Lycoris Recoil | Unraveling the Bonds | Anime Review

Lycoris Recoil

Japan has never been as safe as now, thanks to the efforts of the syndicate named “Direct Attack” (DA). This anti-terrorist organization raises orphan girls as killers to carry out assassinations under their "Lycoris" program. Takina Inoue is an exceptional Lycoris with a strong sense of purpose and perfectionist tendencies. However, as good as she is, Takina makes a mistake that will change her life forever.

After a hostage situation went wrong, Takina was removed from the organization and transferred to a new base of operations—a cafe named LycoReco. Her new partner, Chisato Nishikigi, significantly differs from what she expected. She seems to care little about her duties and tends to drag Takina around on weird tasks with vague explanations of helping people in need. Not happy with the situation, Takina wants to do everything so she can come back to the organization, while Chisato is determined to show her that there is more to life than killing.

Lycoris Recoil is an original anime from the summer season of 2022, which aired from July to September. It is a product of the infamous studio A-1 Pictures, which is best known for producing shows like Fairy Tail, Sword Art Online, Kaguya Sama: Love is War, Your Lie in April, etc. Even though it only has 13 episodes, Lycoris Recoil won the audience's hearts and got many positive reviews.

Even though it’s not on the level of the most popular shows from the last year, Lycoris Recoil is still a wildly recognized and beloved show, thanks primarily to its characters and their relationships but also to an exciting story.

The plot of Lycoris Recoil isn’t necessarily complicated or even the show's priority. The anime mainly relies on its characters and their internal conflicts. However, that’s the whole point. For the characters to shine the brightest, the plot is intentionally made to be quite ridiculous sometimes.

Thanks to this semi-absurd story, characters are often put in situations that bring out their authentic selves. The plot is set in a way that will be fun to watch but also fitting for the characters to show us the different aspects of the show and bring us in. The show is not about the plot but about the characters and their journeys.

However, as much as a plot serves as a tool to deepen characters, it isn’t exactly just a random set of events happening whenever. The story of Lycoris Recoil may be secondary to the characters, but in combination with them, it has a meaning. One of the primary ideas of this anime is the false sense of security that rules modern-day Japan.

The general public firmly believes that the crime rate is lower than ever, while in reality, it’s so high that orphan girls have to become assassins to keep the peace. It also raises a moral dilemma: is crime lessened if the price is the use of children for military purposes? These undertones are the things that make Lycoris Recoil so unique and beloved. The relationship between the characters and the plot is mutual, and they fulfill each other in the best way possible.

As for the characters, that’s where this show shines. The relationship between Takina and Chisato and their own internal conflicts are at the core of the anime. At first glance, these two might seem like the traditional “opposites attract but have a rocky start” trope, but it becomes very clear very early that they are much more than that. These two are matches made in Heaven for many reasons. The two complement each other so well and are essential for each other’s character development. Their relationship starts rocky with their different values and belief systems.

On the one hand, there is Takina, who doesn’t know anything outside her life as an assassin in DA and therefore is dedicated to that lifestyle. She is stubborn and a perfectionist, initially resulting in her not being the fans' favorite. That’s where Chisato comes in. Even though she does the same job as Takina, Chisato has a different approach. She values life and firmly believes there is more to it than killing, which she proves by finishing the mission successfully without killing anyone.

This is where Takina’s stubbornness and unwillingness to compromise come to the test—being met with a bubbly Chisato whose outlook on life is so different from hers at first makes Takina uncomfortable. The whole environment of LycoReco makes her uneasy because of her upbringing and values, but the longer she stays there with Chisato, the more she understands the flaws in her beliefs.

This change was crucial to her development and growth, which is why she became fans' favorite by the end. And, of course, nothing of that would be possible without Chisato, the show's heart. Chisato is simple but still inspiring and relatable. She is as positive as someone can be in such a situation and tries to pass it on to others, especially Takina.

Her strange personality is fascinating when you consider that she is the greatest Lycoris ever, being referred to as the “agency's most prized possession.” Her persona being so light when she is the best among DA agents makes her quite an enjoyable character and opens the question of how strong she is if she can be the greatest without killing.

With these two being so close and essential to each other, a unique relationship is expected to be formed. They are coworkers and best friends, and their relationship is even very Yuri-coded, making Chisato and Takina one of the greatest duos out there.

Of course, the other characters are not to be forgotten. Mika, the manager of the LycoReco cafe, and regular customer Shinji Yoshimatsu share a deep bond with Chisato and are responsible for her becoming a great assassin. The cafe worker, Mizuki, is also an exciting addition to the cast with her decision to join DA (Direct Attack) in order to get married. With a few more characters, these people make Lycoris an exciting show with many qualities that are still imperfect.

The outstanding production of the show is another reason to love Lycoris Recoil. Studio A-1 Pictures again did fantastic work, which was to be expected given the striking looks of their other shows, such as seasons one and two of The Seven Deadly Sins and their newest project, Mashle.

The voice acting and music deserve praise as well. The opening song, “Alive,” is one of the most excellent openings in 2022.

One of the most impressive things about Lycoris is that many staff and cast members were rookies in their respective jobs when the show was made, which makes its success satisfying. Shingo Adachi made his debut as a director, while Imigimuru made his debut as a character designer. The voice actress of Takina, Wakayama Shoin, has been in the industry for only three years before becoming a part of the Lycoris Recoil cast. Given the experience of the staff and cast, the quality of this work is unbelievable.

Overall, Lycoris Recoil, as flawed as it is with its underwhelming plot, has many great qualities that make it enjoyable. It may not be the most profound and darkest seinen ever, but the viewer would still think about it after watching. The characters will make you feel something, and you won’t forget them after a few days, which shows their impact. Considering all of that, it’s safe to say that Lycoris Recoil is one of the best anime of 2022.