Zenshu is an anime original that MAPPA Studios is currently releasing this Winter 2025 season. I had no clue what it was about, and I didn’t even understand the synopsis.
I have watched the first episode and understand the premise now. It definietly has the potential, especially because MAPPA Studios is producing it.
Zenshu Review Episode 1 “First Stroke”
Episode 1 Recap
The first episode starts off with showing the success of the main character, Hirose Natusko, as an animator. But quickly that all goes away when she eats a bento box and gets isekai’d into the world of her favorite childhood anime. She meets her childhood anime crush Luke, and some of the “Nine Soldiers”. As she’s seen this show many times she knows exactly what is going to happen. She remembers that the town will get invaded and she helps the group save the town.
My Thoughts
There are a lot of ways this anime could go, and the world building could be great as well.
Some examples could be that she could change the outcome of the anime, or this becomes a romcom with how Natsuko and Luke can have something.
A lot of questions still need answers. Such as: can Natsuko get back to reality, did she really pass away in the real world, why is this her favourite anime of all time.
This new isekai anime has an old 80’s art style to it, I think a lot of people will enjoy it. The production is amazing as well coming from MAPPA. Watching the OP sequence, you can already tell. The fight scene at the very end of the episode had amazing animation for a simple scene.
Should You Watch Zenshu?
I think you should give this new isekai anime a shot, they can go an infinite amount of routes because it’s an anime original. MAPPA doesn’t have to follow any source material, so if they wanted to switch something up slightly in the middle of production they could have. I will watch this when it finishes airing, along with many other anime.
Synopsis
After graduating from high school, Natsuko Hirose starts her career as an animator. [Natsuko’s] talent quickly flourishes, and she makes her debut as a director in no time. Her first anime becomes a massive hit, sparking a social phenomenon and earning her recognition as an up-and-coming genius director.
Her next project is set to be a romantic comedy movie themed around first love! However, having never been in love herself, Natsuko struggles to understand the concept of first love, and as a result, she’s unable to create the storyboard, causing the movie production to come to a standstill. One day, she passes out while working on her storyboard and wakes up in the world of her favorite childhood anime movie “A Tale of Perishing.”
Taken From Crunchyroll
