It’s been a while since we had a Edo related anime, but Amatsuki is more than that. Being part of the list of mangas that I faithful read, the anime adaptation of Amatsuki was eagerly expected by me. Between the mix of sci-fi, slice of life, Edo time, yokai and psychological genre, what’s the final score for this first episode?

Episode summary

In class, a boy named Tokidoki wonders about an alternate world and the current world, as he sees a blond figure walking out of school. Due to his poor grades, Toki is required to do a report on a theme park about the Edo era. Through the special googles, he can see CG images of the Edo era. Kon, the blond student, is here as well and informs Toki that his kimono is worn wrongly. Toki is surprised how Kon knows so much about kimonos, and asks Kon to walk with him since they both did badly. Kon says that he is here as a punishment due to attendance. Toki proudly proclaims he scores 5 points in the exam.

Toki begs Kon for help in his report, and asks about a bright spot on the ceiling. Kon answers that it is the position of the sun. Toki also wonders about danger with samurais, but Kon says samurais are not dangerous as they have a ethic code. During the Edo era, diseases, fire and natural disasters are more scary. There are also monsters and gods that people fear. Toki says that such things do not exist, but Kon says that no one cannot be sure of things you cannot see.

Just when Toki wants to ask more, Kon disappears. Toki tries to ask for directions from an old man, but it’s just a CG. An actor informs him to use the ceiling to find his direction. He reaches a bridge, but meets a miniature man on a monster at the center of the bridge. He thinks that it is just an “event” but the lion-like monster attacks him. He is nearly killed, only for a katana-wielding girl to save him. He realizes that he is somehow not in the virtual world, as the bridge crumbles. He faints while drowning in the water

Toki dreams about the same miniature man asking him about virtual and reality, and adds that the five senses are merely transmitted by weak brain waves that are controlled by the frail brain. When he wakes up, he finds himself lying in a room. He is told that he is now in the Edo era by Kon. Toki is surprised about the hair change of Kon. Kon says that to Toki, their meeting happens recently, but Kon is here for already two years. As an old female doctor comes in, he realizes that his left eye has lost its sight. He is told by the female doctor to find a monk for help.

Toki does not seem to be too troubled, considering this to be a vacation. Kon says that his right hand is taken away by the same monster that assaulted Toki. Kon adds that he only recovers after one month, and gets training from the old lady. Kon reminds him about the 250 years of peace in the Edo era until the foreigners came in with guns blazing. He says the current situation is similar to the history books, except for the existence of monsters. Kon takes one of the monster leeching on someone’s box and explains.

It seems that the monster is someone’s tool for a living. The man attacks Kon, only to be downed easily. Kuchiha then attacks him from behind, stomping on him while apologizing to the man. Kuchiha brings Toki along, and realizes that Toki is different. However, she seems to take offence at Toki’s almost non-chalant and happy-go-lucky attitude toward life. She adds that even though she is annoyed at Kon’s antics, Toki’s attitude angers her. Kon explains that he hit her weak spot, and warns Toki not to ask further about the darkness in Kuchiha’s heart. Toki, in his mind, realizes the challenges to conform and fit in this place.

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Audio

The OP is “Casting Dice” by Yuuki Kanno, a very light song adequate for the kind of anime this is. The soundtrack during the anime relies on piano and violin arrangements and as far as I can tell, there isn’t character songs yet. But Amatsuki has his strenght in another place: the seiyuus. Just mentioning the main characters , we have Jun Fukuyama (Lelouc in Code Geass, Watanuki in xxxHOLiC) voicing Toki, Koji Yusa (Ichimaru Gin in Bleach) voicing Kon Shinonome and Romi Paku (Edward Elric in Full Metal Alchemist) doing Kuchiha. I’m specially surprised with Paku’s perfomance, since I’m more used to her perfomances as male characters; Paku’s delivers the needed touch of toughness that Kuchiha conveys.

Animation

I don’t have many complaints on this matter: Amatsuki is inside the normal standards of quality these days, although the color palette seems to be a bit too pale for my taste, giving it a older style look (or maybe my Raw quality just plain sucks…). the conversion from manga to anime was well made and they’ve kept some of the manga unique style details in it, so anyone who’ve read the manga will recognize it instantly.

The oddest thing is the OP animation: while it isn’t something we could call bad, the scene sequence is a bit too forced for my taste. I would have appreciated something with more character individual focus and less of an attempt of a summary of the anime.

Vibe

I am extremely biased about Amatsuki, since I’ve read it since the release of chapter 1, but even with that handicap, I think I can say this first episode will convert alot of folks who thought this was “just another Edo anime”. The first ep looks like a modern version of Fushigi Yuugi, but that only is true for the premisse. The unusual elements like the slight inclusion of futuristic technology and yokais makes a nice clash between the past and the future.

Final thoughts

The first episode already raises several questions which will be the focus of Amatsuki main plot. How Toki and Kon were translocated from a virtual reality Edo to the real past? Why there is a 2 year discrepancy between Kon and Toki’s arrival? What is the role of the Nue and why did he stole “parts” of their bodies? It will be interesting to see if they will keep with the manga plot (which means there will be a second season) or if they will try to answer these questions and many more in the 13 episodes this anime will last. Either way, I’m excited by the overall good performance of episode one.

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