Sure, there’s character reactions that can be comedic at times but it gets tedious fast. However, there’s not much else that makes this anime’s visual quality stand out. On paper, the anime quality looks tolerable with the body movements, character designs, and facial expressions. My impression of their work in recent years has quite underwhelming and it seems that they didn’t manage to step up to the plate this time. If you want some actual shogi with integrity and promising story, check out 3-gatsu no Lion. Furthermore, the main cast is just incredibly one dimensional with personalities that are hardly interesting. It doesn’t help that the show often jumps around between opponents without giving the audience a memorable rivalry.

The mind games and psychology is hardly felt because of the way dialogue are delivered. One might think this is a positive but it’s hardly that. Now I’m not an expert on shogi but this anime seems to dedicate a lot of time in the matches themselves. Unfortunately, one episode can’t carry the show as altogether as the others are far less welcoming to watch. The storytelling of her past also make us understand Keika as a person and shogi player. In perhaps one of the more realistic and heartwarming episodes, we see her determination and strive to improve. The only character that I respect in this anime would be Keika Kiyotaki. Speaking of development, the show is mostly void of that except on technical improvement of shogi skills. It doesn’t help that he is dense as a black hole and the show never really develop him as a character. The show saturates him with a generic personality and gets him often into compromising positions, either with his disciples or Ginko. Yaichi himself is hardly an interesting character either. Is that an overstatement? However, it’s undeniable that the show gives an uncomfortable feeling whenever characters such as Ai, Charlotte, or others tries to get Yaichi’s attention. It seems almost every episode along the way wants to showcase shogi but also leaves the impression of underage girls doing what a grown up would do. For me, I decided to give this show a chance to see if it improves. Nonetheless, the initial beginning will test the audience on whether they should continue or not. I think it’s easy to pinpoint her intentions after watching her reactions from just the first episode alone. We also meet Ginko Sora, a female prodigy who also happens to be Yaichi’s childhood friend. That’s just the tip of the iceberg though.

After being taken in as disciple, she seems to be even more attached to him to the point where you’ll see “yandere” moments. It leaves a controversial impression especially with how she reacts to him when other girls are involved in their lives. The main culprit is 9-year old Ai Hinatsuru who seems to have an attraction towards shogi master Yaichi. The first few episodes can easily rub people in the wrong way with the way its characters are introduced. The story itself may be focused on shogi but the overall tone of the show will be far distracting than you’ll realize. Still, there’s some hope because the show involves shogi, a strategic game of intelligence, right?

No, I’m not calling this anime a harem but it doesn’t help by the fact that some of them look about half his age. Upon looking at the key visual, you’ll notice an average dull looking male protagonist surrounded by what seems to be a harem of girls. Sometimes, people say don’t judge a book by its cover. I was cautiously optimistic about this show at first but upon finishing this anime, I can say that without a shadow of a doubt, Ryuunou no Oshigoto left little more than desired. It’s 2018 and here we are, an anime adaptation based on shogi with a cast filled with questionable characters and content. Or rather, this copy-paste formulaic anime adaptation of the light novel that apparently was voted #1 in the Japan’s Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! for 2017 made me wonder if the anime industry even tries anymore.

Bleach 2018 ayo nonton