Zenshu Anime Review: MAPPA's Isekai Masterpiece Redefines the Genre

Zenshu

Zenshu is a captivating anime that brings a fresh narrative approach to the isekai genre. Judging by the synopsis initially presented by MAPPA, it was a genre twist I did not see coming. I added it to my watchlist for the season based only on my previous gratifying experiences with MAPPA originals. It did not disappoint, and I say this as someone who doesn’t usually watch isekais. By diving into this story almost blindly, I found a surprisingly rewarding adventure, both for its heart and its execution.

The story follows Hirose Natsuko, a young animator very recognized for her skills at the studio where she works. Her “star” status, in practice, translates into an overwhelming workload and a type of labor exploitation that feels uncomfortably close to the current realities of the animation industry. In the middle of a creative crisis that prevents her from connecting with the emotions she needs to capture for her latest project (a story that’s supposed to explore the theme of first love), Natsuko receives the devastating news that the director of her favorite anime film has passed away due to food poisoning. The emotional blow is immediate… But what she didn’t expect was to share that same fate minutes later, after consuming food that expired in 2019. To her utter surprise, Natsuko awakens not in a hospital or the afterlife, but within the fictional realm of the movie she cherished. Although the film was a commercial and critical flop, she deeply valued it due to its tragic tone and lack of redemption or a happy ending. Now immersed in that reality, she begins to question whether the fatal ending that moved her so deeply is still fair or even necessary.

Her advantage (and also her burden) lies in the fact that Natsuko knows the story inside out. She’s watched the movie so many times she knows the script word for word. And as if that weren’t enough, she soon discovers an unusual ability: she can bring her animations to life within this new world. With that power, she embarks on a mission to rewrite the tragic fate of the characters, reroute the story's trajectory, and perhaps, just possibly, discover the happy ending that this tale, in some way, has always longed for. She aspires to bring a joyful conclusion to the world that initially motivated her to pursue animation as a child.

Unlike many contemporary isekai series that follow a near-formulaic structure, Zenshu opts for a more classic and enigmatic approach, evoking literary references such as The Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland. Rather than focusing solely on battles or power scales, the story centers on Natsuko’s inner journey, her process of healing and rediscovering herself. Within the universe of the film "A Tale of Perishing," Natsuko not only rekindles the affection she felt for these animated characters but also begins to reconnect with parts of herself she thought were lost. All of this takes place within the framework of a greater conflict: the inevitability of tragedy. What begins as a struggle with anxiety and the creative pressure to accurately depict first love gradually evolves into an emotional odyssey with hints of adventure, comedy, and introspection.

Thanks to her unusual gift, Natsuko is able to summon animations inspired by iconic works from anime history, which adds a fascinating metalinguistic layer to the story. This ability isn’t just a narrative tool; it’s a tangible representation of her love for the medium. In trying to alter the course of the story and avoid its doomed ending, the protagonist not only rediscovers her passion for drawing but also her purpose as an artist. Though the series wisely blends drama, fantasy, and touches of comedy throughout its episodes, it’s true that things feel slightly rushed toward the end. Even so, that very ambiguity that wraps up the conclusion gives it an evocative quality, leaving space for the story to linger in the viewer’s memory long after the final credits roll.

Within the original narrative of "A Tale of Perishing," one of the central characters is Luke, a tragic hero whose arc slowly crumbles. After the loss of several members of the Nine Soldiers, Unio’s sacrifice, the betrayal of the townspeople, and the heart-wrenching death of Destiny Heartwarming (who dies saving the very people who wished her gone), Luke loses all faith in humanity. As a result, he destroys the Soul Future, sealing the fate of the survivors in Last Town, and becomes the Ultimate Void, ending the world as it was once known. This moral and spiritual collapse that Luke undergoes is almost a mirror of the state Natsuko was in right before she died. That’s why her interaction with him and the rest of the group doesn’t just serve to change the film’s script but also to see her darkness from another perspective.

Thanks to Natsuko, Luke experiences things he never had before: he reconciles with old friends, allows himself to discover an existence beyond his heroic duties, and eventually, he falls in love. His relationship with Natsuko gives him reasons to move forward, to live, and to long for something more than the mission. Even though fate is cruel once more (he loses both Natsuko and Unio in a single blow), the moments they shared do not vanish, and the impact of these new experiences profoundly changes him. Is it possible that the events won’t repeat themselves this time? That the story won’t end the way the movie did?

On the other hand, Destiny represents the archetype of reversed character growth. Despite the evolution she undergoes for much of the story, she falls back into the patterns of her original fate during the crucial moments. This ambiguity keeps the audience on edge, wondering whether Natsuko’s efforts truly left a mark on the hearts of the characters… or if, eventually, everything is simply inevitable.

From its very first frame, Zenshu grabs attention with its rich color palette and its masterful handling of emotional tone through lighting. This series knows when to be optimistic and when to be tragic. One of its strongest appeals lies in its constant play with visual references. Throughout the series, we can detect stylistic homages to various anime from the past three decades, even reusing sequences and graphic styles that evoke different eras of the medium. This visual collage isn’t just a wink to longtime anime fans but also a celebration of the art form itself. Zenshu doesn’t shy away from mixing and contrasting influences, achieving a surprising balance between nostalgia and innovation.

The soundtrack in this work is equally functional, playful when the scenes allow for it, and dramatic when they inevitably can’t avoid it. The soundtrack provides us with melodies such as Zenshu, First Love, Lovesickness, Reality, Urgency, and Victory or Defeat, all of which accompany us on this emotional journey. As for the opening and ending themes, the show opens with Zen by the J-rock band BAND-MAID, while the ending theme is the beautiful Tada, Kimi no Mama de by singer Sou. Both songs complement the tone of the series perfectly, amplifying its emotional highs and lows and lingering like echoes of the characters’ struggles.

It is a delicious irony that MAPPA, a studio known for its relentless workload and rapid production pace, brought to life a story about an overworked animator trapped in another world. Beyond the obvious joke, the truth is that Zenshu becomes, episode after episode, a heartfelt work, rich in imagination and brimming with a palpable love for the art of animation. Sure, there are moments when the story gets almost saccharine, even cloyingly sweet, but that doesn’t detract from its value. On the contrary, it’s the contrast between the sweetness and the sorrow that gives the series its unique flavor. To me, it was a love story in the broadest sense of the word: love that transforms into admiration, into rivalry, into passion, into motivation… a deep love for the worlds that exist within paper and screen. With just 12 episodes, Zenshu manages to craft a powerful emotional journey. While it could’ve benefited from more time to fully explore all of its ideas, it still leaves a more than satisfying impression. A simple story, yes, but beautiful, honest, and deeply human. And at the end of the day, that’s what we’re most grateful for.