English Dub Review: Shikizakura: “Future/Shikizakura”

Overview: Kakeru (Bryson Baugus), Oka (Melissa Molano), Ryo (Jeremy Gee), Haruko (Cat Thomas) and Kaede (Alyssa Marek) along with Black team come together for one last all out attack against Shuten (John Gremillion). 

Our Take: There are absolutely no real surprises to be had throughout Shikizakura’s end and the beginning of the character’s future. Beat for beat, it never goes against the grain of the countless finales in the Tokusatsu and Seinen space. It features a big team battle with members working in unison against a big baddie with passionate shouts of heroic morality and a sweet happy ending for all. However, even with that, similar to the feeling of stuffing my face with candy on Halloween night while binging horror flicks, I was in it for a sugar craze and just enjoying the ride. 

In an attempt to create something resembling an inner conflict, both Kakeru and Oka confront their most idealistic desires whilst under Shuten’s influence. However, it is too short-lived and resolved much too quickly, translating to their illusions being underdeveloped and unconvincing as a whole, not allowing you to appreciate their emotional breakthrough. To make matters worse, the shoddy 2D animation work, one that the show has a habit of producing, acts as it’s visual style making it jarring to watch, let alone take seriously. 

From here, simply put, it’s predictable. But a good kind of predictable. The kind that comforts you with all the spectacle of the quality CG and fast paced implementation of it transitioning between Kakeru, Ryo, Kaede and Haruko and Black Team to each conclude their emotional strife with the Oni while they get their licks in. It is executed well enough for our main group of heroes due to their camaraderie and development, even if they vary in quality and length. With that being said, it is less effective in regards to Black team as they had even less time and effort put into backstories, dynamics and motivations. And of course it would not be a proper finale without the main theme bumping in the background in classic anime fashion against a huge Heartless-esque boss straight out of Kingdom Hearts. 

The building of Kakeru and Ibara’s bond is far from perfect. Their development definitely could have used more time in the oven, and in Ibara’s case, could’ve been mapped out more clearly with the plot holes his backstory with Oka’s mother creates in relation to his motivation. However, their key moments of finding trust in another, however clichély constructed, was touching, making their parting of ways even more so in how much their playful friendship and faith will be missed. With Ibara’s closing of the door between worlds, so too is that of Kakeru and the gang with them all going to live normal lives. Because of who adorable Kakeru and Oka are with one another, another episode to showcase their transition from friends to romantic partners would have been nice. And even though the anime ending credits spoiled it initially and the final episode was not earth-shatteringly unique, knowing for certain that Kakeru and Oka join hands and walk off through the cherry blossom trees is satisfying enough for me, a sentiment that goes for the rest of the cast in enjoying their freedom from fighting Oni and pursuing their passions.