Adult Swim

AUZA Needs to be Stopped!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , , ,

Ninja Kamui Ep 8 Review

Everyone remembers Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare for starting the โ€œF to Pay Respectsโ€ meme, but I also rememebr it for the main villains, the Atlas Corporation. Now Iโ€™m adding them to the list of megacorporations that AUZA reminds me of. In this case, AUZA is using their influence to take over the world through its infrastructure, and theyโ€™re dangerously close to doing so. If Higan wants to stop Yamaji, he needs to do it soon. And heโ€™s going to need his entire group of allies working together on this. Even if Agent Moriss has to learn who โ€œEmmaโ€ really is.

Taking the Fight on the Road

Having shown that Higan means business, he and Aska manage to escape AUZA City in search of Yamaji. One would think that with all the technology AUZA uses, they couldnโ€™t get out without getting spotted. However, the nature of mankind is that of adaptability. One guy makes a big gun, the other makes an even bigger one. Or, when a megacorporation uses too many electronics, a hacker like Aska makes an EM pulse to shut down an entire city. Easy getaway.

The episode also reveals how AUZA is trying to conquer the world from the shadows. Using their reactors as a power source, their goal is to take control of every nationโ€™s infrastructure from within. Itโ€™s not as overt as a would-be despot steamrolling across the planet, but itโ€™s effective. The Atlas Corporation, the main antagonists from Advanced Warfare, did the same thing and got dangerously close to taking control of everything. And with the Ninjaโ€™s serving as the muscle, thereโ€™s little the government can do to stop them. 

But Higan can.

The big fight of the episode takes place at an AUZA reactor Higan and Aska raid, only to run into Big D. (The guy with the flat top.) Whereas Lil was a deplorable person who got off on violence, though, Big D has a sense of honor and respects the way of the Ninja. Enough that when Higan and Aska catch an unlucky break, he lets them go, not wanting to win on a technicality. Say what you want, but he does respect the Ninja way (I think.)

The Need to Trust

The big highlight of the episode, though, is the reunion between Higan and Aska and Agent Moriss and Jason Cardenas. Aska comes clean about everything to Moriss, who is not happy about being lied to. However, itโ€™s not for the reasons you would think. 

Throughout the series, Agent Moriss has shown himself to be the very open-minded and understanding type. For example, despite knowing Higan is a killer ninja, heโ€™s willing to work with him. Both out of pragmatism and knowing Higan has a justifiable reason to want to bring down AUZA. In this case, heโ€™s not mad that Aska lied about being a ninja. Heโ€™s mad she didnโ€™t trust him enough. He knows she had her reasons, but still.

Now that the unlikely party is together, the next step is for them to figure out how to stop AUZA. Yamajiโ€™s already putting his plan in motion, and they need to stop him. And with three episodes left, the clock is ticking. Hereโ€™s hoping that the series can end on a high note!

I Give “Episode 8” a 4/5

Aska, the Face-Changing Ninja Among Ninjas

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Ninja Kamui Ep 7 Review

When Ninja Kamui started, I didn’t think much of Emma. I thought that she was going to be a secondary character, the young rookie that worked with Agent Morriss. The last two episodes threw that out the window, revealing them to be an elaborate deception. Not only was she a Ninja, but worked from within to bring down the Clan and AUZA. Emma isn’t even her real name; it’s Aska (we think). In the previous episode, Aska told Higan her desire to help him stemmed from the bond she had with his late wife. However, it didn’t dive too much into it due to the oncoming threat from AUZA and the need to get the Kamui suit ready. Now that the threat’s been dealt with, though, Aska dives into her backstory, giving us more info about the entire story. And while some people may not like them, I enjoy flashbacks. 

Higan Sends AUZA a Message

With all the time the anime spent hyping it up last episode, it seemed like the follow-up would focus on showing off the Kamui. We would spend most of the air-time seeing how powerful it would be with Higan using it. As it turns out, the Kamui is powerful. So powerful, in fact, that Higan managed to defeat Lil’, the depraved sadist with dwarfism, in a few minutes. It wasn’t even a fight; it was a curb stomp.

The whole thing was a bittersweet experience, though more sweet than bitter. While its short length means viewers have to wait to see the titular Kamui’s full capabilities, seeing the depraved Lil’ get brought down was still satisfying. And, while we don’t see it, the fact that Higan sent AUZA his severed head shows how badly they messed up. They had the chance to kill him before, but they wanted to know how he came back from death. The irony is that that was never even his own doing. It was thanks to Aska that that happened. And, as Aska herself tells Higan, the technique wasn’t hers to begin with. It was Mari’s!

In other words, Aska played them all by putting them in this position. 

Aska, the Ninja Who Watches Other Ninjas

With the battle over and a reprieve granted, Aska explains her history with Mari to Higan and, by extension, the audience. As a kid, a terrible accident mutilated her face so severely that her parents abandoned her rather than live with her disfigurement. The previous leader of the Ninja Clan took her in, raised her, and taught her how to use makeup to disguise herself as anyone. More importantly, he gave Aska a particular task: she would watch any potential head of the Clan and kill them if she found them wanting. She would be the Watcher who looked after other Ninjas.

She should’ve done that to Yamaji years ago if that’s true. However, after Yamaji brought the Ninjas under AUZA’s control and let in outsiders who only cared about their fighting techniques, like Lil’, she knew that was a bad idea. So, while those loyal to the old ways fell in line or deserted, she stayed behind to bring them down from within. It was a smart move, but it wasn’t enough to save Mari. 

As for Mari, she was Aska’s mentor as a Ninja, but their relationship became more than that. Mari became Aska’s friend, appreciating her face for what it was and not seeing it as hideous. She was the only person she told about her being pregnant with Higan’s child. Despite being ordered to kill her for deserting, Aska couldn’t bring herself to do it. She chose her forbidden friendship with Mari over the cold detachment that Ninjas were meant to have.

This moment was the best part of the episode. It showed how wrong the Ninjas’ ways of thinking could be when it came to bonds. Besides, they can’t justify it when they allowed unworthy people like Lil’ join them. 

Aska is Helping Higan to Fulfill her Duty

In short, Aska’s helping Higan out for two reasons. Firstly, she’s doing it out of loyalty to Mari, which is admirable. Secondly, she’s doing it because she knows that she can’t fulfill her job as the Watcher on her own. The fact that she lost to Lil’ while buying time for Higan demonstrates how, for all her training, she can’t handle the AUZA-backed Ninjas alone. But Higan can with the Kamui.

For the time being, it appears that Higan can trust Aska. Even if he didn’t, he has little choice. He’s in the heart of AUZA’s territory, and Yamaji (and likely AUZA) are about to unleash their master plan. I don’t know what it is, but given the Shinra and Abstergo vibes AUZA gives off, it’s not good for anyone. 

With only four episodes left in the series until it ends, the time has come for Ninja Kamui to start ramping up the action. Here’s hoping that the final quarter delivers on the action that we want to see. 

I Give “Episode 7” a 4/5

Everyone Digs Cyber Ninjas

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Ninja Kamui Episode 6 Review

Okay, I wasn’t expecting that to happen. In the last episode ofย Ninja Kamui, Higan tries to fight through AUZA City but gets overwhelmed by the higher-ups of AUZA. Equipped with cyber ninja suits that would make Tony Stark drool, Higan proved no match for them. Thanks to one of them turning on the others, he managed to get out with his life. Meanwhile, Morris had his troubles to deal with. Not only did AUZA come close to killing him, but he discovered that his partner, Emma, might be working for them. As surprising as that might be, the truth was even crazier. As someone who likes to guess how things turn out in stories, this caught me off-guard.ย 

Firstly, though, a shout-out to Toonami for acknowledging the passing of Akira Toriyama. With Dragon Ball coming statewide in 1998, Toonami got smaller than it did. And thus, anime never would’ve gotten as big in the West as it is. It’s sweet how they chose to run a marathon for DBZ Kai in honor of his memory. That being said, it’ve been more appropriate for them to run the classic DBZ instead. I might not have grown up with it, but Aaron and Donte did, and it feels appropriate. That, and they could’ve made it a 24-hour marathon.ย 

They Were the One Helping Higan Out?!?

Cutting straight to the chase, the episode quickly reveals the identity of the person who saved Higan: Emma. “Emma” (not even her real name) is also a ninja working undercover in the FBI, but she’s chosen to help Higan. The reason is that she was friends with Mari and kept in touch even after she and Higan left the ninjas. She even tried to save the two and their son the night of the attack, but all she could do was use her ninja technique to fake Higan’s death and fool AUZA into thinking he could revive himself. And to top it all off, she was the one who helped him sneak into AUZA City. She played everyone!

It would’ve been easy for the show to have Emma be a traitor and one of Higan’s biggest obstacles in his quest for vengeance. Instead, Ninja Kamui opted for a far more exciting route by making her a mole for Higan. While her motives remain unclear, it’s safe to assume she’s on Higan’s side for now.

As for Agent Moriss’ side, though, that remains uncertain. The episode doesn’t focus as much on him, with the parts that are about and his hacker friend trying to figure out their next move. While I’m still worried about their safety, they might take a backseat while Higan continues his fight. This time, he’s got a new weapon to use.

We’re in Cyber Ninja Territory Now, People!

Enter the Gusoku suit, a cybernetic suit that enhances the wearer’s strength, speed, and durability to superhuman levels while also working with their ninja arts. It’s also how Higan can turn the tables on the enemy, with Emma getting the latest prototype: the Kamui. This suit can hook directly to Higan’s nervous system, allowing him to control it with his thoughts alone. With the human brain being an organic supercomputer capable of making conclusions in milliseconds, the Kamui has the potential to act on superhuman levels. In other words, when Higan puts it on, he will be strong enough to take down anyone. 

Ninjas are already cool enough on their own. However, seeing them fused with the concept of cybernetic armor like a ninja Iron Man, takes that up to eleven. The previous episode showed us what someone’s capable of doing with one of those suits, but it’s this episode that shows off its full potential. Emma’s fight with Lil combines the action of a ninja battle with the power of hacking straight out of Watch Dogs. It’s incredible to look at, though for a moment, it looks like Emma might not make it. But then Higan, through the memory of his wife, syncs with the suit faster than possible. And as the episode ends, Higan stands in the Kamui, ready to meet Lil on equal terms.

This episode finally gives meaning to the title of this anime, something that I hadn’t even considered beforehand. Now that we know it, though, it feels a little disappointing that we’re only getting this with the series reaching its halfway point. The first half was only a setup for the real action that’s to come. Hopefully, the second half of the series can meet the hype. I am optimistic about everything, though. After all, this series is being directed by the man who directed the first season of JuJutsu Kaisen. That has to count for something!

I Give “Episode 6” a 3.5/5

Higan Got His Butt Kicked by Robot Ninjas

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime Reviews, Uncategorized , , , , , , , ,

Ninja Kamui Ep 5 Review

Everybody knows who Batman is. The Caped Crusader, the Dark Knight, the man who can seemingly best anyone simply because heโ€™s Batman. But thereโ€™s more to him than being a memetic badass; he can beat almost anyone because he knows how to use prep time. When he goes in and fights someone that he knows little about, he can get his back broken by someone like Bane. Why bring up Batman in an anime about ninjas, though? Because this episode, Higan is Batman. And the other ninjas, and AUZA, are Bane. 

Batman, Meet Bane

Having come within inches of making it into AUZA City, Higanโ€™s efforts prove to be for naught. Zaiโ€™s presence is enough to throw him off long enough for the barriers to go up. However, instead of the two former comrades fighting regardless, Zai merely tells him heโ€™s going to die and then walks away. Itโ€™s a move meant to make Higan feel powerless and impotent so that heโ€™ll make a mistake. And judging by the events that follow, it worked.

Rather than let him fester in anger or kill him, the leaders of AUZA decide to let him in their city to test out their technology. And despite knowing itโ€™s a trap, Higan runs in anyway. However, instead of fighting more ninjas, he winds up fighting the execs who are remotely piloting the ninja equivalent of Iron Man armor.

The end result is like watching someone try and take on the boss fight when theyโ€™re far too under-leveled. Itโ€™s less of a fight by the end and more of a curb-stomp, like the anime equivalent to watching Bane break Batmanโ€™s spine. If Higan represents the old ways of being a ninja, and AUZA represents the future, then it looks like the old ways have gotten kicked to the curb. If it werenโ€™t for a last-minute save, Higan would be dead. More on that later.

The FBI Has Turned on Us!

Meanwhile, Agent Morris pursues his own leads into AUZA City, leading him to track down Jason, a former AUZA employee turned hacker trying to blow the whistle on them. Together, the two do manage to hack into the companyโ€™s servers and starts to uncover some of what they have been doing. To be more precise, they find a list of fake IDs that theyโ€™re using to plant agents as. And one of them happens to beโ€ฆEmma Samanda?

The show doesnโ€™t give us, or Moriss and Jason, time to understand whatโ€™s going on. AUZA security arrives and attempts to kill them in an epic car chase. If that was the show’s way of distracting us, then it worked. Car chases have long been a favorite of mine in action shows. In addition, the fact that it ends with both men dragging themselves away from the wreck brings their ultimate fates into question. Theyโ€™ll likely make it out fine, but how long will they be able to survive with AUZA after them.

Thereโ€™s also the fact that Emmaโ€™s name is on that list. The possibility that sheโ€™s an agent of AUZA has just jumped up significantly. The fact that AUZA responded so fast to the hack also doesnโ€™t bode well. Emma will need to have a good explanation next time she appears.

Really Looking to See What Comes Next

This episode was clearly meant to leave the audience with more questions than answers. Higan and Morris have been badly wounded and are on the run. And if things had gone a little bit differently, they would be dead at this point. Worse, Emma may no longer be trustworthy, only making things worse. The fact that the anime forgoes the normal outro in of black credits only hammers home how serious the episode is. Anime donโ€™t skip out on the ED unless itโ€™s serious! With the series reaching the halfway mark next episode, Iโ€™m curious to see how Higan and Morris will come back from this. Hopefully, theyโ€™ll manage to regroup and plan something, like Batman would. 

Also, this episode is out in full on YouTube. If you want to watch it without waiting for Toonami or donโ€™t have Max, watch it there. 

I Give “Episode 5” a 5/5

A Warrior’s Life is a Lonely One

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , ,

Ninja Kamui Ep 4 Review

I can’t speak from personal experience, but it seems like working in a profession that involves violence can be hard on one’s loved ones. From those in the military to those working in law enforcement, there’s always the worry that you or your loved one might not come home one night. Some people make peace with that in their way, but others aren’t able to. And as this episode reveals, both Higan and Moriss have this in common.

Tragic Backstory Time

The episode picks up where things left off, with Higan getting a call from an unknown person. The only hints as to their identity are that they know Higan’s a ninja, and they know a poem only other ninjas know. However, that takes a backseat when it segues into some of Agent Moriss’ backstory. As it turns out, the man once had a wife and daughter, and they loved each other very much. Then Moriss started putting his job first, which meant that he was late getting the news that a sleeping driver killed his daughter. As a result, his wife couldn’t take him from being there anymore, and they presumably went their separate ways.

This moment does a lot to show why Moriss is so devoted to his job, even to his detriment. Losing his daughter, who looked up to him as her hero, took a significant toll on him, to the point where he kept a drawing she made on him at all times. He’s doing all of this to avoid his grief and to atone for his failure to be there for his family, similar to what Higan went through in the first episode. 

As the episode continues, we get another flashback, this time to the life of Higan, his future wife, Mari, and their comrade, Zai, in their lives as ninjas. Besides swearing to uphold a code of never betraying their clan or revealing the secret technique they each get, they also swore to detach themselves from everyone, even their comrades. However, Higan fell in love with Mari, and the two broke the code. It’s a nice contrast to Agent Moriss and how he chose his role as an FBI Agent at the cost of his family. When you look at it like that, he and Higan are like two sides of the same coin. Both are skilled and driven, but one chose his job over his family, while the other chose his family over his job. Yet both ended up having tragic outcomes. Maybe they were meant to become allies.

Infiltration of AUZA City

While this episode shows us more of AUZA’s inner circle (who are as eccentric as that of Shinra’s board of directors), the person who stands out the most is Zai. We get a glimpse of how cold and ruthless he is when he kills his former swordmaster, but there’s more to it. The flashback reveals they swore oaths of loyalty to each other over cups of sake. In Japanese culture, exchanging sake cups is considered a way to foster loyalty and celebrate significant milestones. So, it’s likely that when Higan and Mari left the clan, Zai took that as a personal betrayal.

Now, Higan’s actions have cost him Mari and their son. And the only way to bring down his former comrades is to get inside AUZA City.

Higan’s infiltration of AUZA City reminds me of the most challenging stealth missions in games like Assassin’s Creed, made even more complicated when he can’t kill anyone without tipping off the guards. That doesn’t matter in the end, though. Right as he’s about to get into the city, Zai’s there to stop him. And the episode ends at that.

If we want to see what happens next, we must wait a week. But when the time comes, Higan will have to run a gauntlet of foes. Even more ninja battles are coming!!

I Give “Episode 4” a 3/5

Did I say Abstergo? I Should’ve Added in Shinra!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews , , , , , , , , ,

Ninja Kamui Episode 3 Review

Ninjas, as the popular imagination came to know them, are said to have first appeared in Feudal Japan. They served as spies, saboteurs, and assassins, either for their feudal lords or as mercenaries for hire. And while itโ€™s doubtful that any of them could walk on water or create shadow clones, plenty of fictional works depict them as capable of such. Now imagine what it would be like if modern-day ninjas existed and relied on the most advanced technology, and you have the premise of Ninja Kamui. A fusion of the ancient and modern-day, serving their lord’s interests. It just so happens that said lords are also a global megacorporation in the vein of Abstergo Industries and the Shinra Electric Power Company. 

This is the group that Higan is going up against, and they are everywhere.

A Bunch of Crazy Ninjas

The episode opens up in bloody fashion as we see Lil, a foul-mouthed ninja from Higanโ€™s former clan, assassinating a man. Afterward, he clarifies how turned on he gets by his violence, acting like Deadpool if it wasnโ€™t as funny or spouting out pop culture. Heโ€™s essentially the antithesis of Higan and someone who has little to no respect for what ninjas are likely supposed to be like. And if he and the man who killed Higanโ€™s family are the norm under AUZA, itโ€™s not hard to see why Higan and many others left. The whole group might be corrupt now.

Corrupt or not, a ninjaโ€™s still a ninja, which means theyโ€™re dangerous. Thatโ€™s best shown when another ninja, Zai, takes down his former mentor, who had left like Higan. The mentor tried to slice Zai up with blades made out of air, and the man impaled him without the former realizing. Thatโ€™s scary! At least they can be punched or stabbed, though. AUZA, as a corporation, canโ€™t, and thatโ€™s what makes their influence so scary.

Abstergo Fused with Shinra

The previous episodeย clarified that AUZA has enough pull in the authorities to cover up their attempts to kill Higan. In this episode, Agent Moriss is frustrated when the FBI claims the attack at the restaurant was part of some gang war. The audience doesnโ€™t buy it, and neither does Moriss. Despite the subtle warning from his former partner to let it go, Morissโ€™ sense of justice wonโ€™t let him. In true Jim Gordon fashion, he chooses to keep looking. And thanks to his temporary alliance with Higan and the technical know-how of Emma Samanda, he and the audience learn how much power AUZA has.ย 

As a side note, Samanda is starting to grow on me as a character. It helps that sheโ€™s voiced by Lucy Christian, the dub voice of Nami from One Piece and Uraraka from My Hero Academia. However, Samanda is tech-savvy enough to turn her car into a mobile computer. Her being a redhead makes her feel like an Expy of Barbara Gordon.ย 

AUZA City, Here We Come!

Thanks to some exposition from Samanda, the show confirms what we already knew: AUZA is the showโ€™s equivalent to Abstergo, though their motives are more in line with Shinra from FF7. Theyโ€™re motivated by greed and the desire to expand their influence, and, presumably, thanks to the ninjas, theyโ€™re on the verge of controlling the world from the shadows. To further the comparisons to Shinra, they even have their own private city, AUZA City! 

Much like Shinra, though, it seems that not everyone in AUZA is on the same page. A meeting between an AUZA higher-up and the head of the ninja clan, Yamaji, has the latter chew the former out for what happened at the restaurant. Theyโ€™re working together, but Yamaji hates it as much as Higan did. 

This episode was primarily focused on exposition, but when it got to the action, it cooked. After another ninja comes after Higan, we get another epic fight complete with the same kind of rap insert song we got from episode 2. So, itโ€™s pretty epic.

Once the fight is over, itโ€™s clear that Higan needs to head to AUZA City. The problem is that itโ€™s impossible, even for someone like him, to get in there without getting caught. However, he seems to get a lucky break when he gets a call from an anonymous person that knows his name. We have no idea who they might be, but Iโ€™m looking forward to finding out. Plus, I want to see what AUZAโ€™s equivalent to Midgar looks like. 

This is getting interesting!

I Give “Episode 3” a 4/5

5 Reasons to Watch My Adventures With Superman

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Over the years, there have been a lot of takes on the Man of Steel. Some have stood the test of time, like Christopher Reeves’ live-action version or the animated version from the DCAU. However, few, if any, are like the incarnation found in Adult Swim’s new series, My Adventures With Superman. Instead of their usual depictions, we get quirky, funny, and downright endearing versions of Superman, Lois Lane, and Jimmy Olsen. In addition, much of the show’s style takes influence from anime, proving the medium’s continued popularity worldwide.

I’m RJ Writing Ink, and here are five reasons why you should watch My Adventures With Superman, especially if you’re a fan of Shonen anime!

The Boys Jack Quaid Plays Clark Kent to Adorkable Perfection

The irony!

Over the years, many people have gotten the chance to play Superman in various mediums, from live-action to animated video games. However, the fact that this series sees him voiced by Jack Quaid brings a new adjective to mind: ironic. For those who don’t know, Jack Quaid’s most famous for playing Hugh Campbell in the live-action Amazon Prime series, The Boys. That show’s infamous for essentially being the anti-superhero show, complete with a corrupted version of Superman himself.

So far, Jack Quaid is nailing his role as Superman, but not as the confident man of tomorrow that everyone knows. Instead, this Clark Kent is a lovable, socially awkward, gentle giant. He gets embarrassed when he can’t control his strength, freaks out when he thinks people see him using his powers, and can’t stop blushing around Lois. In other words, he’s adorkable! 

This Show’s Version of Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen is a Breath of Fresh Air

Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen are, and always have been, two of the most influential people in Superman’s life. The former is a tough-as-nails reporter who is Superman’s great love and biggest supporter. The latter is an intrepid photographer who serves as Superman’s best friend. The versions found in the show, though, aren’t like any seen before.

Firstly, besides the change in ethnicity, this Jimmy Olsen serves as Clark Kent’s best friend and roommate. He also happens to be a conspiracy theorist who thinks the world’s stranger than most people think (and he’s right!). As for Lois, she’s what anime fans call a ‘genki girl.’ She’s confident, energetic, and a tomboy who wears her emotions on her sleeve. Between the two of them, is it any wonder that fans are reminded of Luz and Gus from The Owl House?

Speaking of which…

The Show Brought in fans from The Owl House

From the moment the promo images for the show were released, the Internet started making comparisons. Let me explain.

The Owl House was a popular Disney cartoon from 2020 to April 2023. It was about a confident, self-assured girl who wound up in a world of Demons and Witches, which inspires her to stay to become a Witch herself. Among the friends, she makes is a young boy named Gus, who has a huge fascination with Humans, who are considered weird by his world’s standards. 

So, a confident, energetic girl and a guy interested in things people consider weird. Suppose that sounds like Lois and Jimmy, plenty of fans have noticed that, too. On top of the fact that Lois and Jimmy look like adult versions of Luz and Gus, it’s no wonder that fans of The Owl House have flocked to My Adventures With Superman. With a sizeable fandom, these comparisons could ensure the series’ long-term success. That helps The Owl House fans cope with that show getting cut short due to Disney’s foolishness. 

This Version of Superman Starts Not Knowing His Heritage

Most versions of Superman either start with the Man of Steel already aware of his Kryptonian heritage or soon discover it themselves. While that holds in MAWS, there’s a big difference for this version of Clark Kent. While he’s aware that he’s not human, a language barrier prevents him from fully understanding his Kryptonian Heritage when he finds what brought him to Earth. As a result, he’s left clueless about who he is going into his life in Metropolis.

We have a rare opportunity to see a Superman stumbling as he tries to figure out who, or what, he is. The show can frame it as part of this big, overarching mystery it can dive into as it progresses. While fans know the general outcome regarding what Clark will eventually learn, it will still be fun to see Clark and his friend’s reactions as they learn more about him. 

It Wears its Anime Influences on its Sleeve.

The last time Superman had his cartoon show, anime was still a niche medium making its way to the West. Fast forward to the present day, though, and it’s not only firmly entrenched in Western culture but also serves as a big influence for Western Cartoons. Be it in themes or art styles, anime has seeped its way into Western Cartoons, and MAWS is a glorious by-product of that.

Firstly, we have the art style that the series uses. Besides being visually pleasing, the show also frequently uses the vivid facial expressions regularly found in anime. Secondly, the moments when Superman powers up are reminiscent of a Shonen hero unleashing their designated super form. The biggest example of all, though, is when Superman first receives his iconic costume. The entire sequence is ripped straight from the legendary Sailor Moon transformation. Look me in the eye and tell me that that doesn’t scream anime!

If that’s not convincing enough, series producer Jake Wyatt admitted in an interview to being a big fan of Toonami and Dragon Ball. Considering how Goku wound up being partially inspired by Superman himself, it makes the Shonen anime influence all the more poetic. 

If this hasn’t convinced you to go watch this show, then I don’t know what will. You are missing out! Also, Lois Lane is now the Waifu of 2023 until further notice!