English Dub Season Review: KADO: The Right Answer

When I first began watching KADO: The Right Answer, I had no clue where the show was going. Its first few episodes clearly exhibited that KADO didn’t mind taking an unconventional path. Rather than an action-packed or even fan service-filled route, KADO: The Right Answer opted for a dialogue-driven format which brought loads of mystery.

Even once the action picked up, it was few and far between. I liked the slow burn which gave a few answers as the show progressed but which concluded most of the early episodes with additional questions rather than answers. I sure had no clue what the “right answer” was.

Complementing its strong plot, the voice acting was spectacular throughout. Ian Mead Moore played negotiator and protagonist Kojiro Shindo perfectly. Through Moore’s vocal talents, Shindo appears a stoic pragmatist, but it’s also clear that he’s got plenty of feelings. Similarly, Jason Liebrecht puts in an inspired performance as the mysterious Yaha-Kui zaShunina. Liebrecht infuses zaShunina’s voice with an ethereal quality that provides a sense of otherworldliness.

Music is pretty understated and doesn’t devolve into wannabe pop music like Hand Shakers. The animation is on point with tons of imagination. I like the appearance of zaShunina with his regal robes and disembodied arms (you just have to see what I’m talking about for it to make sense). Kado is neat, and I admittedly enjoy it probably because it reminds me of the Lament configuration, aka the puzzle box from Hellraiser.

Ironically, it’s at the tail end of the series where the plot begins to derail. Additionally, as the action increases so too does the confusion. A few massive twists make KADO: The Right Answer insanely enjoyable, and foster excitement for the next episode. “Nanomis-Hein” and “Towanosakiwa” completely upend the KADO universe. This, however, culminates into an adrenaline-packed final few episodes. Finale “Yukika” feels like a bit of a cop out. A completely new character emerges out of nowhere and cleans up the mess.

Still, the horror themes (there’s a scene reminiscent of Temple of Doom sans the annoying Short Round) were pleasantly surprised. I didn’t expect, and wholly enjoyed, the Lovecraftian imagery in the finale.

The third act of KADO: The Right Answer makes a ton of reveals which is gratifying. But it feels as if a lot of those are underexplored and underdeveloped. Instead, the series seems to coast on its twists rather than storytelling. It’s disappointing how KADO ends, especially after its strong beginning. Overall, it’s a well-acted series which slowly builds to a crescendo. Although KADO: The Right Answer doesn’t end as strongly as it began, it’s an enjoyable anime series which feels utterly unique.