Abenobashi Mahou☆Shoutengai

I loved the story, its unique blend of genres, including comedy, fantasy, and drama. What sets it apart is its exploration of multiple parallel worlds, each parodying different anime genres (the alternate worlds Arumi and Sasshi visit are caricatures of different anime tropes) and pop culture references, providing both comedy and commentary on the medium itself :D. The series combines humor with deeper emotional moments as the protagonists confront personal issues. My favorite part of this series is the art. The animation features a vibrant and expressive art style. The character designs are well-suited to the comedic and fantastical elements of the series. As the story shifts between different parallel worlds, the art style adapts to match the themes and aesthetics of each setting. I loved drawing this characters it was somehow satisfactory. Its not a 10/10 anime but its art and its unique approach/reliance on anime references might make it more appealing to viewers familiar with the medium's conventions.

Magical☆Shopping Arcade Abenobashi short review by Ja025: Interesting: Confusing story that doesn’t provide you answers until the end – weird but interesting and even touching development, if you’re patient enough. Notable: It will make you wonder what are you even watching at some points. Annoying: Weird sexualized violence is the only way Arumi can interact with Satoshi in uncomfortable/awkward situations. Quite weird but probably less weird than the director’s meeting where they approved this to be added to anime. Frustrating: It takes some time to understand what is going on and why (like 10 episodes). Obvious: This fusion – confusion might discourage you from watching it till the end. Also lots of medium strength ecchi. Why the score: It sorta comes together at the end so I’m willing to forgive it’s imperfections and flaws. From weird over fun and goofy to serious and touching, you have it all here.

One of the go to motto is ignorance is bliss. in layman's terms i can be happy if i do not know the ugly truth. since this anime focused on this concept not only was this relate-able but i felt myself at several points laughing/ silently wishing if only that were true for me. Being an adult you miss the joys and innocence of a kid. now, some may say the ending was cheap or a w.t.f.(as the kids would say) but i disagree. to understand what i mean aside from actually watching the show you would have to break it down each line and do self reflections. Sure there was cheap production because we hardly saw new faces or heard new voices but the ending message and the stories plot made it worth watching.... if i were to recommend this to a person i would not put an age restriction(despite the nudity:seeing how it is mild for the most part). anyone no matter the gender would enjoy it. to give you an idea... adventure seekers would be amused... harem fans would be head over heals and even women/girls would awe at the characters choices and even more by the later ones. with all that in mind i give this a 7. i rarely do a 10 for you would have to blow me out of seat to do that(i am not doing a perverted joke so mind out of the gutter). i suppose this anime could an 8 for its clever use of censorship. any child can draw a black line takes a pro to do something else.

Although the story seemed rather disconnected until the later episodes, the idea of the whole series and how it was delivered was interesting. The story was well delivered considering it all came out in a short number of episodes. Most of the episodes were entertaining to watch, got a few good laughs in! Overall a good anime to watch for its short length

Superb concept. The show had me baffled from the get go and I just wanted to watch more and more. Top that off with a unique, well done, and fluid style and you definitely have a great show. However the show definitely has a major barrier to entry: knowledge of anime. I'm still just a beginner in this realm but I understood a lot of the jokes and references throughout the series, however this is not a starter show. It is crazy, it is Japanese, it is AWESOME! What I enjoyed most about the show was just the crazy places it went. The end was a little rushed and kind of a sell out but I'd say the rest of the shows ridiculous awesomeness was worth it.

Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi is a trippy, funny, horny, absurd, surrealist odyssey, dripping with the inimitable charm of early 2000s anime. It is admittedly a difficult task to give it the right rating, because while it definitely has the trappings of greatness, a series of bizarre decisions and unusual creative choices ultimately end up making the whole thing a little hard to pin down in terms of a comprehensive rating. We begin with the story, which is utterly unique as the isekai of isekais, years before there was even a glimmer of the genre boom that was to come. Accidentally falling through worlds upon worlds, unable to find their way home, Sasshi and Arumi have to navigate their way through various dimensions and unravel the mystery of what's really going on in order to return home. The formula is extremely strong, with each world they get transported into feeling utterly unique and creative, passionately executed in order to fully capture the essence of what the world is reflecting, be it a parody of the mecha genre, or noir crime dramas, or slice of life romance anime. Coupled with the fact they have to find a "goblin" in each world to get sent on to the next one, this formula could have gone on for a hundred episodes and not lost an ounce of its flavor or punch. Plus, the mundane scenes in Amenobashi itself are grounded and emotionally poignant, delivering the full spectrum of nostalgia and forlorn uncertainty about the impending closure of the place in which they've spent all their lives. Now, what keeps the story from being the strongest aspect of this anime, and ultimately what keeps this anime from being easy to rate, are those strange creative decisions I mentioned earlier. Without spoiling anything, while the Ecchi elements themselves aren't necessarily out of place, there is one character in particular who is treated as the nexus of these Ecchi themes, for whom things get very strange when the viewer learns more about her. It makes her otherwise silly and playful presence throughout the show take on another dimension that results in a totally unaddressed tonal shift that pairs with a narrative turn her story takes on in the second half of the show. Speaking of which, while there are many compelling conflicts throughout and the pacing is excellent, the ending feels as though it is a major cop-out, almost refusing to deal with the conclusions of the conflicts it had set up for itself from the very beginning. So, the strongest aspect of this anime then becomes the art. As mentioned earlier, it is defined as a whole by that warm, lovely animation style of the 2000s, with a masterful use of color and character designs that are distinct and engaging. The art style is one which is eminently easy to get lost in, with all its little details, and its execution of facial animation is fantastic, conveying emotion powerfully at every turn. However, perhaps the most impressive part of the art is its ability to change between so many styles for the respective worlds that get explored. This chameleon quality is a true feat of this anime, and counts as nothing less than a truly ambitious work of art. The sound is very solid throughout, with excellent voice work, sounds of life, and a soundtrack that mixes various elements and styles to feel as multifaceted as the situations the characters find themselves in. As for the characters, they are many, and uniquely they appear and reappear as different archetypes over and over again in the various worlds they explore. Of them, however, my favorites are the main duo, Sasshi and Arumi. Their chemistry is undeniable, and while an innocent young romance between them is never explicitly explored, there are heartwarming tones of a rich childhood friendship that make them and their contrasting personalities perfect for each other during the adventures they find themselves in. Overall, Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi is a bizarre, ambitious, and fun experience, even with all of the weirder story elements it decides to take on as it progresses. If it played its cards just right it could have been one of the legendary Gainax titles that we still talk about today, but I think things got just a little too weird for the general public, and as a result it remains this generally unknown art piece, even with all of its genuinely great aspects that, in my opinion, deserve recognition. Overall, it's absolutely worth watching, especially if you like the early 2000s as much as I do, and find that era of anime embodying a rare charm and boldness that only a few titles can claim as their own.

This anime is particulary fun to watch for everyone who are not afraid of vulgar humour and parody. Two main protagonists travel around a weird world of various anime styles and genres like mecha, shoujo, adventure and etc. I disliked this anime probably because of lots of vulgar humour which is not very appropriate for me, but it was really fun to watch at times, and the complicated backround story was quite interesting. I recommend this anime for people, who have tasted a lot of different anime genres, because this anime allows you to see most of anime genres from an amusing perspective.

Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi is a true masterpiece of anime. I had no idea at all what this was one was about and put it on one weekend as some background filler while I did some drawing … I didn’t draw a thing I just sat there and took this excellent anime in for all it’s worth. There are other reviews telling you all about the characters and the settings and the plot - so I just want to tell you how this show made me feel. This show took me on a ride that I did not expect at all and I am grateful for it. The way it pokes fun at and parodies almost everything about anime is exactly the sort of thing I enjoy. Those who can step back and laugh at themselves and the things they love have a special power - and this show absolutely has that power locked down. Anime fans will recognise tons and tons of references to other shows and genres - this entire show is paying respect to anime in general while also pointing a finger at how silly anime gets. I love this sort of thing - humour and action and hi-fiction all combined together to create something that just feels so damn good. This show was created in 2002 but it has that old school heart that older anime had - I can’t explain it in words - just some anime had a vibe that is almost unknown today - and when I find one of the shows that has that vibe I hold onto it dearly. I love to laugh - and Abenobashi makes me laugh a lot - like a LOT. What really struck me about this show was how it goes from slap-stick madness and fan service to really emotional moments - and then back again. To be able to shift gears like that in a story like this takes something special and Abenobashi does it masterfully. The expressions in this show - the relentless savage critique of the genre - the way they handle the Pikachu knock off - it’s all solid gold. Pewy ? An extremely well done anime that I would recommend to any and all fans of anime - and for those of us who’ve been around a bit and seen more than our fair share of anime this one has a little something extra in the sauce. I will absolutely be coming back to watch this one again and again for many years to come.

Okay so this one is a big hear me out for me... I feel like i'm one of the few people that liked it so much. I like the nosense humor, i like the references and parodys, i like all the characters on it (specially the two protagonists), and i specially like the art (kinda reminds me of fooly cooly and it fits the anime so perfectly). Every episode was so fun to watch, and even tho i am not a fun of ecchi, it didn't bother me here, cause they make it more for humor reasons and not for fanservice, and it actually works pretty well. The protagonists are so charismatic, i like their friendship so much and how it's developed trough out the episodes. I have nothing bad to say, don't get how it didn't get more famous. Maybe it's just not what most people are looking for, but i highly recommend it if you like some nosense.

Ah, the Abenobashi Shopping Mall Arcade. I remember my initial run in with this series as an adolescent-child at a friend's house. Despite being only in elementary school, my friend managed to have a copy of this DVD in his possession. This was back when paying twenty dollars for a DVD containing only three or so episodes was the norm. But I digress, even at a young age, though my face was beet-red during all of Mune-Mune’s scenes, I still noted the elasticity of the characters, the warm vibe, and varied artstyle this show had. I was eager to continue watching this other-worldly show as soon as I got home, but alas I hadn’t the slightest clue of what the name of the show I just witnessed was. So for years, this anime lived rent free in my head until I stumbled upon it by accident some point after I’d already gotten my feet wet into the anime medium. So after finally watching, and then rewatching, this show that I’d always thought about for the last ten years, did it live up to the fond memory I had of it as a child, or did it fail to reach my expectations? In short, the story is about the misadventures of Sasshi and Arumi. Two childhood best friends who are the children of the owners of shops in the Abenobashi Shopping Mall Arcade. A shopping district that has long since seen better days. With business being almost nonexistent, Arumi’s father decides that it’s time to pursue his business endeavors abroad and to leave the shopping mall. But before they leave, Sasshi’s grandfather suffers a tumble that breaks a statue that sends both Arumi and Sasshi across various worlds and dimensions. Will our duo be able to make it back to their world, or are they forever trapped traveling across various dimensions? It’s a timeless tale I’m sure you’re all familiar with. Though accidentally ending up in a bizzaro-version of the MC’s original world to learn a moral that helps him back in his original world is a tale as old as time (see the Wizard of Oz for example). This series is perhaps the strangest and most subversive take on that format. Although it may seem like a surface-level comedy anime with low brow humor and playfully unique visuals (it didn’t win the Excellence Prize for animation at the 2002 Japan Media Arts Festival for nothing), the show is much more than meets the eye. And if you've read my other essays, you'll know just how much I love having my expectations subverted by comedy anime in particular. And especially ones that manage to make me laugh at that. How exactly does this show manage to subvert my expectations and manage to fill me with equal amounts endearment and hysterics? Without giving any spoilers, the show tackles themes of escapism, coping mechanisms, growing up, dealing with the death of a loved one, and having your health (which is what’s important). It excels at conveying these themes to the viewer through Sasshi’s immature nature and reluctance to accept reality and Arumi being the more level headed of the two, often trying to make sure that Sasshi doesn’t fall too far off the deep end and keeping him focused on their mission to get back home. It also helps that these two characters are written to be very likable and accurately behave how kids their age normally would, albeit Sasshi being an emotional loose canon from time to time. Both have strong Osaka-region dialects which I can only equate to someone having a sick southern accent from where I reside in burgerland, only adding to their uniqueness and quirky ways they interact with the wacky worlds and situations they find themselves in. Had the characters not been as cleverly designed and written as they were, I could only imagine this premise feeling all too familiar and far less interesting. Arumi and Sasshi’s bond wouldn’t be as convincing and fun to follow as it is without it being put to the litmus test of the situations they find themselves in. I’m not sure where the saying comes from, but it goes something like “To make a compelling story work, the most important aspects are the characters. If you have well written and interesting characters to follow, then you can throw them in just about any situation and it will work.” And that’s exactly what Abenobashi excels at and constantly tests itself in each episode. Every episode is different from the last and yet no matter what situation Arumi and Sasshi find themselves in, whether that be in a mafia-noir or harem dating simulator, seeing the ways our MCs tackle each situation is fun and engaging to watch. Not only that but the characters are always true to themselves in how they’re written, and they (usually) don’t do anything out of character save for Arumi playing along with Sasshi’s fantasies a couple of times. But this fact comes to the dismay of many viewers, myself not included, in the final act. This is a spoiler free review and I plan to keep it as such, but I can’t discuss the themes and characters without mentioning the last episode, and I’d rather do it here while I’m talking about the premise and themes than save it for the end of the essay, where I’ll be discussing a different aspect. So keeping it as vague as possible, as I mentioned earlier the show deals with themes of tackling our fears head on and not resorting to running away from reality or the hardships that we face and how life is always worth living no matter the hurdles it throws our way, because just cause times may be hard for you now doesn’t mean they’ll always be that way. Think Sonny Boy, Paranoia Agent, NHK, or EVA. Anyways, Abenobashi acknowledges that, but ultimately tosses that mindset out the window in favor of being content running away from your problems, or is it? Because it’s left rather open-ended, but I digress. Even when the ending is left that much to interpretation, and even if I detest the stance the show took on it, I have to commend it for taking such a different approach to that message. And just for a second, let’s assume that Sasshi actually succeeded in what Arumi wanted, then it’s still ambiguous enough to leave a lot of room when discussing this show with others on what they think happened at the end. Regardless, I do not hate the ending, however I do think it’s rather abrupt and anticlimactic. Alright, less about the themes and more about the visual component. As I mentioned earlier, it didn’t win the Excellence Prize for animation at the 2002 Japan Media Arts Festival for nothing. The show has excellent animation, especially in the character’s movements and at times during scenes where’d you’d least expect it. Such as in episode nine where an interdimensional traveler named “Eutus” elaborates on the lore of Abenobashi and the show utilizes stylistic and traditional japanese visuals and stills to convey the backstory. Being able to transition from a scene where Gainax’s typical wacky, but refined, artstyle is to a scene like that in an episode that’s filled with so much ambience that it’s akin to an Iyashikei that seamlessly is extremely commendable. The show is extremely playful and experimental with its visuals and animation, and it’s not afraid to favor a less well animated or visually pleasing scene in favor of making a gag land. But even then those gag moments can also be quite aesthetic and filled with alot of fine detail. I think episode twelve is an excellent demonstration of this, since it starts off with a visually aesthetic art style reminiscent of trigger's artstyle that'd be further explored in Dead Leaves and beyond. Utilizing hard shading, and a sunset's orange hue, making the scene very appealing to the eyes. And not long after that scene it’s possibly the most crackhead episode thus far, again reminding me of dead leaves in its unapologetic fast pace and jokes/references to pop culture nonstop. You can find the humor extremely lukewarm or even unfunny and predictable, but saying that about the visuals would just be a blatant lie. Before jumping into my final thoughts about this series I’d like to t…

This anime immediately struck me as a spiritual successor to FLCL, one of my favorite animes, and for that I do think it delivers. An extremely fun, goofy, and visually spectacular adventure that manages to tell a serious story without taking itself seriously at all. The art and music are definitely the highlights, every frame containing something exciting and colorful. For that alone, artistically this is a masterpiece - However, I think the story failed to resonate with me quite as hard as something like FLCL, so I feel like it just misses a 10/10 for me, though that may change in the future. My few complaints center around the story and characters. The ending felt a bit out of left field, and arguably contradicted what I thought the message was: not completely, but I think it did undercut it a little bit, and could've been tighter. As for the characters, really only one was the problem, that being Aki-nee. I hope it's not a controversial hot take to say that this show does not treat its only trans character in the most flattering way, and the "it was a different time" excuse can only go so far for a 2002 anime. Nevertheless, the character is not featured frequently and the show is certainly worth it despite the poor representation. If you're a fan of FLCL and Kill la Kill, you will find much to love in this show, despite being very different thematically from both.