Anime/Manga Reviews

[Ganyu]

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar Review

Why are we here? Why are we doing this?

Before Haruhiro had realized what happened, he was surrounded by darkness. Why was he here? Where was here? Even now, he still didn't know. Those around him were the same as him, no one remembered anything other than their own names. And when they emerged from the darkness, the world that awaited them seemed like something out of a video game.

In order to survive, Haruhiro forms a party with the others, learns fighting skills, and as a soldier in the reserve force, takes his first steps into the world of Grimgar. What awaits him there, he doesn't know...

This the story of an adventure born from the ashes.

Type: TV
Episodes: Unknown
Status: Not yet aired
Aired: Jan 11, 2016 to ?
Premiered: Winter 2016
Broadcast: Mondays at 00:30 (JST)
Producers: Toho Company
Licensors: FUNimation Entertainment
Studios: A-1 Pictures
Source: Light novel
Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Duration: Unknown
Rating: None

This winter, A-1 Pictures' ERASED took center stage, but Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash is a stellar show that deserves as much attention as its cinematic mystery brother.

Unlike its video game predecessors – Sword Art Online, No Game No Life, Is It Wrong To Pick Up Girls in A Dungeon? – Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash handles the video game world concept with such delicate execution that I immediately fell in love from the very beginning. The narrative style is unique from the typical action fantasy in the sense that the plot lacks conflict – what is in Japanese literature known as kishotenketsu. The storyline is instead driven by the characters and their personal interactions with the world and as a group of adventurers who just want to survive in the world of Grimgar, having lost all memories of the human world. Death is prominent in this series as a major theme, and the anime delivered pathos perfectly, through a cathartic arc that segues into revelation and consolidation. Despite the fantasy RPG world setting, realism was abundant even in the minute details. From following the characters in purchasing items (this is also where financial management comes in, something many shows gloss over) and doing their laundry (because not having clean underwear would definitely affect any adventurer no matter how much strength or magic you have), to watching them individually learn new skills over a period of time (and not leveling up in a blink of an eye), as well as witnessing them realize that it's kill or be killed. Even the goblins they face have their own attributes of a functioning society, instead of being mindless spawns, they have their own reason to survive and live a normal life. Such rawness adds a depth to each action scene, and a greater level of danger and suspense, for every insignificant thing our characters do, has implications.

The visuals were so lush and breathtaking that every moment was emotive and captivating, complementing the overall ambience that the writing successfully achieved. Some might also appreciate how exposition is nicely established, in a manner that Log Horizon tried to do but Grimgar managed that better, slipping in only important drips of game information when it mattered, i.e. strategizing for a team fight, highlighting a character's development, etc. At the end of it all, Grimgar is simply a tale of strangers who learn acceptance, tolerance, and about breaking down walls, and discovering the power of bonds that last. It's not a heroic story even though each character is a hero in their own aspect, nor does it set out to paint an epic high fantasy with all the glamour and glory of war and flashy fights. It's a looking-glass into human nature, where the antagonist is not Nature or any external force, but of Man himself. Such brand of uniqueness is refreshing to a scene where shōnen action runs rampant. This show is not for everyone. Some may find it slow. Some might mistake it to be a slice-of-life anime with fantasy game elements shoehorned into it. But they all miss the true essence of it. It's poetry in motion; it's a genuine adventure of the heart, soul and mind. It's Life captured, and meant to be slowly savoured like good wine that has aged.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆