Sonny Boy | Anime Review | Pinnedupink.com

Sonny Boy

It takes a deep and engaging Mystery series to really stir our minds and get us thinking even while not watching it. Anime caters to these needs in various forms through no limited amount of titles, but what else should we be mindful of when picking one? An intriguing story, dynamic characters, great visual aspects and pleasing audio effects are a mandatory part of the mix. While each department may not be perfect, others can cover up for them and thus create a suspenseful Mystery Anime series.

“Sonny Boy” is a 12 episode TV anime series that aired from the 16th of July until the 1st of October, in Summer 2021. Going by the same name in both Japanese and English versions, the series was produced by Shochiku, Marui Group and BS Asahi, licensed by Funimation and brought to life by Studio Madhouse.

The main staff involved in it are Natsume Shingo as Director and on Script, GING NANG BOYZ on Theme Song Performance, Hata Shouji as Sound Director and Eguchi Hisashi on Original Character Design. It features the genre of Mystery along with the Super Power theme. It received a rating of PG-13, for teenagers 13 years or older. This is an original series with no other affiliated media so far.

The story focuses on thirty-six peculiar students who suddenly find themselves and their school building aimlessly adrift in an unknown void-like dimension. Things get weirder as certain supernatural powers start awakening in some of them, creating an undeniable sense of detachment between them, and the group slowly but indeed starts to break apart. Despite the valiant attempts by the Student Council to impose order and keep everyone together, they ultimately end up clashing with the students who are now in possession of special abilities, as they chose to rebel against their rigid and strict control.

However, this conflict among themselves leads the students to discover that this bizarre world possesses its own set of rules and that following them is necessary for survival. Before long, one of the students decides to take a fateful leap of faith, causing the whole school to switch dimensions yet again. While they continue to deal with the unique challenges and bizarre circumstances that each of these worlds present, these students must also unravel the true nature of this mysterious phenomenon and consequently find a way to return home.

Sonny Boy had a lot of promise, and it certainly delivered that much. The surreal story of these students adrift in an alternate dimension has a nice mix of fiction, complex relationships, charismatic characters, and intriguing challenges faced along their path. This series may not be everyone’s cup of tea due to complexity, fast pacing, and plot-heavy episodes; this is not a great anime to binge-watch.

It takes some effort to follow the plot correctly, and the ending is left open, allowing viewers to make their own interpretations. The story presents a steady stream of complexity and confusion under the guise of a simple premise, clearly standing out among other anime.

Starting from a singular point, the tale speeds in unexpected directions, but ultimately, each event holds meaning and gives each character unique personalities and quirks. It holds back nothing when plunging right into multiple interesting concepts along the way and is thus praiseworthy.

Sonny Boy portrays a wide variety of unique characters, each with their own story and motives. Both the main characters and supporting characters are so very compelling, engaging, and realistic. Their problems are authentic, ones even viewers face in the real world and can relate to, creating a sense of attachment to them.

What’s more impressive is how every event and character, no matter how minor, affects each other, their respective struggles, and unique perspectives. The fast pacing makes way for the introduction and exploration of many different characters, their stories, and contexts, which ultimately end up being meaningful to the story’s resolution. It's just amazing how each character holds such purpose and importance in the bigger picture.

The Art and Animation of Sonny Boy do not fall behind either. The Art skillfully uses a variety of colors to express a myriad and flurry of emotions, while the Animation is well polished. It can simply be described as visual poetry, from all the settings, nature, backgrounds, and visualization of the dimensions.

It magnificently portrays an atmosphere full of whimsical and melancholic cosmic horrors, with clever use of hard cuts to slice apart the show. Tonal dissonance is used to portray the student dynamic's fragility, and when the characters fade into the background, it happens with such mystical allure.

The Sounds and Music are also excellent. The OSTs are nothing short of outstanding; they fit each scene perfectly and serve to enhance the whole experience. Background sound and silence are also masterfully manipulated to evoke different moods. The ending theme is "Shounen Shoujo" by GING NANG BOYZ, which is an excellent addition to the show as it reflects the themes incredibly well and is perfect for listening to.

Sonny Boy does not give viewers a reason to dislike the voice acting either. The VAs are very experienced, talented, portray their characters adeptly, and fit their personalities well. They do a magnificent job in personifying the individuality of each character and allowing viewers to understand them better, delivering a near-flawless performance.

Sonny Boy is philosophical, poignant, displaying each character’s individuality and allowing an inventive experience. It is a wild ride you must buckle in for, and once you're through it, you will have experienced a complex, confusing and brilliant story.

This is nothing short of a fascinating series with so much to offer you, much more than it even needs to. It is not afraid to walk into untrodden territory in the realm of Anime and then proceed to explore, analyze, question, and discuss so many things at once.

To this end, the show allows itself limitless creative freedom that utilizes the medium and arts at unforeseen heights, ones many of us thought impossible. Flawed characters who deconstruct overused tropes, detailed settings that reflect current society, and unbound originality allows it to offer a peak experience.

Once again, this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but to miss out on this show is such a waste; it simply deserves to be seen. Its messy moments make way for perfect imperfections, so do not hesitate to watch it even if you’re not a big fan of the Genre and Theme. Highly recommended, this modern masterpiece is not to be missed!