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GATE is an anime with a premise that far exceeds the actual execution.

While the show is not brimming with originality, the foundation is solid. Like many contemporary shows, the protagonist is thrown into a fantasy world, but it is not virtual and the stakes are much higher because of it. This is not an RPG. There are thousands of lives at stake on both ends of the spectrum.

Unfortunately, the show tends to gloss over its more serious issues. Violence is portrayed in a way that lacks emotional impact. The ... show glorifies the JSDF mowing down the soldiers and bandits of the other world, which can admittedly be fun to watch. However, not one JSDF soldier is painted in a negative light. There is no sexism among the JSDF’s ranks. They do not leave behind any villagers to save themselves. None of their killings are unjustified. There is practically nothing wrong with the JSDF while the other world’s inhabitants are often dehumanized because of their technological and governmental inferiority.

The other world’s “bad guys” tend to act so stereotypically that they are often scheming, have an evil sneer on their face, or both at some point. The worst of the modern world tends to be anyone not Japanese. In a sense, the world building is not the strongpoint of this show. That leads to the viewer feeling almost no sympathy or connection to the other world’s population, aside from the few characters that follow around the protagonist.

As for that aspect, the main cast of characters are why anybody should be watching. Of course, the ones following the protagonist are female. The youngest is the most soft spoken, while the oldest tends to be the most bold. That is commonplace. Fortunately all of them are interesting characters with unique attributes that make them fun to watch. One of them is an apostle with superhuman abilities, another is a mage, while the other is a high elf. And yes, they are all “cute.” If any of these characters were to disappear, the show would not work as well as it does. That includes the protagonist, Itami, who tends to keep everyone together.

The art is fine if a bit bland at times. Nothing really stands out except for the terrible CGI dragon that rears its head every so often. This is a show that someone should watch for its cast of characters and not its story. It is a fun break in between something else far more serious, and it does a damn good job at that.