DESCRIPTION

CAST

MOVIE ActionNinja Batman
MANGA ComedyOne OP JOKER
MUSIC ActionGo-Getters
MANGA ActionIsekai Suicide Squad

REVIEWS

• 

  Bretomart

  38/100
  If this is what DC have to offer to the anime community, respectfully, keep it to yourself.

  SPOILERS WARNING - PLOT POINTS FROM LAST EPISODES DISCUSSED

  Having been a fan of DC, Marvel and comic book superheroes and villains way before ever scratching the surface of anime, I came into the Suicide Squad Isekai with high hopes. Even if more recent movies in DC and Marvel were extremely weak, I always found that animation stood a step above, untainted. And upon hearing that one of the most memorable anti-hero/villain groups was getting the love from a Japanese animation studio, (even if in-house DC), I was willing to give this a good try. I wasn't going to take any early opinions as my viewpoint of it, but judge it as a whole. And what did it bring? Nothing but disappointment.

  I know that some people will immediately say, "but why didn't you drop it?" - and simply answered, if you want to properly review something, I find that a complete experience is necessary, to avoid any dispute "that it got better at the end." It did not. And look no further then the core team, that resembles their Western counterparts in name only. Harley was enjoyable, but not as Harley Quinn, but as a typical tsundere character in any run-of-the-mill anime. Is that a bad thing? No. But when you are bringing titular, well-established characters to a new medium, assume that your audience are people who are already acquainted with the character. Especially with one Harleen Quinzel, which has been adapted in video games, animation and live-action already. When the whole trifecta has been explored, you have a lot of reference material to compare it to, yet the writing here is never given any of the nuance that it's lent in its other iterations. Clayface, Deadshot, Peacemaker and King Shark are basically reduced to a bunch of bumbling buffoons. Not villains who have given Batman a run for his money, but just some shitty villains-turned-heroesque for the sake of it. The only person given even an ounce of character development is Harley, and even hers is superficial at best.

  Now, the plus side to this anime. The actual animation quality is pretty good. It's why my score isn't rock bottom, because a lot of what was being shown was easy on the eyes and actually refreshing considering how many animes in the Summer 2024 slate were just CG'd to absolute shit. So that was a good change of pace, and brought my opinion a cut above. But because character motivation and overall plot narrative never actually have any meaningful factors driving the story forward, and the studio choose to just "let stuff happen" when the plot demands it, it just, well, happens. You're thinking to yourself, yeah, this is cool but I don't even know what the fuck I'm meant to be watching? Like yay, they saved the city! But what or why or how? And why do we care so little about the initial setup with Amanda Waller? I've seen her maybe a handful of times, and this was a solid 3h 30m+ of watch time. Even when James did The Suicide Squad, he had the sense to keep Viola David (Amanda Waller) as a big driving factor for what the team was doing. You felt a sense of urgency for what was going on, and that she might pop anyone's head at any given moment, even for the most minuscule of things. Why did they only leave it for the end and make it meaningless? So you're telling me these guys are heroes now and none of the death threats actually mattered? Even if it was Clayface, you spit in your own stakes and make the effort mean nothing if you make the main antagonistic force a joke. Like this anime turned out to be.

  If this is what DC have to offer to the anime community, respectfully, keep it to yourself. We don't need more checklist and assembly-line superhero TV shows that suck. CW did that with a lot of your IPs. You've done some of it yourself with your recent movies. Crisis on Infinite Earths was stellar, and Batman: Caped Crusader is a decent iteration, but you really screwed this up. This doesn't deserve a season 2, even if they set one up. Try again with some other more recognizable name, but a first season for any anime is the most important one to get you invested in the world and what's going on, and I have never been more bored in my entire life. This is an anime you'd watch if you've literally watched everything else that's even remotely interesting. It isn't a top pick, or even a top 20 pick. It's an anime. Or tries to be, at least. And definitely doesn't deserve the Isekai title. Putting this show in the same category as the likes of Reincarnated as a Slime, is a crime.

  As a closing note - if you enjoyed this anime, then that's okay too. You can enjoy things for the sake of enjoying them, but I think if you want to use already established characters in a new format, you have to change them which both respects the source but also puts your own spin to it to make it stand out. And this does not elevate, enhance or change anything positively from these characters, but chooses to use them for their namesake as an attraction but never break the mold of any C-tier Isekai, and given how much they gut the source, only hurt these IPs instead. If you're expecting this to be a DC story or anything of quality, look elsewhere. James has once again let us down.

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• 

  MorriganNarukami

  57/100
  Not as bad as I thought it would be, but not as good as it could too

  So, to be fair, I'm not that good on writing reviews for animes yet (or for anything that isn't a game), but since it's the first episodic DC anime (I think), I got curious and decided to watch and try to write something at least for this one

  Being honest, I thought it would be way worse. Of course, we got the James Gunn movie, but besides that we got the David Ayer movie and Kill The Justice League which has to be the worst thing that we got envolving this story.
  Because of that, I was hoping to watch the worse thing ever. But...it's actually ok. Not as remarkable as it could be, but not as bad as it sounds either.

  The animation fells a little inconsistant. Like, there were some times that I personally thought it looked great, but there were others that I didn't like much (especially when they're fighting a dragon just to get their equipments back). Though it's hard for me to really analize that part since, even if it's an important aspect, it's not one that bothers me that much unless it's literally unwatchable or near it, and fortunally ISS doesn't reach that level

  The songs I just remember the ending one. No jokes, most of them just feels as background music that was made for that moment not be in entire silence. Even the opening one I can't remember anything since it was so basic. Not bad songs, but nothing I would want to hear more times or that it got on my head at any point

  The story is...there. I don't really know if the writing is bad or if it's just that the idea feels so generic to a DC show that I really wasn't paying that much attention, but I swear that the most I can remember is that they're transported to that medieval world to collect resources, and they have an timed bomb implanted on their necks so if they tried anything funny they would die (I do remember the final plot twist though, but I'll not talk about it because of spoilers. Although I think it's a little predictable and generic)
  Probably it was made just to focus on the action

  The characters are good on the DC side. I don't feel that Harley and Joker are as crazy as they normally are, but I think this is probably because it's an anime, so (although I think they really did made Joker more calmer, even if he drives a car THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS A FREAKING PIANO). Also, something funny is that I thoungh Harley would be my favourite character there since she is the most popular on the bunch and is the one that is always on the Suicide Squad team (I think). But in the end my favourite one was actually clayface. I can't really explain why, but he did ended up being the most fun to see on screen (and through the entire anime I kept making jokes about he being on the "Michael Jackson" archetype of character)

  Now for the characters from the medieval world...I barely remember anything about them. Besides Aldora, Fione and Cecil, I really don't feel that any character was that important for the story, and even those three was not that interesting. I think I do prefer Fione because of the end, but even with their importance, they were not anything special

  Like I said, I did thought it would be way worse before watching it, but it was actually fun. However...I don't know if I would recommend this or not. It's fun, but easily forgettable since there is literally zero things that can make it special somehow. Giving the ending scene, there is probably some plans to make an second season, but I doubt that they will do it (and regardless if they do it or not, I don't think there will be that much difference)

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• 

  Abdiel7

  74/100
  Behold, the great seasonal punching bag! The Cartoon-Anime amalgamation.

  Behold, the great seasonal punching bag!

  

  From Wit Studio and Warner Bros, we have a rare but welcome Cartoon-Anime amalgamation.
  It gobbles up greedily, ingredients and elements from both Western Cartoons and Anime, however Anime(thankfully) wins this tug of war.

  I will preface this by saying I watched in it Japanese.

  Without even beginning to watch it, there’s evidently a lot to engage in hostility here for the seasoned hate-watchers(me included);

  • A DC/Japanese Fantasy Crossover.
  • Western Cartoon Vibes?
  • Anime Original
  • Harley (LOL) Quinn
  • Suicide (LOL) Squad
  • 10 episodes??
  • Isekai (Garbage??)
  • 3D CGI Monsters??? (boogeyman)
  • Warner Bros??

  With such great potential, my mission ended in abject failure. Somehow I finished it with the only 2 things to critique in any sort of depth from this list being the anime original short story, and the 10 episodes.

  My mouth was gaping open, it turns out, the show is actually good. To dislike this show you must truly come in wanting to hate it, and that didn't even work for me. It's a very bony isekai, with the meat in action, dialogue and humor elements that elevate the experience to explosive heights.

  This is the kind of Harley you're getting, A welcome surprise..
  
  

  

  I get it, we’re all sick of Harley Quinn believe me, ill be the first to say that. This overused, utterly insufferable vixen gets endlessly and shamelessly shoved into each successive addition to this IP so that they can lure in most lucrative demographic (young to middle-aged women) to consume these shows. Consequently they’ve killed off all of the die-hard fans of this series. However this show is a maverick, in this succession of adaptions. It scarcely even feels like she was shoehorned in, she fits the story quite well.

  What you have to understand is that whenever a new entry to this franchise is adapted it’s mix and match cast and there’s always too much creative freedom in the story-telling. The greatest mainstay is that lead is always Harley Quinn but the other members are practically whatever the adaption demands. This, of course follows the trend, taking their own editorial spin on the concept. I will say that, this rendition of Harley is probably the best I’ve seen. You get to see how crazy she is, but it seldom neglects her vulnerabilities and nature as a woman. Characters like Joker, Peacemaker and to some extent Deadshot and Clayman were standouts here at just being presented in a very endearing fashion. Their powers are on display but also their limitations as well, there's a consistency to their move sets and capabilities which did wonders for the sound mind. If you love those characters you will be pleasantly surprised. In particular Peacemaker who's fans have been eating good lately with a fairly decent live-action series as of late, on the hand Joker’s farcical, failed, faux-harmonic movie sequel has left fans of the character in total despondency. For fans of Joker, you probably need this fix.

  

  It’s an entirely new premise. It was extremely riveting experience with very eye-catching fight scenes packed with slapstick humor which never reached western levels of cringe. No homosexual themes or hints, minute to non-existent perverted sexual jokes. Yes we have these familiar DC characters but they are portrayed intentionally in a very palatable manner. It’s DC villains and for the most part they’re in character. They’re scumbags they’re boisterous, they’re careless and they do stupid things and it’s all good fun. It’s written like the older type of shows just good entertainment with no ulterior motives, how refreshing does that sound? It truly delivers that experience.

  I will quickly summarize:
  What are the Pros?
  +Very Fluid and expressive and colorful animation, with a welcome stylish edge
  +Harley, Joker and Peacemaker
  +Funny and Exciting. Smooth and enjoyable character dynamics.
  +Barely any Americanized progressive themes.
  +Decent characterization with a tame character pool.
  +Tactful fight choreography.
  +Amazing Soundtrack from Kenichiro Suehiro(Eminence, Fire Force, Re:zero)
  +Banger OP and unskippable ED.
  +Decent ending setting up a second season with heightened potential.

  What are the Cons?
  -Very bare-bones isekai plotline.
  -Lack of World building, Explaining of elements.
  -10 episodes.
  -Limited Story/Plot
  -Episode to episode direction poor.
  -Scenes lacking staying power, fleeting emotions.
  -Hard to get immersed, due to cartoonish tendencies.

  Well there’s not much to nitpick on, they knew what their job was and executed it quite well. It’s astonishing, they genuinely they did characterization of the main cast better than so many of the Hollywood superhero productions, it’s somewhat embarrassing how much better their efforts were.

  __Final Rankings__

  Animation 8
  Sound 9
  Plot 5
  Characters 7
  Enjoyment 8

  37/50 – 7.4 – 7/10 – Recommend to Enthusiasts

  You’re thinking, “You sound like you loved it why have you only given it 7”? Well I must confess that I’m primarily a binger. As an honorary binger, the number of episodes as well as the ability for me to get immersed heavily sways my score. I must be able to spend hours on end pressing the next button at the end of an episode without a single thought to really reach the 9-10 mark.
  it’s hard to rate so highly a show that I could control my urge to binge, 4 sessions for a 10 episode season, when I’ve done 24 previously in one to 2 sessions for other shows, this, of course heavily affects my score.

  I recommend this show to all Isekai connoisseurs and those who are fond of DC comics as gateway to the better medium(Manga and Anime). Honestly this has trumped anything America has come up with for this “Suicide Squad” group, with only the first adaption “Batman: Assault on Arkham” coming close. As a binge it’s not the best as it’s just not too coherent as they bridge between the episodes, a hall-mark of Western cartoons juxtaposed with Anime.

  Give it a try, ignore the negative reviews and by the way where is the Season 2 announcement?

  

  Hope this helps.

  Continue on AniList

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