Alli Predicts- Part Three: Tokyo Revengers

I was going to save this one for later but I can't stop thinking about it. So, you might as well know now- This is your Anime of the Year award winner.

What a way to start off right? Talk about spoiler alert, but I stand by what I said- Tokyo Revengers will be winning Anime of the Year. There is no doubt in my mind. This anime carries the same weight that Jujutsu Kaisen did last year, and Demon Slayer the year before that. The same reception, the same intensity, the same shift from shonen- yeah, this is our winner.

So, what is our winner all about. Well, we start in the year 2017 following our main character Takemichi Hanagaki who is 26 years old and not living the life he thought he would be. One day he turns on the news and finds out that his first and only girlfriend from 12 years ago, Hinata Tachibana, was murdered along side her younger brother, after being caught in the middle of a gang attack. While processing the news and reflecting on the past, Takemichi is pushed in front of a train, and right before it hits, he is suddenly opening his eyes again looking not at the train that is to end his life, but his best friends from 12 years ago. Takemichi has somehow traveled 12 years (to the day) into the past, and landed on the day where his whole life changed for the worst. He watches it play out and doesn't attempt to change anything thinking this is just his life flashing before his eyes slowly. That is until the emotions of seeing his worse days again washes over him. Being stuck in his head with all these swirling thoughts, he doesn't even think twice as he saves a random kid from a pack of delinquents. Only to find out that this boy is Naoto Tachibana, the younger brother of Hinata who will die 12 years in the future at the hands of the Tokyo Manji Gang. On a desperate whim, Takemichi tells Naoto, the day, time, and manners of Naoto's, Hinata's, and Takemichi's deaths. Takemichi askes Naoto to swear that he will protect his sister, and Takemichi's only love. They shake hands to seal the deal only to find that the hand shake has more power than either of them expected. This hand shake changes the course of their histories forever, and launches them on the journey of creating a new future, one where the Tokyo Manji Gang doesn't kill Hinata Tachibana. Can fate actually be changed? Or are somethings just destined to happen?

Ooof, that was heavy, but don't worry the show is actually well balanced. There is plenty of heavy, but the light moments are just as notable. There are comedic relief points in all the right spots, it's well paced, and genuinely, the timing and progression of the show is on point. There are 24 episodes in this first season, but they go by in the blink of an eye. Just be prepared for the season finale, it will make you scream. Season two has not been announced yet, but fans shouldn't fret, because the reception for season one was great, and the original manga is still on-going and doing spectacularly. The anime isn't it's only adaptation it got either, it also got a live action movie this year, and will also be receiving a Stage Performance as well.

Going back to the original manga though, it was the third best selling series for the first half of the year, just behind who? Well, what do you know, Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen...huh... It's almost like a pattern is forming.... Another similarity amongst the three anime's, is that they are all technically shonen, but are actually primarily listed as something else. Both Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen were listed as dark fantasy and adventure. Tokyo Revengers is listed as a science fiction series, as well as, an action-thriller with a subgenre of yanki. [Yanki is a subgenre that is used for series that have gang/delinquent activities or characters]. I think it's super interesting to see such a different side of the shonen genre, it's clear that the creator used this as a real opportunity to give the genre some depth. And he did a fantastic job of it. The manga has won awards already, but nothing compared to what this anime is going to bring home. I am predicting multiple nominations across the board, including but not necessarily limited to: Anime of the Year, Best Opening Sequence, Best Boy, Best Girl, Best Antagonist, and Best Fight Scene.

This prediction is fine and dandy, and after all, is the point of this mini series, but I just can't be satisfied if I don't give my personal opinion on the series as well. But Allison you're predicting it's going to win Anime of the Year, doesn't that mean you love it? BZZT- WRONG PEANUT GALLERY! I also predicted when Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen won, but they weren't my personal picks. When doing these predictions I am trying very hard to predict based on what the people will vote for, and not my own personal taste. However, this time around I am more inclined to lean into this winner. Not that there aren't other anime's I feel deserve the win, but I can't help but give credit where credit is due, and this series has me a bit enchanted.

Don't get me wrong, I was angry the entire time I watched it. You can ask James, there was not a single episode where I wasn't screaming at the TV. Takemichi is such a frustrating character, but it's because of how real he is. You keep waiting for that stereotypical "shonen anime boy power up" but it never comes. His failures, his fears, his ignorance, it is just so incredibly frustrating, but it's also so human. These characters make you feel a multitude of emotions and I think that really speaks to the writing quality of the series. These are well developed/multi-dimensional characters that are here to constantly challenge you. Overall, it really slaps the stereotypical shonen mentality right out of you. Which, isn't a bad thing. We have to accept that sometimes, the good guys don't win. But, I think this one will.

If you want to check out Tokyo Revengers, you can find it on Crunchyroll or HBO Max. Just don't come crying to me when you finish and season two isn't available yet. Remember, we are all suffering together, and what a wonderful Thanksgiving message indeed!

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Thank you for tuning in to our third installment of Alli Predicts here on Nerdom. I have been having so much fun trying to piece together what our list of nominees will look like this year, and I hope you all have enjoyed watching me struggle through it. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I just wanted to let you all know that I am thankful for YOU! No matter what your Thanksgiving plans look like, know that you're not alone and I am in your corner. You got this! Eat some delicious food and don't mind the family drama in the background. I am unsure if we will be streaming on Sunday but I will for sure be back on Wednesday with part four of our mini series. So until then, stay safe, stay nerdy, and stay messy otaku!