From time to time, a brand new anime season will begin and I’ll discover one sequence, particularly, to latch onto like a vice. This season, that sequence is Sasaki and Peeps. In solely a few episodes, this sequence has proven me edge-of-your-seat motion and quickly creating plots and has dipped its toes into so many genres that it’s laborious to even know what to categorise this sequence as. The purpose is that Sasaki and Peeps has one thing to please everybody!

First launched in Japan in 2018 as a light-weight novel, Sasaki and Peeps at present has eight volumes out in Japan (5 of which have been translated into English by Yen Press). The anime adaptation, with animation produced by Silver Hyperlink, was first introduced in 2022.

So, What’s It About?

Within the first episode, the viewers meets a typical workplace employee named Sasaki, who buys a chicken for companionship. What Sasaki doesn’t understand till after he will get house is that his chicken is definitely a reincarnated magic consumer and Sasaki is now the primary character in an isekai. That is the beginning of his new sequence of adventures as he travels between modern-day Japan and the fantasy world his chicken, Peeps, is from. 

Sasaki learns to journey from one world to a different and use fundamental magic. This turns out to be useful one evening as he comes throughout a younger girl being attacked. Saving her, this younger girl errors him for somebody with psychic powers and ropes him into becoming a member of a authorities company

Throughout the first couple of episodes, Sasaki and Peeps has confirmed to be a tour de drive of genre-mashing. This sequence is primarily an isekai, with Sasaki always touring from one world to a different. Nonetheless, to name this sequence “simply an isekai” can be doing it a terrific disservice. Although it’s nonetheless early in its run, Sasaki and Peeps has proven that it’s prepared to throw out the rule ebook and create a brand new recreation altogether. 

A Totally different Style For Everybody

What makes the isekai side so attention-grabbing is the foreshadowing. Sasaki is already taking part in with hearth in his travels to the opposite world, with Peeps having him promote trendy items in a fantasy setting. The noble who guidelines over the land plans to make use of the products to realize a navy benefit over neighboring areas. Will Sasaki get pulled right into a warfare that he created? 

Although there are solely a few episodes out as of this writing, Sasaki and Peeps has already proven its willingness to cross boundaries. Within the second episode, a bunch of rogue psychics are inflicting issues, which implies Sasaki and his new companion, Hoshizaki, should assist carry them to justice. What follows is a literal whirlwind of psychics doing battle in opposition to one another that ends with a curious stalemate.

If all that isn’t sufficient convincing to get you to test this one out, there’s nonetheless extra. On the shut of episode two, one more new wrinkle is launched that could be essentially the most attention-grabbing of all. 

After being roped into becoming a member of a authorities company and promoting items to a society that possible isn’t prepared for them, Sasaki is able to return house when he comes throughout one thing much more surprising… a magical woman digging by the trash. Earlier than he (or we for that matter) can study something about this new character, she disappears right into a void. Who is that this unusual woman? Why was she digging within the rubbish for melon bread? What’s the take care of the void that she disappeared into? 

These are simply the primary plots, too; I haven’t even touched on the subplots. My favourite tease up to now has been Sasaki’s mysterious next-door neighbor, who at all times appears to be outdoors her condo with a tragic look in her eyes. Does she know greater than she is letting on? It’s inconceivable to know now, however I predict this character will likely be a key supply of plot development to observe sooner or later.

At this level, I do not know the place Sasaki and Peeps goes, and I couldn’t be happier about that. With this sequence crossing so many boundaries and genres, it seems like there aren’t any limits to the place this anime might go sooner or later. Will Sasaki trigger a whole implosion of the fantasy world he now frequents? What’s the take care of his next-door neighbor? When will we see extra of the rogue psychics? There are such a lot of questions left and I do know for sure that I’m going to be hanging out till the top to get my solutions.

L.B. Bryant

For those who’ve been tapped into on-line geek tradition during the last dozen-and-a-half years, you would possibly acknowledge L.B. Bryant from anime web sites starting from Anime Herald to J-Record to Viewster. Whilst you’re extra prone to discover them watching anime than gaming, they’ve nonetheless been taking part in video games badly for the reason that days of the unique Nintendo. A few of their all-time favorites embrace Lunar: Silver Star Story and Yakuza Zero.

Extra Tales by L.B. Bryant