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RE:Creators is a show I want to like, I want to see a good original anime, where the strengths of the medium can be fully exploited. There is an overwhelming saturation of adaptations of VN's, LN's and Manga. Many adaptations are good, however even the best cannot fully capture the breadth of the above mediums. It is unfortunate that given the opportunity to write a story AROUND the medium of an animated series, TROYCA has fallen flat. It is more unfortunate that this will be looked upon and, in a market place where studios want to play it safe, further incentivize adaptations rather than anime ... originals.

The core of the problem with this series is that there simply isn't a fundamental narrative to tie it all together. Good writing is the foundation that props up a sturdy house, no matter how good the art is, the music, the characters, or even the fictional world, a weak foundation will cause it all to come crashing down. There exists the kernel of great themes in this show, which could have made a powerful narrative about one's existence and indignation of a seemingly cold and indifferent world. However, the staff dropped the ball, meandering aimlessly, they threw their pearls in the mud and settled on a boring coming of age story, which is a poorly masked plot device, and self-important inserts on the creative process.

What if I told you that your entire existence was designed, that you had no agency in life? Would you rebel and try to seize the power of agency, or are you happy to play a role, to call it fate? This binary should have been the show's axis, a clash of will's coupled with the struggle to determine one's very ontology. In a world where fictional creations come to the 'real' world, to be confronted with the fact that their existence was the purposeful design of someone else, a creator, one would think this would be the narrative. All the fictional properties in this universe are well designed and believable, even if they aren't fleshed out enough. It is interesting to see the initial alignment of the creations around either Meteora or Altair. Meteora wants to preserve the world she finds herself in, while Altair promises everyone they can get their creators end the suffering endured in their fictional worlds. While it is explicitly obvious that Altair has ulterior motives, why couldn't they be more complicated than simple abandon and rage?

Not all stories need to be social commentary or try to invoke big thinking. At some point we want to see interesting people doing interesting things, all a part of a great game. However RE:Creators failed to anchor itself to strong characters by focusing too much on setup episodes involving the scheme to take down Altair. Not only was valuable time wasted, there are characters who are essentially loose ends or exist solely as a plot device. Our theoretical protagonist, Sota is one of said plot devices, while there is a narrative involving his struggle with the past, it really isn't that profound. Sota's sin wasn't explicit malevolence, but rather a LACK of action, and given the nature of his predicament there wasn't much he could really do, thus cheapening the whole thing. There could have been something of a 'innocent sin' arc à la Persona 2, but essentially Sota is the Deus Ex Machina which brings Altair to the world and then makes her go away.

On the fictional properties of this series, I could say if I didn't know this show existed, I would have thought them to be real. If there were ever a side project to flesh out these properties, I would love see it. As it stands though, mashing them together in a common world didn't prove to be very successful. As said above, some are just plot devices, or even superfluous. Sure it was interesting to see a baddy like Yuuya align to save the world, while the noble warrior, Alicetaria align with the morally ambiguous Altair. But it turns out Yuuua isn't such a baddy after all and Alicetaria was simply tricked. Mamika exists solely to strengthen Alicetaria's resolve and Magane is just a third wheel to stir things up before vanishing. Hikayu, meanwhile is an eroge character in a story dominated by action characters, in short, useless. Meteora is interesting in that she sidelines Sota as the effective protagonist, but even she could and should have been developed more. Most disappointingly of all, is Altair who is left alone for a good chuck of the series, only to reappear as a generic final boss baddy. Her suave confidence as she picks apart a carefully laid trap while manipulating the masses is interesting to watch, but in the end all she wanted was essentially parental approval. What seemed like a complicated villain with a point is merely a emotional mess of a fan character created by some angst ridden teenager who couldn't handle life.

Finally, RE:Creators is at times is rather pretentious, with the fictional authors whining about their creative struggles. The real authors go as far as using a recap episode to complain about how complicated Altair's hair is to animate. While I am grateful for all the very real hard work put in to make something like this, at some point why use an action show where worlds collide as your medium to comment on the creative process? This could easily be done in, I don't know, a documentary? Or maybe a 13 episode slice of life series? While there are strong elements in this show, like the character design, and the fantastic music, RE:Creators has failed to deliver a compelling narrative. What makes it all the worse, is that they HAD the ingredients to make something good, but ended up with some unpalatable, under-cooked mess.

Witnessing the Kill la Kill hype train chugging along made me enter the show with negative expectations. The generic revenge plot, school setting and ridiculous designs left me folding my arms and rolling my eyes. It was and still is boldly proclaimed that Trigger is 'saving anime', whatever that means, but while Kill la Kill may be refreshing, is it really a cut above the rest? For better or worse, I could not help but feeling vindicated for holding my initial expectations. With the closing of the last episode, I felt I had just watched a slideshow rather than an engaging narrative.

... It should be stated that having a show that doesn't revolve around the banality of the fantastical construct that is 'moe' is heartening. Perhaps a narrative of personal struggle, coupled with great conflict and violence is rather cliche, but it is certainly more entertaining. Ryuuko as a character is interesting in that she isn't a flower that immediately wavers in the face of adversity or isn't immediately 'put in place' by a man. Unfortunately, that is basically all she has going for her, otherwise she is just another angst ridden teenager with a chip on her shoulder. Sure, Kill la Kill is indeed a show that not only has a strong female lead, but is dominated by powerful women, however that alone does not warrant high praise. Trigger talked of 'taking risks' but it seems Ryuuko is purposely not fleshed out to be broadly appealing. Her anger, loneliness and eventual commitment to her friends is something shared with many protagonists.

The narrative as a whole leaves something to be desired. From episode 3 it was obvious that they couldn't draw out Ryuuko and Satsuki's clashing of heads for a whole 24 episodes. The show already heavily alludes to Satsuki as being more than what she projects. Given that this is a Japanese narrative, it is based on kishōtenketsu and the plot is hinged on a twist. You think with narrative structure based on plot twists, you would go for something interesting. However, Trigger in their infinite wisdom decided to go with the generic 'I am your father' twist. While it was honestly unexpected on my part, it was still wasted potential.

Besides that, there are jarring transitions between a more light-hearted action/comedy to more serious action/drama. I honestly fail to see why Trigger thought Mako and her family were absolutely indispensable for the narrative. While the show is already over the top, ramming in the crass antics of the Mankanshoku family amid conflict with wide reaching ramifications is on the level of Michael Bay's Transformers. What purpose does Mako even serve other than that of a pure plot device? She is that of a generic best friend character who's only defining trait are her long winded motivational rants. Her relationship with Ryuuko is an implied one, they are forced together in episode one with absolutely no development what so ever.

Kill la Kill relies heavily on it's stylistic elements, so good action should be among one of it's hallmarks. Despite that, the quality of the fight scenes are underwhelming, as they are dependent on speed lines and characters shouting at one another. It could be said that in Kill la Kill the characters fight first and foremost with words, fists and weapons being secondary arms. While I understand that aesthetics are a matter of subjectivity, I can't leave out my conviction that most of the designs are just plain terrible. It seems all they did was take the standard Japanese school uniform and added as many spikes and stars as humanly possible. If the transformations aren't hulking masses of arbitrary geometry, than they are merely skimpy shoe laces with bulging shoulders. All in all, I can't praise Kill la Kill to high heaven, but I can't exactly hate it either. It's OST is remarkable and really propels the show where it is lacking, even if I cannot appreciate all the tracks. That said, if this is what constitutes 'saving anime', then we are truly screwed, this should be among the average, not the exceptional.