If you enjoy history, even in a pretty casual manner, you will enjoy this show; even for those who aren't buffs on East Asian history. The story is pretty solid, and its pacing is decent.
The beginning few episodes of this anime feel a bit episodic, then around the mid-point it changes to a more central-plot driven format. In some ways, this slightly reminds me of Cowboy Bebop. However, unlike
...
If you enjoy history, even in a pretty casual manner, you will enjoy this show; even for those who aren't buffs on East Asian history. The story is pretty solid, and its pacing is decent.
The beginning few episodes of this anime feel a bit episodic, then around the mid-point it changes to a more central-plot driven format. In some ways, this slightly reminds me of Cowboy Bebop. However, unlike the other, Night Raid 1931 doesn't have as much character development. It relies more on the plot to advance itself than, which doesn't come fully into the fore until around the mid-series.
***Potential Spoilers*** (Regarding the Preachiness)
One of the central themes of this anime surrounds the A-bomb. It's pretty much anti-A-bomb. I believe it acknowledges in an indirect way (through a Japanese general mentioned in the show) General Giulio Douhet's theories regarding air warfare, mainly regarding mass bombing (which the A-bomb fits under, except the psychological factors are a lot more intense). It also acknowledges the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), which was promulgated beginning in the 1950's.
Despite acknowledging the some of the pro-sides of these arguments, such as the prevention of more world wars, etc. Night Raid 1931 doesn't really offer any real counter-argument other than an emotional one. And for those of us who are alive today because the A-bomb spared our grandfathers the trouble (and potentially their lives) of having to land forcefully upon the beaches of mainland Japan 14 years after the setting of this story, I have to say that the emotional argument comes off as a bit lazy, and is easily answerable with just as an emotional argument for the atomic bomb. In the end, I feel it could have done more to acknowledge the arguments of the other side, and try to answer/rebut them in a more competent manner.
This isn't so much a knock on the story on this point, but more of a knock on the theme which transcends the story-line.
That being said, if you enjoy history even a little bit, are looking for a good story with some moderate amounts of action and spy thrilling moments, and can tolerate challenges to your views/sensibilities even when those challenges come off as a bit lazy, then the show is definitely worth the watch.
Read more