By Matthew Moorcroft

Strong Recommendation

NOTE: This review contains spoilers for the first episode of Zenshu whose premise has been mostly left out of marketing material. Please proceed with caution.

Zenshu immediately starts off with a bait and switch the likes we haven’t seen in a while for this kind of show. I have a soft spot for anime that like to pull the rug out from underneath it’s audience – School-Live!‘s first episode is still one of the all time great “holy shit” reveals – but there is a tendency to use that as a crutch to get early attention and eyeballs without actually using it in an interesting way. All of Zenshu’s marketing focused on it being about a female animation director who was struggling in her next project, and all signs pointed this to be a dramedy about the trials and tribulations of the anime industry through the perspective of somebody on the verge of a breakdown. Honestly, that alone would be a great show in of itself, but once our protagonist, Natsuko Hirose (a name she is sure to remind you of consistently), falls to the ground at work seemingly out of a mix of overwork and food poisoning, the rug is pulled out and it becomes clear as day what Zenshu really is.

I’m sure there will be some people rolling their eyes at the revelation that Zenshu is yet another isekai in the glut of isekai anime we’ve gotten over the years. And it comes at a crossroads for the genre too, a time where it’s clear that we’ve reached an over saturation point and every show now needs to clear the somehow impossible hurdle of being “passable” to even be worth taking a look at. As such, I don’t blame people either for probably hopping off of the train early, especially if they were, like me, expecting a show more similar to the likes of the wonderful Shirobako in terms of it’s content.

But as the episode goes on, and it becomes more obvious what the show is actually trying to say, Zenshu reveals itself to be a wonderfully unique, fresh take on the isekai genre that’s far and away one of MAPPA’s most compelling originals in a very long time. This isn’t just an isekai about getting thrust into a world beyond your greatest comprehension, this is about what happens when you literally get lost in something created; Natsuko finds herself engulfed in her favourite anime series, in the middle of a creative rut. But unlike in real life, where it would simply be finding a show you enjoy and using it as a way to escape the mundane nature of real life, it’s literalized as a brand new home, a new life.

Mitsue Yamazaki brings her unique sense of humor from Monthly Girls Nozaki-kun over to this as well, meaning Zenshu also has it’s tongue firmly placed in cheek. While it’s clear there will likely be more emotionally charged stuff coming later – especially since the show that Natsuko is transported into is one of a dark, gritty fantasy – Yamazaki’s direction allows for Natsuko to come alive despite almost being covered in hair for a good chunk of this premiere. She’s expressive as hell, constantly moving and bouncing around, and Anna Nagase’s fantastic vocal performance (as well as Madeleine Morris’ equally great turn in the English side of things) helps sell the attitude of an animator who knows they are hot shit while keeping them somewhat likable in spite of their flaws.

It’s really the final sequence here that’s a highlight though. On the surface level, this is just really great animation and boarding, with impressive effects work and some stellar cinematography that feels both intimate while also grand in scale. The decision to render Natsuko’s creation in pencil is fantastic as well, giving it an instantly memorable look while also aiding it’s themes of inspiration, creation, and the power of stories. Yes, it’s ultimately an elongated Nausicaa reference but it also serves to continue to serve just what the actual story seems to be about. Her imagination serves to finally give some actual change to the story, reshaping it in her own image, and it’s likely the rest of the show will build on the consequences of that in interesting, dynamic ways.

While there is definitely something to be said about MAPPA making a story like this – possibly bad taste? – I found Zenshu’s first episode to be a strong, highly entertaining entry into a genre that I normally tend to avoid. Definitely worth a look for anybody wanting a strong new original series this season.

Zenshu is currently airing on Crunchyroll every Sunday.