Hello everyone and welcome The Anime Pulse: First Reaction. This time around we’re going to take a look at a series that could really be hit or miss. It’s GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri.
General Overview
The year is 20XX. A Gate opens up in the middle of Tokyo and beings from another realm march onto the streets and begin causing havoc. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force is dispatched and thanks to the heroic efforts of Youji Itami, an otaku and member of the JSDF Military, the enemy is pushed back and defeated. Tokyo’s Defense force now leads a journey to the unknown land from which these beings came to retaliate.
First Episode Reaction
I was a bit relieved when I saw that Youji was part of the Japanese military. I was going to facepalm quite hard if a regular, everyday otaku showed up and saved the city from orcs, ogres, and knights from a land that acts like your every day JRPG. Youji himself cares more about his Otaku life than being a military man. In fact, he flat out states that he works to support his hobby and if had to choose between his hobby and his job, his hobby would take priority.
It’s also the reason why he was disappointed when he was promoted for his heroic efforts. The only reason why he risked his life was that he could attend a doujinshi convention in peace. He was more disappointed after the battle that the convention had been cancelled, feeling all of his effort was for nothing.
That aspect of the show was enough to hook me. It brings a nice comedic approach to the typical fare of invasion-style animes. Sad to say though, outside of the invasion and that plot point, there really wasn’t much to the first episode. When you have tanks and black hawk helicopters going against people with swords, shields, and flying dragons, the might of the modern military is going to win. So it makes me wonder what they hope to accomplish other than complete and utter destruction when they invade the enemy’s lands.
Also, it raises the question of what the enemy has in store to combat modern technology. Heck, even one of the invaders looked around the city and said “I see structures made from brick and marble. It’s nice to see some familiarity here.”
This seems like the United States just dropping a Hydrogen Bomb on a grass hut village in the middle of a desert oasis, but that’s the intrigue. There has to be something that hasn’t been shown to us to make this series stretch and when it has 24 episodes going for it, they’re going to have to do a lot to convince me that sticks and stones can beat tanks and guns.
OP & ED Impressions
Opening
“GATE” by Kishida Kyoudan
The opening song is a catchy one from the person who brought you the opening to Highschool of the Dead, but it still sounds like your typical mainstream JRock with female lead vocals. Despite that, I’m a Kyoudan fan so I’ll probably end up getting this song because reasons, plus the song is nowhere near bad.. at least for my tastes.
Ending
“Prism Communicate” by Rory (Risa Taneda), Tuka (Hisako Kanemoto), Lelei (Nao Touyama)
Another ending song sang by the seiyuus of the series. It’s an upbeat pop song that sounds so run of the mill that I couldn’t stand to listen to it more than twice for review purposes. It just does nothing for me, but if it floats your boat, then the more power to you!
Worth Watching?
MAYBE – Too early to tell here. The first episode seems good, but we’ll see if the series can hold up.
