Yuri Kuma Arashi review
yuri kuma arashi is truly an anime of all time
is it coherent? not really. is it well-paced and constructed? um… also not so much. but is it what it wants to be, is it interesting – yes. it is so all-over-the-place and often with such a serious affect for a fluffy, flamboyant execution that it never stops being like watching a trapeze artist. “you are doing something purposefully unreasonable and it risks destruction, but i am so captivated by it.” i should watch Ikuhara’s other work, i’d love to see what he does with a story that’s less schlock. enjoyed it.
ALTHOUGH!! one reason its fairy tale structure didn’t work for me, and indeed most fairy-tale-type things, is the story importance of higher beings that move pieces around the chessboard. in fairy tales they’re fairies, in old literature they’re gods. Yurikuma’s cabinet includes a court’s three extraphysical bear-judges of titles Life Cool, Life Beauty, and Life Sexy; and also a God. these serve the role of the classic supernatural cast - in these kinds of things, the gods are often highly knowledgeable, above mortal consequences, and confidently graceful.
and there is nothing graceful about god.