TOUHAI DENSETSU AKAGI: YAMI NI MAIORITA TENSAI (2005)

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What makes an animated show work so well when it's actually barely animated? That's the sort of question Akagi seeks to answer, and it does so marvelously by displaying the following: iron-tight writing, stellar voice acting, and a real weighty sense of tension and stakes--even if you know Akagi will win in the end. How does it all work? For one, the writing isn't held back when it comes to the primary conflict of which each arc surrounds--Mahjong. While it would be very easy for a show dedicated to displaying how ridiculously powerful its main character is, the anime shows little interest in letting Akagi win through ass pulls and random high value hands. Instead, each and every game gets a thorough explanation of each and every move by Akagi and his opponent, bringing even the most unaware-of-Mahjong-rules watchers along for the ride in a way that is understandable. There will be entire episodes following an insane play by the protagonist that is simply 24 minutes of explanation--and it works, because you find yourself on the edge of your seat dying to know how Akagi pulled it off. Pacing can be issue, but it's a matter of perspective. If you accept that the show effectively has no real ending and accept that its final arc will stretch across more than half of the show, then you're mentally prepared for Akagi. Each episode has a specific purpose to fill, whether it's to simply show the psychology of an opponent, explain the rules for an upcoming match, or just re-evaluate the current stakes. This may sound boring, and for some, it absolutely will be. However, these episodes are incredibly necessary to building the foundation for some of the most unbelievably bombastic moments that follow--every episode is effectively a domino (or Mahjong tile?) knocking one another down until a piece whacks a sensitive landmine of an episode. Like I said, there isn't really a whole lot of animation--but that's not to say it's dull to watch. Camera angles always make sense, allowing the viewer to observe the hands at play, discard piles, etc so that they're not out of the loop while also taking creative liberties in showing a huge range of emotions across characters' faces that display far, far differently from most anime thanks to the unique art style of Fukumoto. Additionally, voice acting is nothing short of remarkable with regards to the two biggest characters in Akagi--the main character himself, who correctly expresses a menacing, emotionless demon of a player--and Washizu, who gives one of the most unforgettable performances in anime ever--period--breathing life into a character that is maniacally evil, but completely fallible. In any case, Akagi will not be for everyone simply because Akagi is not like most anime. If you can't enjoy slow pacing, this is not for you. If you like fan service (or even women in general showing up in anime), this is not for you. If you find the idea of an anime centered around a board game to be too silly or far-fetched... reconsider. Seriously. Try four episodes, and you might just surprise yourself with how badly you want to watch what comes next.