Anime Review: Tokyo 24-ku

Rating

★★★

Drama Digest

The story takes place on an artificial island in Tokyo Bay. There is a particular district called the 24th Ward. Ran, Koki, and Shuta are childhood friends and, often hang out there. They went through a drastic change when their school caught on fire and Koki’s sister Asumi was stuck in it. Three of them argued about the best way to save her, and Shuta rushed in alone without a plan. He was unable to save her life. A year after the incident, Asumi sent visual messages presenting them with life-and-death situations in which they had to decide on their course of action. Soon after, a character called Carneades appears and threatens to shove choices upon the world.

The Feel-Good Part

The best thing about Tokyo 24th Ward is its originality. It’s an original drama thriller. The visuals of the anime were pleasant and striking. The main strength of this series was the scientific world they created that enhanced the story. The opening was dynamic and gave off vibes like “Banana Fish”.

The Disappointing Part

The show had quite a lot of disappointing factors. The biggest disappointment would be oversaturated and half-baked concepts. The story was rushed and somehow made to fit in twelve episodes. They tried to make it very complex till the end which does not sync with the whole story.

In-Depth Analysis

The artificial island floating in Tokyo Bay named “Kyokutou Houreigai Tokubetsu Chiku” is also known as “24th Ward.” The island was home to three children, Ran, Koki, and Shuta, who were friends. All three of them had different personalities and interests, but they always hung out together. After a particular incident, their friendship changes. One year after the incident, the three meet again at a memorial service, and all their phones start to ring altogether. They were surprised to discover that the phone call was from Asami, who was supposedly dead. The three were shown images of the future and asked to choose between two alternatives. The three of them work together unbound by the outcomes determined and protect the people of 24th Ward.

Star Power

CloverWorks has created a beautiful world for the show. The main three characters are well written and described. The animation was pleasant to watch despite being a low-budget anime.

Overall Opinion

Overall, it is worth watching as it is a short one and does not need much investment. It is worth watching for the plot twist and the mystery that it provides.