When I first started seeing simulcast updates for new Summer anime, nothing really struck my attention like, “oh man, I need to see that.” Summer seemed like it was going to be a lot of pretty standard shoujo/fantasy/idol stuff that usually comes out in the Summer. Don’t get me wrong, I love shoujo and fantasy (sorry Idol fans, not my thing), but nothing sounded new or genuinely interesting. And then these three shows dropped.
Dr. Stone
Dr. Stone (Dokutā Sutōn) is a manga series written by Riichiro Inagaki and illustrated by Boichi. It has been adapted into an anime series directed by Shinya Iino and written by Yuichiro Kido.
There are two main protagonists of Dr. Stone. The first we meet is Taiju Ōki, a regular high school student, though a little dim-witted, he makes up for it with his physical strength and kind heart. The second is Taiju’s best friend (and probably slightly more main protagonist-y), Senku Ishigami, a genius who boarders on mad scientist. One day, Taiju finally works up the courage to tell Yuzuriha, whom he’s been in love with for five years, how he feels. It’s sadly on this day that a bright light suddenly appears in the middle of his confession and the entire human population is almost instantly turned to stone.
Despite the years that go by, Taiju manages to keep his consciousness and keeps fighting to break free. Finally, his stone breaks, and upon awakening his finds Senku, who also managed to escape his stone prison just 6 months prior. He also finds that over 3000 years have gone by, and the date is now October 5th, 5738. Which Senku knows for certain because he counted. Again, genius. Despite the petrification of humanity and the utter degradation of civilization as we knew it, Senku decides to rebuild civilization and save everyone still living in stone using his knowledge of science. He will “beat fantasy with science” so that humanity may “sprint back to the top”.
With Taiju’s brawn, Senku is able to quickly make utilities and even succeeds in creating a serum to awaken those trapped in stone. However, due to being chased by lions, the first person Senku and Taiju must wake up is Tsukasa Shisho, “The Strongest Primate High Schooler”, who does indeed save them from the lions, but Tsukasa’s ideas for rebuilding civilization greatly differ from Senku’s. Tsukasa wants to revive only “pure-hearted young people” while Senku seeks to save everyone without discrimination. So the first rivalry of the new world begins: Senku’s Kingdom of Science and Tsukasa’s Empire of Might.
The first time I saw Senku’s hair I thought, “This is going to be campy like Yu-Gi-Oh”. Seriously, just look at that anime protagonist hair. It’s so over the top. It’s kind of hard to get over how ridiculous it is, but ultimately Senku’s character and the show balance it out. Plus it gets cut off screen a lot. Anyway, outside of Senku’s absurd appearance, the show is awesome. As they begin to make things like alcohol (of course), chalk, and soap, the show takes time to explain the basics of how these things are made and how they can easily make it themselves despite having no technology. I love shows that are both entertaining AND informative.
Fire Force
Fire Force (En’en no Shōbōtai) is a shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Atsushi Ōkubo with the anime series adaptation directed by Yuki Yase and written by Yamato Haishima.
A new era began for the world following a strange phenomenon. Suddenly, spontaneous human combustion began to occur and random human beings were turned into living infernos, dubbed “Infernals” (Homura Bito). In year 198 of what is now the Solar Era in Tokyo, special fire taskforces have been created to fight cases of Infernals. While the Infernals are first generation cases of spontaneous human combustion, some later human generations have adapted and possess the ability to manipulate flames while retaining human form. Shinra Kusakabe, is a third generation pyrotechnic youth, meaning he can summon and control his own flames (which come from his feet) at will. His ability gained the nickname “Devil’s Footprints” due to it coming from his feet, but also because he was blamed for a mysterious fire that killed his mother and baby brother 12 years earlier.
Shinra gets assigned to Special Fire Force Company 8, which is comprised of two second generation flame users, Takehisa and Maki, a non-powered medic/nun, Iris, another third generation, Arthur, and their non-powered (but incredibly strong) Captain, Akitaru. As Special Fire Force Company 8 works to extinguish Infernals, they begin to notice something strange about these “spontaneous” combustions. Soon, they discover there is a faction actually creating Infernals and this group might have answers as to what really caused the fire that killed Shinra’s family.
Fire Force is a really interesting take on firefighters. I mean, it’s already an intense and dangerous job, and somehow Atsushi Ōkubo made it even more so. I’ll be honest, at first, I thought Shinra’s fire feet ability was going to be really lame, but the plot sounded cool enough so I figured I’d give it a shot. You won’t be disappointed. Shinra’s abilities go so much more beyond fire coming from his feet. And it’s not little fire either. It’s like, A LOT of fire, that he uses to increase his speed and jumping, he even developed his own fighting style around its use.
To The Abandoned Sacred Beasts
To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts (Katsute Kami Datta Kemono-tachi e) is a dark fantasy manga series written and illustrated by Maybe. The anime adaptation is directed by Jun Shishido and written by Shigeru Murakoshi.
100 years ago, settlers ventured to a new the continent of Patria. Patria was swiftly established into a democratic nation and everything was totally fine. Until an energy source they called, “Somnium ore” was discovered. Somnium ore ignited a conflict between the industrial Northern Union and the Southern Confederation mining towns (sounds awfully familiar, Maybe) and Patria was thrust into civil war.
The South had vast numbers and were backing the North into a corner, that is, until the North unleashed a secret weapon: Incarnates, which were created by Doctor Elaine Bluelake. Incarnates were genetically altered human soldiers with the ability to transform into giant mythical beasts. The Incarnates were a small group, but their power enabled them to destroy entire enemy strongholds. Finally, a peace treaty was negotiated, but the terms of the treaty involved the destruction of the Incarnates, who had slowly begun to lose their humanity and turn into the beasts whose forms they took.
However, Vice-Captain Cain Madhouse (what a name) had other plans. Rather than be killed, Cain shot Elaine and left her and his Captain, Hank Henriette, for dead, fleeing with the surviving Incarnates across the continent. Despite what should have been a fatal wound, Hank survived. Hank now has a mission, a promise he made to the Incarnates, those who were his team and his friends, that should they lose themselves and become beasts, they will be killed by their own. Hank isn’t alone though. A young woman named Nancy Schaal Bancroft – daughter of John William Bancroft, who was an Incarnate – decides to travel with him to hunt down the beasts. Initially, it is because she hates Hank for killing her father but slowly, she begins to understand why Hank needs to do this and why his has to kill those who were once his dear comrades.
This show only has a couple episodes out and it already put me through a whirlwind of emotions. The first episode alone was a rollercoaster and a half. Hank is an Incarnate and these beasts are still (partially, at least) the people he once fought beside, yet he has to kill them. Because they all ran away and are now wreaking havoc across Patria as they become more beastial, Hank is the only one left who can fulfill their oath and give Patria true peace. It’s so sad. The fights are so cool but at the same time you feel terrible for Hank
