English Dub Review: Tokyo Revengers: “Resist”
Overview: Naoto (Griffin Puatu) gives Takemichi (AJ Beckles) the rundown on all the ins and outs of the Tokyo Manji Gang, how his time-traveling power works and how to save Hinata (Lizzie Freeman) from an early grave.
Our Take: “Resist” is the name of the game as Takemichi resists reverting back to his old self. But before all of that, we are finally greeted by the newly resurrected present version of Hinata’s brother in detective Naoto Tachibana. Thus far he has not done much to distinguish himself as anything other than being an exposition machine so far and being there merely to aid the plot. There’s nothing wrong with characters serving that role. However, with him having such a pivotal role in Hinata’s personal story there needs to be, or should be, more to him than just that. His younger past self will hopefully give us some more meat on the bone in seeing him and sister’s relationship, even more teamwork and/or camaraderie with Takemichi, etc. Here’s hoping this is just the start though.
One of the second episode’s qualities that sure as heck wasn’t was the animation throughout most of the episode. However, it really becomes noticeable when Hanagaki is blasted to the past and he’s dropped into a middle school fight club (because that is obviously a regular occurrence in Japanese junior highs). When he is in the midst of his fight, everything looks and moves so stiff. Even the character’s hyper exaggerated reactions feel energyless.
But where this episode stumbles, animation wise, it more than makes up for story wise. Old habits die hard and changing is difficult. Resisting our old tendencies and starting anew is denying what has become second nature. Suffice to say, for people older who have become set in their ways, it’s all the more difficult and all the more relatable when one struggles to become the self-realized human being they so desire. The way Tokyo Revengers reflects this through Hanagaki’s hardships in a way that is far from instantaneous or easy is difficult to watch as it is painfully understandable. What isn’t painful though is Hinata and Takemichi’s wonderful chemistry. It’s refreshing to see her really understand him, even his less attractive parts and fully accept it, not to mention for them both to have each other’s back when they are vulnerable.
Lastly, we’re left at an exciting jumping on point for the third entry with the next episode with Takemichi taking on the middle aged looking middle school thug. And color me surprised it even had a dramatic, well animated pan around scene to end, so there’s one redeeming quality visually.
Revengers continues off of it’s initial debut to deliver more down to earth character work with Hinata and Takemichi, as well as even more gripping development for our young hero.
