Back at it again with the CG anime. Not only is the Sakura Wars anime CG , but it’s also an anime based on a video game, so yeah, that makes sense.
A Brief History
To those unaware, the upcoming Sakura Wars PS4 game is a soft reboot of the original game series, which debuted on the Sega Saturn in 1996. The series has had other adaptations in the past with movies, series, and even anime OVAs.
This case remains the same this time, as a new anime has surfaced, which is to serve as a tie in to the upcoming game. More specifically, this anime serves as a sequel to the unreleased game, which is a bit confusing as it’ll undoubtedly spoil some details or features for the upcoming game. Though it does make a bit of sense as well, since the game had already been released in Japan last year. So for fans who want a fresh experience with the new game, I’d advise avoiding this anime for now.
The synopsis
The Sakura Wars anime takes place in Tokyo in the 1940s. It is centered around the Imperial Combat Revue; a specialized task force aimed at protecting the city from mysterious demons. They do this by utilizing specialized mechas with different abilities. While not protecting the town from demons, they also organize a slew of musical productions in their spare time.
The story of the anime specifically starts off presumably after the events of the game, where Seijuro Kamiyama, the character you’ll play as in the game, encounters a girl named Klara on a mission after the destruction of the Moscow Combat Revue.
As the only survivor, she losses her memories and is being chased by some unknown enemies. Seijuro is then tasked in protecting her and brings her back to the Imperial Combat Revue: Flower Division as a newly appointed apprentice recruit.
A Dull Production
The combat Revue: Flower Division is an all-girl team, so you’ll see the different types of girls, all representing a typical anime trope. Each girl’s personality lacks a bit of depth and all seem a bit too one dimensional. Though fans of the original games or even the OVA anime will feel right at home with these characters.
One blaring issue about the anime I and a lot of others have noticed the most, would be the subpar CG animation that I mentioned earlier. Often times, the characters look stiff and motionless. Their expressions seem dull, and for characters that come off as one-dimensional, the animation doesn’t help this one bit. It’s not all bad, though, as the background and character design seem interesting enough, especially with the steampunk aesthetic that the Kubo Mechas give off. To create a better animation for your own project, check out the 3d animation software on this viddyoze review.
The next issue, albeit not as depressing as the last, would be the fact that the show starts off at a point right in the middle of the story, which could easily confuse newcomers. Fans looking forward to the new game’s release wouldn’t be faulted to think the series would be the same as the game starting off right at the start. Sadly, this isn’t the case.
Aside from that, the writing could be much better because, as I said earlier, the story is filled with clichés, a character that conveniently has amnesia, the main heroine who’s in love with her commanding officer, as well as other clichéd anime tropes, seem to bring the series down.
Final Thoughts
To be fair, though, this is just the first episode. While the central plot and animation will most likely stay the same, the characters and writing could hopefully get some much-needed development. So it’s only a matter of time to see if it changes or stays the same. Right now, though, I’m more excited for the game that’s coming out later this month. Hopefully, it’ll much more exciting than the anime.
Are you a fan of Sakura Wars? Have you seen this anime? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.