#(where okiayu is kongming)

[crehador]

there is a black nail polish epidemic in valhalla (appreciative)

[tigerbasilisk]

Check out this anime!

Upon a friend's enthused suggestion, I picked up the new seasonal anime, Ya Boi Kongming, or Paripi Koumei. And I must say, with the three episodes that are out, I find myself enjoying it quite a lot.

Zhuge Liang (Kongming) reincarnates in modern day Shibuya, Japan. He is greatly moved by the vocals of aspiring singer, Eiko, and decides to dedicate his tactical genius to make her a star. The premise is a silly one, but the anime takes it seriously.

It's hilarious and full of heart.

The highlight of this show is Kongming himself. The interpretation here seems to do justice to the historical character. Kongming speaks with a regal flow that is a pleasure to listen to, and his sharp tongue charms many characters on screen. The voice actor, Ryōtarō Okiayu, and the writers have done a good job here. Courtesy and vocabulary aside, the very things he says and the questions he asks make for a believable character.

Even the other characters are entertaining in their own right. Eiko herself is a bundle of joy, which gives her a wonderful presence on screen. She has depth even this early into the show, what with her backstory and her constantly fluctuating sense of confidence. You really do wish for her to succeed. The bar owner is a quirky addition to the cast who serves well for comedy.

Speaking of which, after watching the first episode I realized that I recognized a voice actor. Indeed, Eiko Tsukimi from this show and Sakura Minamoto from Zombieland Saga are both voiced by Kaede Hondo. It's just perfect.

Source for fanart on the left

The anime does have that issue which plagues most shows where a character has genius level intellect. That is, that the character in question seems to magically succeed in his plans. But this early in, it's not a major problem for me. This show does attempt to provide explanation, which is appreciated.

This anime wins in terms of the emotions it evokes from the viewer. When Kongming is opening his heart to Eiko, you can feel his passion and sincerity. When he expresses sadness or shock at certain discoveries, you feel that gloom yourself. Eiko's singing does steal your heart, as she says it does and as it did for Kongming.