Apr 3, 2017
You might wonder why badly-rendered CGI anime like this got a 4 score at first then almost 8 later. In MAL scoring system, you need to, at least, watch 4 episodes of the 12 episodes anime for the score to be weighted. Unfortunately many dropped the entire series after first few minutes of the first episodes, so their score isn't counted. While the anime as a whole is best described after watching 4 episodes. Because that's when the anime is getting much enjoyable and revealed its true nature
Unlike most anime, which amaze you at first and disappoint latter. Kemono Friends is an anime that
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disappoint you at first then amaze you later. Kemono Friends didn't try to make itself pretentious or interesting at the beginning. Like "You are going to be a hero" or making a really funny jokes or such. It even didn't try to hide as a children show. It makes itself awkwardly cheesy and innocent at the first episodes. It wasn't a Manga Kirari adaptation(the likes of K-On or School-Live!) which always guaranteed hit nor it is a slice of life comedy or drama in itself.
Kemono Friends stand out among any other anime this season because it brings something very different, yet very familiar. Behind the awkwardly-made CGI graphics and cringe childish conversation lies a nostalgia induced adventure. From the wide savanna to tropical jungle to American forest, the plot of Kemono Friends is a journey reminiscent of a slightly grander version of Dora the Explorer.
Plot (8/10)
The premise of Kemono Friends is surprisingly simple. A girl is on the way to find her species name while helping and being helped with various "Friend". Animals turned human caused by contact with a mysterious mineral seen at the mountain in the first episode. Each episodes, we are introduced to new "Friends" (along with their zoological educational info) while the mysterious species girl nicknamed "Kaban" (literally means "Bag") help or being helped by friends of the week while uncovering piece of her identity and the plot as a whole. The plot isn't new either, it's presented in a subtle way. Despite the dark implication of the plot, there are no "deconstruction" formula. In fact, it didn't have an established modern anime formula to made. No harem, no reincarnation to become a hero, no high school. It is, in a core, a very innocent adventure. Because of these simplicity Kemono Friends is easy enjoyable despite being very different compared to other anime.
Art(5/10) & Sound (8/10)
The animation movement is very awkward and sometimes silly, caused by none other than only 10 staff created it from practically no budget and more than a year duration. Fortunately the badly rendered CGI graphics is compensated with stunning character design by none other than the one that made Sgt. Frog manga. The thing that is interesting is that despite the CGI graphics is not something to be proud of, some scenes in the series contained gorgeous scenery of each of friends biome. These combined with appropriate use of sound effect and background music, make the atmosphere of Kemono Friends produce something that is both mysterious and curiously familiar. The voice actress aren't bad nor mediocre(The one who play Kaban is Kotori from Love Live among any other people), but they act like that to fit the show as a whole.
Character (7/10)
We first introduced to Serval Cat who is very-very cheerful and curious. Kaban who really like to apologize and didn't have a talent unlike any other friends. Then we get a large number of many other Friends with over-the-top characteristics. The characterization of Kemono Friends isn't really made to be complex, but later Kaban (most of the times) helped other friends reach character development in one episode. Kaban herself undergoes a subtle yet noticeable character development later in the series from a helpless girl who screams "Dont eat me please!" into a very dependable girl.
Enjoyment (9/10)
Kemono Friends is a new weather in storm of many other anime. It is unique yet simple. It is the only winter anime that I truly enjoy. Kemono Friends though is not for everyone, especially those who really didn't like children show. Most of the time it contained a very childish dialogue that is love it or hate it. It have little to no action. It has a very bad CGI graphics that turns most people off. It is a pure and simple adventure series
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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