Warning: Contains spoilers for Zenshu episode #1.MAPPA’s new anime Zenshu is finally out, and it’s already making waves with an incredible Studio Ghibli reference. Zenshu stars Natsuko Hirose, a genius animator who, upon death, was sent into the world of her favorite anime, A Tale of Perishing, and while the anime is supposed to end in tragedy, Natsuko decides to do what she can to give it a happy ending.
As is common with isekai anime, Natsuko gained fantastical powers after entering the world of A Tale of Perishing, and befitting her job as an animator, she has the power to bring her drawings to life. That was used to great effect in episode #1 when Natsuko saved one of the main characters, and rather than a random drawing, Zenshu episode #1 showcased Natsuko’s powers with a clear homage to the Giant Warrior from Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. It was highly unexpected, but from both a visual and a narrative standpoint, it was great to see.
Zenshu’s Nausicaa Reference Completely Turns Its Darkest Moment On Its Head
Zenshu’s Studio Ghibli reference was great not just because of the stellar visuals, but because of how well it flipped the original moment on its head. When the Giant Warrior was activated, it was a dark moment because it showed that humanity was still willing to resort to horrifying weapons that would only lead to their destruction in the long run. The Giant Warrior didn’t even protect anyone from the Ohm before it died, so overall, the Giant Warrior scene from Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, for all of its visual splendor, is a scene of pure hopelessness.
The Giant Warrior scene is a scene of pure hopelessness, but its homage in Zenshu is anything but. Not only did Natsuko’s creation showcase her newfound resolve to save the world of A Tale of Perishing, but unlike the Giant Warrior’s failure, Natsuko’s creation succeeded in saving Unio and preventing Luke Braveheart from falling into despair, thus changing the trajectory of the story for the better. Zenshu’s homage to Nausicaa works as well as it does for turning a dark moment into a hopeful one, and with the stellar animation to go along with that, it was great to see.
Zenshu’s Studio Ghibli Reference Perfectly Shows What Kind Of Anime It Will Be
Why Zenshu Is Going To Be So Great
There was always a meta element to Zenshu’s story with it being about an animator trying to rewrite their favorite anime, and with how blatant its Studio Ghibli reference was, combined with the exaggerated personalities of the cast, Zenshu’s Studio Ghibli reference makes it clear that the point of the series is to be a love letter to anime. That fits perfectly with what’s been set up as Natsuko’s character arc, and if there are more references like the Studio Ghibli one to sell it, then Zenshu is sure to be a great anime to watch from start to finish.
Zenshu releases new episodes Sundays on Crunchyroll.
After graduating from high school, Natsuko Hirose quickly rises in the animation industry and is celebrated for her directorial debut. However, her next project, a romantic comedy, hits a roadblock when she struggles to understand first love, something she’s never experienced. This internal conflict threatens the entire production.
- Release Date
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October 18, 2024
- Cast
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Anna Nagase
, Kazuki Ura
, Rie Kugimiya
, Minori Suzuki
, Akio Suyama - Character(s)
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Natsuko Hirose
, Luke Braveheart
, Unio
, Memmeln
, QJ - Creator(s)
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Kimiko Ueno
, Mitsue Yamazaki - Seasons
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1