and responding to them every week. Combatant D, who believes that continuing to have rigged battles with the Great Sentai will not achieve his original goal of world domination, stands up and fights the Great Sentai.
Due to the unique setting in which an agreement always defeats the monsters and heroes, many people commented on social media after the broadcast began that they were not very into it and stopped watching after the first episode.
However, the story takes a sudden turn in the third episode. Combatant D becomes the target of the Great Sentai after stealing the sacred tool of the hero “Red Keeper (CV: Yuichi Nakamura).” Combatant D is then blown up by “Blue Keeper (CV: Tsuyoshi Inoue)” and it seems that he has died. However, in the fourth episode, it is revealed that Sakurama Hibiki (CV: Kajita Daiji), the younger brother of Sakurama Sesara (CV: M.A.O.), the “Pink Keeper” belonging to the Dai Sentai, has been hiding Combatant D. Such deception and trickery began to increase, and in the fifth episode, Combatant D and Hibiki infiltrated the Dai Sentai to end the battle with the Dai Sentai. On social media, there were many shocking developments, such as “I can’t wait for the week,” “Is the identity of the Pink Keeper…for real…?” and “Sakurama Hibiki’s past is sad. Does that mean the Blue Keeper is at least the second generation? It’s a deep work if you underestimate it.” “Sentai Daishikkaku” is broadcast every Sunday on 28 T.B.S. affiliates nationwide.
“HIGHSPEED Etoile” The original T.V. anime “HIGHSPEED Etoile” is about car racing set in Japan. The show incorporates the latest technology, such as A.I. control support, and depicts the battles between drivers competing in the next-generation “NEX Race.”
At the beginning of the series, the races proceeded monotonously, and the heat, intensity, and sense of speed could have been conveyed better. In addition, there was little character depiction or dialogue between the characters and confused voices on social media, such as “Who is the main character after all?” and “The characters are too unimpressive.” However, episodes 5 and 9 have changed the cuts and composition from previous race scenes.
The subtle speed adjustments unique to motorsports and “line taking,” one of the techniques for driving fast, were meticulously depicted. This makes a powerful race so fascinating that it is almost like a different work. Manga artist Kia Asamiya, who has also worked on storyboards for many other works, including Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM, did the storyboards for episodes 5 and 9.
“The storyboard episodes are by Kia Asamiya. It’s amazing how different the storyboards look just by cutting them,” and “It’s clear that the first deciding point of the series was brought to episode 5. It makes sense that Kia Asamiya did the storyboards.” In addition, in episode 9, the main character, Rin Rin (CV: Fuka Izumi), who was doing well in the qualifying rounds for the Shanghai night race, retires from the start of the primary race because her car won’t move.
Although the main character was absent from the race, comments such as “It was an enjoyable race even though the main character was absent” were made, as the character portrayal has increased since episode 6. The reviews have changed on social media, with some saying, “I like the realism of not always winning” and “The quality has skyrocketed with Asamiya’s participation.” “HIGHSPEED Etoile” is broadcast every Friday on 27 stations, including T.B.S. and M.B.S.
