Even at the best of times, I’ve never fared too well with batch-released anime – and this is hardly the best of times. I have something major imminent, something which will be a big change in every aspect of my life (including how I run this site). So not one but three Netflix shows dropping this season? That’s a problem. I think it’s only Red Data Girl (which this show reminds me of, oddly) and ReLIFE that I ever managed to finish when it comes to batch anime, and I’m not even all that nuts for binge watching non-anime TV – hell, I still haven’t finished Stranger Things Season 2. I’m old-fashioned I suppose, and current circumstances make it even worse.
Now that said, all three Netflix releases are certainly more interesting that the average anime these days, even if none of them have managed to enrapture me in their early episodes. I’ve only managed to fit in one ep of A.I.C.O.: Incarnation but it seems at least a partial departure from the Netflix model of ultra-violent, hipster-cool thrillers. We’re working with Bones here instead of Production I.G., and there can be no mistaking the difference – and on some level I find it reassuring that this is the case despite Netflix’ involvement. No matter who buys the bentos and beer, I like a Bones series to feel like a Bones series and an I.G. one to feel like an I.G. one.
Based on the premiere, A.I.C.O. comes off as kind of a classic Bones sci-fi – much more earnest and less ironic than Netflix’ other two new series. A mysterious dark boy, a wholesome girl caught up in something she doesn’t understand, a post-disaster setting, a government conspiracy – all of the Bones genes seem to be present. All it’s really missing is the giant mecha (and that could still show up, who knows). A.I.C.O. doesn’t strike me as a particularly outstanding example of the Bones sci-fi model so far, either in terms of writing or production quality, but there’s a reassuring familiarity to it that I quite like.
As far as the giant red slime and the “Burst” and the gated town and all the little details, I’ll withhold judgment and give the show an “Incomplete” so far. It flows pretty well, and the pacing is quite good. I must confess I’m not crazy about Shiraishi Haruka’s breathy, cutesy performance as the female lead Aiko (which worries me just a bit as she’s also the female lead in Golden Kamuy), but apart from that I have no major complaints. The staff is pretty much the Suisei no Gargantia crew, which one can take however one wishes – for me that show started off rather brilliantly but kind of fizzled. We’ll see what happens here.
As for me, I can’t commit to exactly what I plan to do with any of Devilman Crybaby, B: The Beginning or A.I.C.O.: Incarnation. At various stopping points I like all three series but don’t love any of them (all for different reasons), and even in a normal season I don’t know how the heck I’d decide which ones I was going to finish watching first (and whether or not I’d blog them). At the moment all bets are off schedule-wise, but I’m certainly going to try and give this show at least a 2-3 episode audition in the next week or two before I start making any decisions.
Mayuf
March 15, 2018 at 7:40 amThanks
Felix
March 15, 2018 at 9:33 amAre you going back to the US.?
Guardian Enzo
March 15, 2018 at 10:00 amI’ve been here for about three years, actually – in California.
But you’re warm…
Felix
March 15, 2018 at 11:39 amI see didnt know you were back in US. I hope the next changes, are in your best interest. Im not a regular poster, but i do follow your page and posts, occasionally.
Haak
March 15, 2018 at 11:37 amI’m glad you’re watching this show, because throughout the series I couldn’t help but feel like the storytelling bore some passing resemblance to Eureka Seven AO (same director). What with you and me being the only two people in the universe who didn’t hate that show, I couldn’t help but think A.I.C.O is a show you might appreciate during my watch. I’ve already finished it. I hope you do too. XP
Guardian Enzo
March 15, 2018 at 12:09 pmI will eventually, I think. But if I tried to binge it it’d be AICO AICO all day, and I just don’t have time for that.
Not only did I not hate AO I kinda loved it. But I don’t think Kazuya Murata was involved with it, was he?
Dop
March 16, 2018 at 12:58 am“… AICO AICO all day…”
NOW I have an earworm.
On topic, have to admit this show hasn’t gelled with me at all. Might give it a few more episodes when I’ve nothing else to do.
Guardian Enzo
March 16, 2018 at 7:09 amFinally, some love for that beautiful pun.
Haak
March 15, 2018 at 12:57 pmErrrrrrrrrr….forget what I said….
sonicsenryaku
March 15, 2018 at 7:48 pm*An initial impressions of the show i had wrote on RandomC after binge-watching the entire series*
“So i watched all 12 eps aico incarnation and iiiiiiiitsssssss good…just good. I expected it to be a bit a better, but considering that the man behind series comp. did comet lucifer, I’m glad I had faith that it would be decent and not end up a train wreck. One thing that immediately jumped out at me is how “western” the storytelling felt. But not just that, the show also felt like a film (to its benefit and detriment). I could literally feel the three act structure within these 12 episodes as i binged the whole thing and i wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if this was originally meant be a film. Unfortunately the characters other than Aiko are one/two dimensional, the world building is lacking (though in retrospect, it wasn’t all that important to the plot), the setting/framework of the series feels a bit underdeveloped, and the dialogue feels stilted at times; but once the show finds its momentum (around ep 3) it chugs along with throwing it’s surreal sci-fi premise and takes you for a fairly entertaining ride from beginning to end.
As i mentioned before, it’s a shame that Aiko is the only character that feels…well….like a character, but at least the other characters never feel like they’re an offensive waste of time. Yuya is kind of alright and the show tries to have Kaede have a character arc that ends up having a small endearing moment towards the end so that’s nice. The visuals always impressive when it comes to animating the matter and I love the sense of momentum characters have when they’re running. Running animations are usually cheap-looking in anime, usually only showing the upper-half of a character’s body, so it’s good to see a show that knows how to convey the riveting motion of running. Again, this feels like it was meant to be a film and I’m of the opinion that this story might have been better told as a 2hr and 30 min sci-fi film with compelling characters and better exploration of its themes. Speaking of themes, AICO touches on them, but it plays them relatively safe; and that’s ultimately the best way to describe this show: it’s a safe sci-fi action adventure with a cool premise but its dull character work, underdeveloped setting and science, and a slightly deus ex machina ending prevent it from greatness, which sucks cuz this series could have been really great. It’s good though and i think people should still watch it. This feels like it was designed to be binged and there’s no other way i’d watch this. I’m glad this got all 12 eps released right away and I can’t wait for netflix to continue dropping more anime to binge watch right away. AICO incarnation gets a 6/10.
P.S. People act like you still can’t have deep discussion about shows even if you binge watch em; you can. Sure there’s the pros of watching a show weekly and i don’t think it’s an inherently poor way to watch something, but i think the binge-watching method has a bit more merit as a way to consume and get the best out of the media you watch.
sonicsenryaku
March 15, 2018 at 7:51 pm“I must confess I’m not crazy about Shiraishi Haruka’s breathy, cutesy performance as the female lead Aiko” Haha you noticed that too?! i kept saying in my head every time she spoke, “girl catch your breath; the show ain’t going anywhere”
Guardian Enzo
March 15, 2018 at 8:53 pmYeah, that… Just did not work for me. Not good.
Matti
March 15, 2018 at 7:51 pmNow that I think about it, I think I actually preferred my anime viewing back when I marathoned/binged whole series’ over weekends. That was a long time ago though, so can’t really tell if it was the actual anime quality or just my state of mind at the time. What I can say without much hesitation is that I probably would never have watched the entirety of the recent Devilman and B: The Beginning if they’d been weekly… well, maybe Devilman (which doesn’t even rate that highly on my Yuasa meter), but definitely not B.
As for AICO – dropped it after a couple of eps. Just not my thing. Might have actually turned out good, but something about me just can’t stand highschool students in serious anime these days. Gag/4-panel manga adaptations are another story (I enjoy some of em), but if its about saving the world or living their whiny “seishun” lives to the fullest… well, let’s just say I’d rather spend the time on something less fatiguing, like stabbing my face.
Ronbb
March 15, 2018 at 9:32 pmI hope your upcoming change brings you joy!
Guardian Enzo
March 15, 2018 at 9:36 pmhttp://bestlifeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Screen-Shot-2017-08-21-at-11.53.57-AM.jpg
sonicsenryaku
March 15, 2018 at 11:52 pmDoes that mean things are looking up in your life? Only well adjusted people get to eat steak on the regular my friend XD
Guardian Enzo
March 16, 2018 at 7:05 amhttps://nationalpostcom.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/catv104-jordan-straussinvisionap.jpg
Ronbb
March 17, 2018 at 8:48 amAm intrigued…can’t wait for the big “unveiling” of the change…!
Guardian Enzo
March 17, 2018 at 10:14 amhttps://twitter.com/GuardianEnzo/status/975053640321843201
elianthos
March 16, 2018 at 3:51 am@Enzo: that’s a spoiler! My fellow LiA minions: that’s a clue! And a cruel tease to all those starving for steak XD
Ronbb
March 17, 2018 at 10:29 amOMG…am guessing this will be another big adventure…!
Ronbb
March 17, 2018 at 10:30 amOmg…this will be another big adventure…!
Guardian Enzo
March 18, 2018 at 1:21 amIt already is!
Ronbb
March 18, 2018 at 5:47 pmOh wow…so it’s not a will be but already is…guess that we will just have to wait when you officially announce your plan :). Intrigued and excited at the same time :).
GC
March 16, 2018 at 9:01 pmB turned out to be pretty damn interesting.
sonicsenryaku
March 18, 2018 at 12:29 pmI know this is mad random but didn’t i tell you enzo? I told you that the second season of Mob psycho 100 would get announced sooner than we’d think: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-03-18/mob-psycho-100-anime-gets-2nd-season/.129141