The third season of Re Zero will premiere in the United States on September 10th. A few lucky people were able to score an advance screening and some say it was one of the best screenings they have ever experienced. It seems that the Japanese animation is quite popular not only in Japan but in other Asian countries as well. The main character, Yuji Nagashima, is a carpenter in the future who travels back in time to prevent his father from being executed for war crimes committed during the Second World War. As you can imagine this is a very serious situation and deals with many different time periods all set in a compelling plot.
This brilliant animated series was created by the studio Gonzo and is written and directed by Katsuhiro Mazda. The original work started as a series of two videos in 2021 and then went on to become a full length feature film. Since the series has gone on to gain popularity in North America, the company had felt it necessary to bring it to life in the form of a television series. While it may seem like a given that we would be seeing more of the same in the near future, it is good to get a little information on the new TV series before we are so heavily into the new cartoon series.
We know that the main character is called Yuji and he is played by Masane Amaha. He appears to be the father of two girls named Riko and Mio. Their names suggest that they are the oldest two siblings in the series and their mother is also named Riko. We also know that the new season will follow the same format of the older seasons with all eight episodes being produced within eight minutes of each other. The first episode was spectacular in its pace and had me hooked right from the word go. The style and fluidity of the animation has increased since the first series and now looks like a movie within itself.
The story follows a new main character, Yuji who is assigned to take care of Riko and Mio after their grandmother passes away. When the family was only recently reunited they are determined to take care of each other and work as a team. Problems quickly crop up however as both girls want to be close to their father. There is also a new boy in the family named Shusui who suddenly joins the team and they must work together quickly to help him understand what his role is in the family.
The animation style and quality is definitely up there with some of the best animation out there. The backgrounds and scenes are vivid and bright, creating a very realistic feel. The fighting scenes have that Japanese drama feel that is so popular nowadays and have been perfected for this new season. The fights are so realistic that you almost feel like you are there yourself.
Some of the new additions that were added to the cast are actually quite interesting. One is Shinichi Chiaki, who plays the role of a martial arts expert that seems to be more serious in his attitude. It seems that he might be more serious because of the death of his sister. Another addition is Kotonamori Sayaka, who plays the role of a sport’s prodigy. And finally, Yuichiro Nagashima, who was left out of the original cast due to his age.
With all the hype surrounding this show, one would think it would be a huge success. Unfortunately, it doesn’t live up to what everyone is expecting it to be and many are disappointed. Some people state that the animation is not up to par and it feels stiff when it comes to action sequences and battles. Other people state that the story is too short and doesn’t give enough substance to build an entire season around.
But then again, who really knows. Only you and your friend can decide whether the new episodes of Re Zero are worth watching or not. This is one of those shows you should probably watch after its premier. If not, wait until it goes on a second season run. You will most likely fall in love with this show once again.