It’s time for another Fall Stick or Twist review, in this segment we will be watching the first 3 episodes of as many new Fall Anime as we can. Similar to the Black Jack system, a stick rating will mean we will continue watching the anime for the rest of it’s season and a twist rating will mean that we have given up on it and will not continue to watch. As per our usual reviews we will be focusing on animation, characters and story before providing our final thoughts and we will rate the Anime as either Stick or Twist.
Up for review this time is Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World, available on Funimation. Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World is a romance and Sci-Fi series based on a light novel series written by Kei Sazane. Funimation Licensed the series with Silver Link in charge of the production, the series is being directed by Shin Onuma and Mirai Minato, with Kaori Sato as the character designer and chief animation director.
Story
For years, a seemingly endless war has raged between the technologically advanced Heavenly Empire and the country of powerful magic users known as the Nebulis Sovereignty. Raised in the Empire Iska was trained to be a master saint swordsman, the ultimate weapons against Witches. Iska hates the casualties of war and is arrested and jailed for treason when he helped a Witch escape from prisoner of war camp. One year later he is released by the Eempire on one condition kill the Ice Calamity Witch, after a chance encounter on battle field they realise they may have more in common than once thought.
This is an interesting story, almost Romeo and Juliet like, the first 3 episodes have done an excellent job of setting up the rest of the series. There is a lot to enjoy about this with romance, action, comedy and drama this series first three episodes has all of it.
Animation
The animation for this series is excellent, they do a great job with both the sci-fi and magic settings. The cities are brought to life with plenty of bright colours. The character designs are good, it’s blend of basic and fantastical with all of the characters being believable, there’s no stand out crazy hair for the protagonists, it’s the costume designs where the artists have been able to have fun.
Characters
In the first three episodes we are introduced to quite a few a characters but only focussed on two main protagonists so the side characters are pretty cliché for a Sci-Fi Fantasy. The Main protagonist Iska is your typical hero, raised as soldier, yet he only fights for peace, his aim is to bring an end to the war as quickly as possible and with minimal casualties. The lead female Aliceliese Lou Nebulis is more than just your typical sheltered princess and this explored well in first three episodes it’s clear she does not fully buy into the doctrine set by the previous royal witches.
Final Thoughts
We are thoroughly enjoying this series it really does bring all the tools the table, great action, funny comedy, a blossoming romance and some tense drama there is a lot to like about this series. There is great blend of Sci-Fi and Magical fantasy so again there is just little bit for everybody to enjoy no matter your preferred genre. It’s a series that will be excellent to binge back all the way through once the full season has been released and that’s a sign of good anime, when you want to binge through again after your first watch.
Verdict: Stick
The Great British Otaku
Andrew More
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