Whatever else one may think of it, it’s pretty clear to me that Tenrou: Sirius the Jaeger (another casualty of Netflix Japan this season) is the most impressive premiere of the season so far in terms of visuals. That’s hardly surprising given that it’s a P.A. Works series directed by Andou Masahiro. Andou is one of the most talented directors in the business, thriving in both theatrical and TV anime, and while he can deliver intimate and richly detailed, his calling card is grand spectacle. Andou has done most of his work at Bones, of course, and the absolutely crackerjack team he’s assembled for Sirius the Jaeger is heavy with Bones veterans, but it’s interesting to see their work through the quite distinctive P.A. Works aesthetic lens.
The question with this show was always going to be the story, given that it was an original series with no writer officially attached to it until recently. That turns out to be Koyanagi Keigo, which doesn’t clarify things much really, given his patchy track record. I’m not sure whether the series will hold up in that respect or not – returns from the premiere are fairly positive, but certainly not definitive. But damn, Sirius the Jaeger sure is pretty to look at – both when it’s moving and when it’s standing still.
The setting is a beautifully rendered Tokyo (though it starts off in Shanghai, briefly) sometime between the two world wars. It looks like we have a fairly traditional vampire hunter story here, with the caveat that at least one of the hunters seems to be a werewolf (“seems” may be understating the case a bit, given the sledgehammer-subtle clues – including the title). The hunters are a band of “jaegers” who travel under the alias of “V Shipping Company”, tracking a band of vamps under the leadership of a fellow called Kershner (Koyasu Takehito). That hunt leads them to Tokyo, where Kershner’s band seems to have taken up residence and set about convincing the police that their killings are the work of an escaped serial killer (who they’ve broken out of prison themselves and probably killed and eaten).
Honestly, nobody really made that much of an impression on me character-wise in the premiere – all of the merry band in V are pretty archetypal, including the hothead werewolf Yuri (Uemura Yuuto), who may be of Japanese descent. But it wasn’t a huge problem because the eye candy was really, really good. The backgrounds are P.A. gorgeous, and Andou-sensei delivers both knockout action sequences and epic cinematography as well as ever (i.e., brilliantly). Tenrou: Sirius the Jaeger is overflowing with style and, seemingly, budget – and that makes for a powerful combination.
The question, of course, is whether the writing is going to be good enough to carry the show once the novelty of its impressive visuals passes. And truthfully there’s just absolutely no way to know yet. There are no warning signs to speak of – the narrative in the premiere was fine, if not especially distinctive. And the story isn’t going to have to be Hamlet or anything if the art and animation continue to be this good – just competent. If I was a betting man I’d take the middle ground and say Tenrou: Sirius the Jaeger is most likely to be an entertaining if not especially profound period horror series, but ask me again after next week and whatever answer I give, I’ll probably feel a bit more confident in it.
Deluxe
July 15, 2018 at 8:51 amI wasn’t really feeling it with this premiere. There has been plenty of vampire anime over the years and this one doesn’t seem to bring anything new to the table. Visuals are indeed nice but I’ve never been a Bones fan so the style doesn’t get me as much anyway.
Also I don’t see the point of locating your story in 1930s Japan if your team of main characters look and behave exacly like any other team of main characters from any average contemporary shounen manga.
Yann
July 15, 2018 at 9:49 amWhat do you mean by “casualty of Netflix Japan”?
Guardian Enzo
July 15, 2018 at 9:53 amNo streaming, late subbing.
Yann
July 15, 2018 at 10:11 amJust realized after posting this comment… Back to the good ol’ days of fansubs I guess. Except the groups are probably all gone now. Time to brush up those Japanese skills! 😉
elianthos
July 15, 2018 at 9:54 am@Yann: similarly to Hi Score Girl unless wild fansubbers appear the streaming and tl will be available next season in the West…
elianthos
July 15, 2018 at 9:49 amWell the setting and promise of period visuals were my main hook in this among and since the season drought preview posts and this episode delivered on such fronts. That said right now I can’t recall a single anime series by PA Works that I really truly liked beyond the visuals in general and the plot+characters are not really vibing with me in particular so far. We’ll see if there is enough good bones in this to make me bite to the end.
Guardian Enzo
July 15, 2018 at 9:52 amNot even Uchouten Kazoku?
elianthos
July 15, 2018 at 9:55 amOne exception was found :,D.
Matti
July 15, 2018 at 5:27 pmI thought UK was good, but couldn’t bring myself to truly like it.
I blame a certain cunt goddess.
elianthos80
July 17, 2018 at 6:56 amIf I may… I am (still) rather perplexed by the ‘burn the witch’ attitude towards her when Uchouten had other characters responsible for rather nasty and/or as fatal things (namely Soun, his amusing but obtusely and wannabe homicidal vicious twin sons and tengu-sensei – who I might remind you kidnapped a minor and groomed said minot most likely just not in the successor sense if his later behaviour on screen towards her is any indication – ).
Holy cow no one has to like her but just tone the hate down and the strong language too maybe, please? Last time I checked the c-word is possibly the worst slur – and hurled towards a female character to boot here – in the English vocabulary
outside of maybe the realm of erotica I guess. It’s like the N-word of misoginy. Just… nope.Matti
July 17, 2018 at 10:59 amYou’ve never been to England, I assume?
Guardian Enzo
July 17, 2018 at 2:26 pmYeah, worth pointing out that it’s only in American English that the C word is a terrible insult. In British/Australian English it’s much more of a casual jab.
As for Benten, I certainly dislike her myself – not as a character, but as a person. But in the context of the narrative, she works for me.
elianthos80
July 17, 2018 at 11:13 amNot recently I admit and I was living in Sussex :D. Feel free to enlighten then.