Drifters

What would you do if you suddenly found yourself in a new and unfamiliar world? The concept is nothing new to Anime fans because we have been swarmed with Isekai titles every season lately. Even so, how easy would it be to adapt and live your life in an alien world? Well, It’s certainly not something to be undermined. Whether you thrive, perish or live a senseless life will all depend on you, much like real life.

“Drifters,” also known as “Drifters: Battle in a Brand-new World War,” is a 12-episode TV Anime series that aired from the 7th of October until the 23rd of December in Fall 2016. It was produced by Hoods Entertainment, NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan, and Shounen Gahousha, licensed by Funimation, and brought to life by Hoods Drifters Studio.

The staff behind it includes Ueda Yasuyuki as Producer, Suzuki Kenichi as Director, Tsuruoka Youta as Sound Director, and Yamauchi Shigeyasu as Episode Director and on Storyboard. It featured the genres of Action, Adventure, Comedy, and Fantasy alongside the themes of Adult Cast, Historical, Isekai, and Samurai. Targeted at the Seinen demographic, it received a rating of R - 17+ for its violence and profanity.

Drifters is based on the Manga of the same title, which began publication on the 30th of April 2009 and is still ongoing. The work of author Hirano Kouta handled both the Story & Art and was serialized in Young King OURs. It has been published in English thanks to Dark Horse Comics since August 2011. An alternative version titled “Drifters: Special Edition” was released as a single OVA in June 2016. Additionally, two OVA episodes titled “Drifters Second Season” were released as a sequel in December 2017. “Drifters: Kokuou-sama Goranshin” and “Drifters (OVA): Kokuou-sama Goranshin” were released as associated Specials.

The story begins at the legendary battle of Sekigahara far back in the year 1600, where protagonist Toyohisa Shimazu functions as the rearguard for his retreating troops. However, he is critically wounded and unexpectedly finds himself within a modern, gleaming white hallway. A stoic man named Murasaki faces him alongside hundreds of doors on either side of the hallway. From here, Toyohisa gets pulled into the nearest door and finds himself in an alien world utterly different from his own.

This strange land is mainly populated by two distinctly different beings: fantastical creatures and great warriors hailing from different eras of Toyohisa's homeworld who were considered dead. He swiftly proceeds to befriend the infamous warlord Nobunaga Oda and the ancient archer Yoichi Suketaka Nasu, also learning about the political unrest spreading across the continent. He discovers how they have been summoned there as "Drifters" to battle against the "Ends." These people are considered responsible for the Orte Empire's creation and are attempting to wipe out the Drifters entirely.

To make matters worse, the more influential the Ends grow, the Empire's cruel persecution of elves and other demihumans worsens even further. The spotlight thus falls on Toyohisa and his gang of unconventional heroes as they battle their way through a brand-new world war to help the Empire's subjects. They are not without their own goals either because protecting this land would ultimately allow them to claim it for themselves, all while challenging the powerful Ends!

Drifters is an Anime composed of many entertaining characters based on historical figures. This show has them all, be it American, Japanese, French, or Russian historical figures, and many others. If you’re already familiar with them, you’ll have a better experience, and do not hesitate to consult your go-to search engine occasionally.

Remember that this fantasy tale is set in an alternate historical Japan. The storyline is well worth your time, rife with gruesomeness and violence at every turn, like all wars should be. Regardless, a significant weakness is its use of humor. If you’ve watched Hellsing before, you’ll notice how Drifters overused a similar sense of humor. But the issue is how Drifters uses it to the point that it isn't funny anymore and feels severely outdated.

You could be in the middle of a completely serious episode, trying to understand things, but they throw comedy at you very disturbingly. This makes it difficult to concentrate and is very annoying upon repetition. It honestly feels like these comedic attempts would have been better spent on Story and Character departments instead. Don’t worry; this minor hiccup won’t keep you from enjoying this Anime. As it just goes to show, there are no other significant faults.

Drifters is all about the characters, and they are no doubt entertaining. While some receive less development than others, they can be easily remedied in newer seasons. The spotlight falls on the leading trio of the show: the Japanese warriors Shimazu Toyohisa, Oda Nobunaga, and Nasu Yoichi Suketaka. Their dynamic is so entertaining and exciting because they are so very different from each other. Shimazu is a true warrior in both heart and soul, with his only goal being the beheading of his enemy. At the same time, he is a man of integrity and principle who will never even consider harming a woman.

On the other hand, Nasu is a young and capable Archer with deadly precision. While he doesn’t have any leadership qualities yet, he shows so much promise as a fearless warrior. Last but not least is Oda, the most dangerous man in the group. He is a natural leader in every sense of the word. It doesn't matter where he is and who he is with; this genius can capture any town no matter the odds. Following this group as they progress through the story is a treat. We learn about their intriguing backgrounds and personalities, all in exciting ways. The anime beautifully showcases how each character has regrets but is still more than ready to move forward.

The Art and Music departments are similar to Hellsing's, easily recognizable and enjoyable. The Art style is fantastic, with sharp lines, dark colors, and refined outlines. The character designs are incredibly detailed and unique. If you wondered what a Historical Japan-themed Alucard would look like, you’ve found the right Anime because he looks badass.

The Sounds and Music are less noteworthy, but they do their job on cue. The voice actors did an outstanding job, bringing their characters to life and carrying the show on. The OSTs are a decent mix of traditional Japanese, Jazz, and Rock music. The Opening theme is "Gospel Of The Throttle REMIX ver." by Minutes Til Midnight, and the Ending themes are "Vermillion" by Maon Kurosaki and "Rurou no Zakuro" by Yasushi Ishii.

Overall, Drifters is a highly entertaining anime, especially if you're a Hellsing fan. There really are no big qualms about it, except the tiring humor. It is not flawless, but what it offers you is worth the watch. It’s an excellent show with a decent storyline, great characters, impressive Visuals, and a decent soundtrack. If anime like Hellsing is a massive turnoff for you, you should avoid this one. If not, it is highly recommended!