’Zenshu’ premiere review: “First Stroke”

Zenshu, an original series from MAPPA, puts a bit of a toxic work environment elephant in the room. To be blunt, there’s some deep, dark irony about the studio that chronically overworks its employees to the point of mass walkouts and NDAs making a show about a manga artist who collapses from exhaustion in the opening moments. If you can get over that perturbing note, well, there are certain aspects of the series worth celebrating. 

Directed by Mitsue Yamazaki and written by Kimiko Ueno, Zenshu immediately looks excellent. From the walled cubicles of the office space to the magical worlds we’re later transported to, there’s palpable movement in each frame. However, beyond the general ickiness built into the narrative due to real-world context, one other major holdup could stop people from being interested. 

Zenshu is a sneaky isekai. 

Well, sneaky to those of us (me) who didn’t read the official synopsis before hitting play. But while some isekai transcend genre preferences (Solo Leveling), more often than not, you have to be a fan of the genre to want to jump into a new series with such a descriptor. I’m not sure that Zenshu will have that crossover appeal unless people watch anything that MAPPA puts out. Though based on a lack of acclaim for series such as Bucchigiri?! and Oblivion Battery, I’m not sure that’s the case.

What is Zenshu about?

Natsuko Hirose (Anna Nagase) is a professional animator who, due to her first anime being a hit, is able to direct a new animated series. However, due to her introverted personality (hence the hair covering her face) and her disinterest in the series romantic-comedy genre, she’s struggling during its production. This is immediately evident as her co-workers try reaching out to her for help after edits, only for Hirose to take back the work to do it herself. 

But instead of simply focusing on the intensive labor of the anime industry (probably for the best), Zenshu takes a harsh pivot into Isekai. Hirose collapses of exhaustion and wakes up in the world of her favorite childhood anime series. It’s there that she can utilize her artistry, as a new power allows her to alter the storyline of the shocking cruelty of this anime’s worlds. 

Initial thoughts.

There’s a charm to this concept, at least on the surface. Hirose’s power and love for her favorite anime all explode as she faces a foe attacking her favorite characters. For most of the episode, her face is hidden by her dark hair, a visual reminder of her forced solitude. However, when the light comes forth in the form of her creations, her hair flies back, finally illuminating her face. It’s a precise moment of reckoning as she remembers why she got into this medium in the first place. 

However, once she dies so too does the momentum, even as we’re thrust into a more action-packed world. This goes beyond personal preference. The fantasy land she ends up in is stark and fails to engage even as the story introduces numerous characters and their ongoing plotlines. It’s too much all at once and, as a result, becomes tedious. 

There are interesting threads and characters, no doubt, but the hook of the storyline lacks immediacy. The animation is strong, and the closing moments, in particular, are evocative as the scale of the world heightens. There’s tangible catharsis when Hirose realizes she must draw to save the world as the scenery around her ignites with color and light. Similarly the original character designs by Yoshiteru Tsujino adapted by Kayoko Ishikawa are strong and eclectic. It isn’t the animation that cuts us loose, but the writing and oddly stilted momentum. 

Continue or quit. 

Zenshu Episode 1 mainly acts as set up. Here is our lead character, her new scenario, and her overarching mission for the ensuing series. So it’s hard to glean the series’ true quality when so much is just table setting. But while I’d typically argue the rule of always giving an anime two to three episodes to find its footing and see if it’s for you, the general concept will be the deciding factor here since, visually, it looks great. 

And buried into the rushed world building there’s something relatable about the idea of getting the chance to create better, happier endings for your favorite characters. After watching too many of our favorite characters suffer cruel or boring fates, who wouldn’t love wielding such a power?

But it’s only a spark of interest. I’ll check out Episode 2 since some animation is breathtaking. But it will need to work to maintain focus. 

Zenshu Episode 1 premieres January 5th on Crunchyroll, with new episodes every Sunday. 

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