Sarazanmai
2019
Original language: Japanese
- animation
- action & adventure
- comedy
- sci-fi & fantasy
The story
After accidentally breaking a statue of the guardian god of the Asakusa district, middle school students Kazuki, Toi and Enta are transformed into kappas -creatures from japanese folklore- by Keppi, self-proclaimed prince of the Kappa Kingdom. If they want to regain their human form, they must collect the five Dishes of Hope for him, which fulfill the wishes of whoever possesses them. To do so, they will fight against the kappa-zombies and extract their "shirikodama", the mythical organ containing humans' deepest desires. Two policemen, Reo and Mabu, are the ones behind this evil scheme, turning humans into zombies as agents of the Otter Empire, enemy of the Kappa Kingdom since ancient times. In the guise of "Kappazon, Inc.", they control society by manipulating the desires of the masses for their own goals. To succeed in their mission, the boys must be connected through the "Sarazanmai", revealing their most intimate secrets in the process...
What it’s like
Bright, saturated animation with bold flat colors, sudden psychedelic flashes, and a restless editing rhythm that mixes slapstick with dreamlike set pieces, all set against the familiar streets of old Tokyo. Its sound leans on bouncy pop songs, sudden musical interludes, and goofy sound effects that can turn tender in a single beat. The overall vibe is manic but warm, like a midnight carnival that keeps dipping into sincere, aching feeling. Violence is frequent and cartoonish: fights with monstrous zombie creatures, comic gore, and grotesque bodily transformations, though nothing is lingered on for long. Sexual content is mostly implied, with romantic and erotic longing treated as an open, sometimes awkward subject. Its emotional register swings between silly and raw, and its young characters' arcs move from bravado toward painful honesty about who they want to be and who they love. It suits a late-night binge with friends, or anyone who enjoys genre mashups, odd humor, and male friendships written with unusual candor. Viewers wanting something gentle and undemanding should know its chaos and its intensity are constant.
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