#tv film analysis

[jeffrey-beaumont]

I watched Yasuke a few days ago and it's extremely technically impressive and the score is one of the best i've heard in an anime in a long time. the most compelling part of the story is Yasuke's past as a slave-turned-samurai and his relationship with oda nobanaga as a respected nobleman. and the idea that the oda clan is charged in their political conquest to unite japan into the new world out of the isolationism of the sparse clans. the oda clan disregards class over honor and service to their country, wheras the other clans believe in maintaining the "old ways". nobunaga allows a black foreigner (seen as purely a servant) and a woman to serve in titles that the old ways regarded as exclusive titles for ethnically japanese men. all of this is explained through yasuke's ptsd flashbacks as he struggles to grapple with his trauma after the defeat of the oda clan. regardless, he is admirable because of his duty and noble heart which makes him a compelling hero.

however my biggest glaring critique is that the plot is extremely convoluted and there is little to no exposition. entire plotlines are never fleshed out and the world building is extremely confusing and jarring. It's set in the 16th century but there are also robot mechs (?) that no one in the story questions. and while the robots make for interesting visuals and fight scene choreography it really soured the worldbuilding. in comparision to magic (which can be excused for historical accuracy as some sort of folk element) the robots bring way more questions than answers.

i cant form my exact thoughts because there are too many so for this section im making a list of shit that doesnt make any sense

why was the catholic church setup to be a major antagonist ? is catholicism related to the spider lady villian at the end?

why was that russian lady there and why did she have a robot. why can she turn into a bear

I WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SHAMAN GUY HIS POWER WAS SO FUCKING COOL IM SO MAAAAAD

why did that girl with the scythe die after doing nothing

why did that boy get introduced at the beginning like he was gonna be a main character and then disappears once the plot starts

nobunaga was implied to have a sexual relationship with that male servant with the long black hair and its never brought up. honestly i think the show wouldve been much better if it focused on yasukes story and his relationship with nobunaga since yasuke is his closest ally and he is open to sexual relationships despite differences in class/race and also being gay in the fucking 1500s

i did not give a shit about saki at all. conceptually its fine but THE SHOW IS CALLED YASUKE I WANT TO SEE YASUKES PAST AND HIS STRUGGLES AND HIS HONOR I DONT CARE ABOUT MAGIC OR ROBOTS OR PROPHECY BULLSHIT I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT HIS HOMOEROTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH NOBUNAGA AND HOW HE BECAME A SAMURAI AND SURPASSED CLASS BARRIERS AND SEE HIM SEXY KILL RACIST IMPERIALISTS COVERED IN SEXILY ANIMATED BLOOD BUT THAT ONLY TAKES UP LIKE 30% OF THE SCREENTIME

Its like they had all these ideas and they didnt know if theyd even get a 2nd season so they had to cram everything into 1 but honestly it fucks their chance to even have a 2nd season because the plot is so fucking stupid and doesnt make any sense. im so mad because THE SHOW IS SO BEAUTIFUL, ANIMATION IS FLUID, PERSPECTIVE SHOTS WERE INSANE, CHOREOGRAPHY WAS INSANE, HAND PAINTED BACKGROUNDS WERE JAWDROPPING AND HAD AMAZING POTENTIAL BUT THEY FUCKED IT UP

That being said i will say its 100% worth it to watch for the score and technical skill alone