ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka

I watched ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka. Also known as ACCA: 13th Territory Inspection Department. Here are my thoughts: I'd describe the world this takes place in as a fascist monarchy. Culturally, it felt like a mix of France and Germany but not overtly Nazi-inspired (aside from the uniforms). It also felt like a mid-20th-century time period but with some modern technology added like cell phones and desktop computers. It was peculiar. Sometimes a random piece of technology would appear in a scene and it would seem very unusual and break my immersion for a moment. This anime is about a political conspiracy that unfolds painfully slowly over the course of the show. Most of the characters are government officials in the ACCA department and/or belong to the ruling monarchy in some way. There is inadequate exposition, particularly during the early episodes. This anime tries to be 'show don't tell', but this is not the right setup for a subtle conspiratorial political plotline. This is definitely a show that requires world building and background information, and its deficiency in this regard is a major issue. I often felt like I was watching a promo trailer or something because it frequently seemed like I was just randomly dropped into a scene with zero context or ability to comprehend the significance of the dialogue. I wasn't given a reason to care about anything or anyone in this show. Literally, putting a 1-minute exposition blurb by a narrator with visual aids in every few episodes would enhance this show tremendously. There is no broader context to what is happening in the show and it almost just feels like a nonsensical fever dream, particularly during the earlier episodes. The story feels totally aimless for much of the runtime. Pretty much the entire cast is unlikeable or at least lacking personality. The little sister character is annoying and airheaded. The MC (Jean) is a memorably awful character. He has zero personality at all and resembles a chainsmoking beached fish. He is such an incredibly dull character, and what's even weirder is how he's adored everywhere he goes. There's also Niino, who is chairman of the Jean fan club and is his stalker BF (not quite literally). Other characters include a large number of ACCA organization members, nearly all of whom are underdeveloped. Many of the ACCA members could have been removed from the cast and the story would have worked fine without them; it seems the author needed some extras to use up the remaining silly hairstyles they had sitting around. The scriptwriting in this is shockingly awful. Mundane comments about smoking tobacco are relentlessly included in the script for seemingly no reason at all (literally the MC's entire personality, aside from being borderline narcoleptic, is that he's a smoker). Also, whoever wrote this show clearly loved sweets and baked goods, because they are constantly inserted into the script AD NAUSEAM. The dialogue in general is incredibly dull and mindnumbing. Everything in the script is so banal and pointless. I really can't stress enough how unbelievably dull and monotonous the dialogue in this show is. It's almost hard to believe it was even meant to be entertainment. It's astonishing this anime even got greenlit, especially with such a seemingly high budget. This script is so torturously monotonous they should have broadcasted it on repeat at Waco (perhaps they will relate to the fascist themes in the story!); even if the Branch Davidians are burning alive, the real torment will come from having to hear another goddamn conversation about smoking. Throughout the show the MC visits different districts of the kingdom, each of which have different cultures, climate, and are subject to their own unique set of regulations. In theory this sounds very interesting, but the actual product is so lackluster. Usually little of each district is shown during the visits, and not much detail in general is provided. It doesn't take long for the conversations during these travels to devolve into "dude cigarettes lmao." These trips were great opportunities for exposition and world building, but their potential was not capitalized upon at all. It's just shocking because people are constantly talking during these trips, yet the conversations contain so little information! The level of wasted potential is truly staggering. The world building in general for this anime is done very poorly. Despite this supposedly being a mystery show, it seems like there was zero effort whatsoever put into creating suspense. Midway through the season, there is a hugely important reveal (I won't spoil it, or specify which episode), but the way it is dropped is so nonchalant and flat. This could have been a dramatic moment but instead it was just randomly inserted into the script as casually as the MC talks about goddamn pastries. It was unbelievably strange. I was so bewildered I had to rewind the scene because I thought I misinterpreted the dialogue. There are eventually some major plot developments during the final few episodes, some of which were inadequately foreshadowed IMO. Despite the seriousness of these developments, I was still left with a feeling of inadequate payoff in terms of that being the climax. It was dissatisfying and underwhelming, especially after enduring the long dull journey to get there. Much of this is in the execution of these scenes and the overall poor direction of the show. There is zero suspense whatsoever, and there is no feeling of catharsis at all when things are resolved, despite the ridiculously drawn-out build up. The climax of the story, including the final episode, is incredibly underwhelming and you definitely should not get your hopes up for it. Please don't justify to yourself continuing to watch this show because you're expecting some big reveal at the end – trust me it's not worth it. I would describe the art style as being like retro anime but with a modern polish while also retaining its organic feeling. It was crisp and refined but also somewhat dull and lacking creativity. Although the character designs are unique, I think I disliked more of them than I liked. The droopy fish-like eyes of the MC being one ever-present example. Also, having most of the cast wear similar bland government uniforms made for a dull visual experience; they could have had way more fun with the outfits and put more creativity and variety into them. Instead, nearly everyone in the cast wears the exact same uniform most of the time, which just reinforces the relentlessly monotonous feeling of this anime. However, the setting did look decent overall. It appeared fairly realistic but, similarly to the outfits, with not much personality or variety. It would have been nice to have something more interesting and with more artistic flair to look at while listening to the droning dialogue of this show. It is still crisp and polished though, don't get me wrong. There is not a single blemish to be found really. However, even though the production quality is solid, this anime still feels half-baked (and I don't mean the goddamn pastries) due to how poorly executed the story is. I would say the cinematography was above average overall, although inconsistent. Shot composition often did a good job of featuring the setting. Variable focus effects are sometimes used to give the visuals more depth. That said, the animation in this is not dynamic at all. Stills appear very frequently and it felt like the bare minimum of character movement was used. The voice for Niino (the MC's stalker BF) is unique and suits his role well. Conversely, I found the voice acting of the MC (Jean) as underwhelming as his personality. Everyone else had unremarkable voicework. As for music, I personally don't like jazz, and there is a lot of it in the OST. It seems well produced but it just isn't my cup of tea. There are a few alright piano tracks though. Lastly, I want to mention that the consistently low-key c…

A Quick Review: I thought this show was really good at portraying a rather realistic story about politics given its government setup and the development of the coup de ta. Some might argue that the main character, Jean, is boring and has no development but I would argue that his apathetic nature leaves the viewer to come to their own conclusions and thoughts on the political actions, instead of trying to sway them. While there is no action, its a great show to just listen to and follow while doing something mundane. The intro song is a banger and the the OST is great at giving a sense of unease.

ACCA 13... definitely a sleeper in a season that I personally felt disappointed by. There were hardly any anime that drew my attention at the time, but ACCA 13 drew me back every week. Like many have said before me, this anime is EXTREMELY plot driven. The story is quite heavy and immersive. The audience is thrust head first into this fictional world such a warm and approachable manner that it's hard to complain over the pace of the anime as the story progresses through the 12 episodes. At it's core, I think the anime is looking for the audience to reflect on themselves. The fact that there are 13 different districts that work in different ways, the idea of a royal family that exists as an entity outside of the established system, the plot by one family to attempt to overthrow the established system, it's all heavy stuff and calls into question what we think is the right way to live in our world. There were quite a number of characters introduced to us over the season, however, we do get all the information we need from the main characters. We get to see the growth and backstory for a lot of the characters. The show makers really did find ways to weave in the backstory into the overall narrative in such a way that the characters are so connected to their place of origin that make them feel all the more real. At it's best, ACCA 13 provides a fantasized version of our world and really helps us reflect on what it means to be from a certain place, what it means to live with your neighbors, and what it means to grow within a place. The art and music for the series was great all the way through. It felt very nostalgic and took me back to a different era of anime. The whole package felt very clever and I have to say that I felt so much smarter after each episode. The show plays out in such a way that you feel immersed and are also a part of the larger narrative. It was a great watch and I really do wish more people catch onto it. It's an enjoyable show to watch and one that is easy to watch as well. It's light enough for those that only so often watch anime and true enough to the form to satisfy even the most veteran of anime watchers.

ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka is a quirky political drama, which moves at a slow pace that may turn off the more action-oriented viewers. In the long-run, it's this same slow pacing that helps the show accomplish what it did. The setting is strange and it has a lot going on, so the calming atmosphere helps all of these details sink in gradually and easily. The dense, dialogue-heavy plot is also easier to digest with this measured method of storytelling. The main protagonist, Jean Otus, is a likeable character right out of the gate. He is rather indifferent about most things and is content with his current life, including his tedious government job. Nontheless, he gets pulled into the coup d'etat scheme and he plays along with it, despite not really caring. Even with all of his neutrality and complacency, he somehow comes out the other end as a cool badass. He is quite confusing in this way: at times he seems like he knows more than he lets on, while other times you wonder if he's not just the most oblivious character in existence. Either way, he remains an endearing character who is easy to root for. Jean's relationships with his younger sister Lotta and his best friend Nino are surprisingly real. There is an unspoken trust and loyalty between the three, with almost a "no questions asked" policy that they abide by without issue. This trust and friendship is portrayed in a very down-to-earth way, with very little cheesiness. They all act like the mature adults they are, which is refreshing after having watched so many anime about immature teenagers who don't know how to communicate. Despite the quiet feeling of the anime, it has a few plot twists here and there and the reveals are still able to pack a punch, maybe even moreso than they would have if ACCA had been a dramatic adrenaline rush. One reveal in particular is played out in such a nonchalant way that it took a few minutes to realize the gravity of what had just been said, and when it hit, it hit hard. ACCA is able to accomplish this because it has mastered the method of telling the viewers just enough to understand what's going on, while also keeping you just enough in the dark. This creates a sense of intrigue without too much confusion, and makes the plot twists very understandable in hindsight. The calm, mysterious ambience is aided by the jazzy soundtrack, the fluid animation, and the attractive character designs. The aesthetic ties everything together, solidifying ACCA as a mature, thoughtful, and delicately executed anime, the kind that only seems to appear every once and a while. The one disappointing thing about ACCA is the lackluster ending. Without giving away too much, the conclusion essentially makes it feel as if nothing has happened, an unfortunate note on which to end a pleasant experience. Still, I highly recommend this anime to anyone looking for a good slow-burn drama.

TL;DR – A not entirely un-enjoyable series, though one where much of what's funny seems unintentional, or at least it's hard to tell when other anime take the same things so seriously. How this one seems to be taken so seriously by some people, though, I cannot fathom. On an island that looks like Japan if re-imagined by a second rate marketing agency, the peaceful kingdom of Dowa unknowingly stands on the brink of chaos. A royal succession crisis - with the only legitimate male heir to the aging emperor being a vein, prideful wastrel – is being exacerbated by persistent rumours that the kingdom's member states are plotting a coup. All that seems to stand in between peace & war is Jean Otus, deputy chief investigator of ACCA; the military/bureaucratic organisation that is responsible for running the kingdom. Sporting a uniform straight out of a 1940s Hugo Boss catalogue, Otus' seemingly routine task of auditing the thirteen regional ACCA branches soon sees him caught up in a conspiracy that leads right to the top & involving him in ways he couldn't imagine. Everything looks set for ACCA to be a riveting conspiracy thriller, even with the slow, methodical pacing it begins with. So why can it seem so boring? If production issues were the only problem, it wouldn't matter so much. While no car crash, ACCA is one of the lowest effort Madhouse productions I've seen in some time. Not unpleasant to watch, none the less everything looks & moves stiffly & awkwardly, while backgrounds are static at best & at times are so basic they could almost pass as a Rothko painting. It gets worse as the series progresses, to the point where they simply stop giving unimportant or middle-distance characters eyes in a number of cuts. Meanwhile the OST, while one wouldn't call any of it as bad, can often charitably be described as elevator music, particularly at more light hearted moments. In short, it's a fairly low effort production that appears to add nothing to the source material beyond colour. This isn't such a big issue, given the slow pace & dialogue driven nature of the ACCA. But it does mean that if the story fails to hold you, the production won't either. Which wouldn't be as much of an issue if the story or characters could carry themselves. Jean is admittedly a pretty decent protagonist, at least at first when he's more of a means to take the audience to different locations rather than the focus of events. However, he's a pretty cliché-cool character, not one to mince words & smoking like a chimney – an image so old hat that Cowboy Bebop made a running joke out of it twenty years ago. The rest of the cast, however, rarely contribute much beyond their increasingly limited roles in the shows ever expanding ensemble. Jean's friend Nino for instance, despite his cool hacker dude look, is pretty much just there so once an episode he can appear to say “I'm totally not following you” & then later “someone else is totally following you.” His sister Lotta is, despite the mangaka being a woman, best summed up as a middle aged man's image of an ideal young woman – pretty, polite, loves anything sweet & is so naïve that when assassins are trying to break in, her biggest concern is that they might damage the windows. I'd like to think it's meant as a joke, but you can never tell with anime. The conspiracy that drives ACCA's plot could have been the shows saving grace, if they hadn't introduced it in the first episode. While not the focus of the first half, the writers none the less felt the need to spend a portion of each episode on the machinations going on behind the scenes, which becomes increasingly confused & convoluted as new twists & turns keep being added. It's only not more of an issue because the ending renders much of it irrelevant. ACCA's world also starts losing its appeal pretty quickly. While more varied & globally minded than is typical for today's anime, it also quickly takes the form of a rather strangely laid out version of It's a Small World that doesn't really work as an actual nation. I'm not sure which “district” was my favourite, the Les Miserables world or the Viva Las Vegas one. It ultimately comes across as though the creators like the idea of an outside world, but have never visited it. There's also clearly an attempt at social commentary going on, with a lot of attention being drawn to social & regional disparities. However, it goes about it in some odd ways; for instance with Jean's chain-smoking being made out to be a bourgeoisie luxury until he says “nuh-uh I'm actually totes poor” & everyone just goes with it. It seems doubly odd, given who it turns out Jean is, but it's there now so people can say “omg this show has so much to say about the world.” Or maybe it's also meant to be funny. More negative - & this paragraph spoils parts of the ending so be warned – is that, while ACCA contains some of the whitest Native-Americans outside of a John Ford film, the Kingdom of Dowa has every shade of hair & eye colour represented, but next to no people of colour. Indeed, when it becomes clear (as if it wasn't obvious from the start) what role in the conspiracy the sole brown skinned people play, it starts to feel a tad racist. This isn't helped by how Jean is a jackbooted Aryan & the conspiracy is 'successfully' halted by ACCA becoming a de-facto military dictatorship (a Shogunate, if you will) while the brown people – scheming Arabs who control the oil supply, naturally – are kicked out the kingdom. The new dictator is a woman, though, so at least you could call it a progressive dictatorship. A lot of this could be laughed off as a joke if it didn't fit in with an oddly right-wing, revisionist trend seen in recent anime like Kancolle, GATE & Joker Game. Speaking of JG, it's hard not to see that show's outsized success & loyal fanbase as at least somewhat responsible for ACCA being in the state that it is. A sloppy series that really could have used more production time & resources, it's easy to think that the production committee, dominated by merchandising companies, were pushing to get it released in time to cash in, apparently with some success. I guess ladies love jackbooted gentlemen.

ACCA is the thinking man's Natsume Yuujinchou. Both shows have a leisurely pace and EXTREMELY CALM main characters, along with a thoughtful tone and fairy tale-like mood. Both deal with the problem of companionship, and the complexity of identity. And neither is very flash-bang. I found ACCA to be a restful departure from the anime norm, and a great show to watch at the end of a hectic day. I do wish that ACCA would take the themes it presents to a deeper emotional level, and that it would have a greater sense of what is at stake. None of the characters emote very much, which may be a Japanese thing but certainly prevented me from feeling more connection with them. That said, the character design is good (done by the same guy who did House of Five Leaves) and the animation is lovely. It's an unusually illustrative style for an anime, but is very refreshing because of that, and they pull it off well. Several scenes are very artfully put together. The music too is different from the average, very simple arrangements, for the most part led by acoustic guitar. While ACCA presents itself as a kind of espionage thriller, it is intensely low-key, which while disappointing in some ways, is also very rewarding in others. It is an atypical show meant to be savored - the beautiful colors; the creative character designs; the playful motif of apple cake and toasting bread - and not devoured. Even if ACCA doesn't pass the three-episode test, it's a break from the routine that will cleanse your palate.

ACCA is the biggest surprise i've encountered this season. The only thing I knew about this show before watching it was the great OP and the amazing, slick-looking art and character designs. I could tell from the editing, style, and care put into the OP, as well as the song that it's paired with being so well-suited to the tone the sequence conveys that the show would be at least an 8/10 in my eyes, but I was THOROUGHLY impressed by this show, though i can't call it a masterpiece. I consider there to be a huge difference between the different numbers I rate shows by, so going up by an entire point is something I consider a significant feat. Story: rule number 1: this is not like what you're used to watching. 8/10, enjoyable, intelligent, and surprising, but doesn't do anything absolutely amazing. No matter what is happening in this story, the tone will always be chill and casual. The only time it gets anywhere more intense than that is when everything is keikaku doori. I think call ing ACCA a slice of life would be extremely appropriate, as there are no extended scenes of characters yelling or any entry-level drama like that. Even if the situation were to become dire, the tone will always feel like it's trying to say "dude, chill; It's just how life goes." The tone is also reflected in the structure of the story/ how it progresses through it's 12 episodes. Just like in life, things that you wouldn't ever expect will happen, and you'll be caught off guard because of how quietly things occur during the show. It is very subtle, and there are no plot holes or asspulls that I could see. It all made sense. But, this show isn't wrapped in symbolism at all. Any plot twists are simply due to how tight the writing is and how it's able to make you not question it initially, and still manage to make it seem like everything was actually being set up by someone in the first place upon looking back at the series after finishing it. everything related to pacing in this show is done on purpose and manages to work out, providing resolutions that only make sense because there was an extra 5 minutes spent in a few random districts. Art: slick, stylish, and appropriately laid-back. 9/10 because the animation didn't have very many highlights (even if this show's general tone justifies it) and the direction/cinematography wasn't revolutionary. Every named character in the show has a unique, striking, and appropriate design. Even if you couldn't remember all the names, the designs were cool enough to at least let you recognize them when they reoccured throughout the story. Same with the districts, each has a distinct design and air to it and the people reflect the state of the district and it's culture. The animation is not bad at all, it's just that this is a very laid back series with almost no action at all, and so doesn't require very much sakuga. Even so, the few instances are very well integrated and helped add to certain characters, especially the relationship between Magie and Prince Schwan. The backgrounds were typically beautiful if my memory is accurate, and the OP was one of my favorites this season, being one of the few that I could actually gain meaning from and thus estimate the quality this show had. It shows the appeal of the show perfectly, demonstrating some the visually striking cast and kicking up some intrigue with some shots, while maintaining a beautiful, soft artstyle throughout more than half of the OP, along with some slick editing, until a brief flyby shot of some stills with most characters being almost completely pitch black, until a last shot that made me think that the ending would be something that didn't end up being the case so it also played with my expectations throughout the show. I wasn't able to get any significant meaning out of the ED, but it was very soothing to watch and listen to, as the animation is quite good, sort of reminding me of Mob Psycho's ED, but not as impressive of meaningful. Sound: conveyed the tone perfectly and was never out of place of straight up bad. That said, I can't remember any of the tracks, regardless of whether I believe it's worth downloading or not. 8/10 Like I said, it was usually perfect in the show itself, as well as in the OP and ED. However, I only remember the OP's song. Even if I absolutely love it, that's not what I would consider an impressive soundtrack, though it was perfectly used. No standout tracks in the show itself, and the ED song was just not to my liking. You might like it, who knows? Characters: there are a few well established characters, but the others are not that special. Not bad, just not well developed. 9/10, regardless. I'll list the standouts right now; Jean, Mauve, Nino, Groshular, Lilium, Prince Schwan, Lotta, and Magie. That was in order, by the way. Jean is head and shoulders above the rest though. The thing with most of these characters is that they're already adults. The only development they can have beyond who they've turned out as is in their backstory or how they interact with others. The one character with the most development is Schwan, though. It's just that he only has that, and no backstory or interesting actions in the story. He is more intelligent than he's initially portrayed to be by other characters, but he gets outdone in every situation because he's incompetent. It's no surprise, everybody knows it. Now, let's talk Jean Otus. He is the perfect protagonist for this story, and is built up early on to be intelligent and well-liked, despite his somewhat disconnected nature. He is put in some extreme situations and has several major revelations made to him, but he simply shrugs it off. Not because he doesn't care per se, it's just that he dislikes rushing things, and has the composure to think about things calmly and have some insight regarding people and situations with minor evidence, which makes his reaction to the one thing he would forever be oblivious of that much more... Heartwarming, almost. I feel like I've skipped a lot regarding his character, but it might be for the best. The other characters, specifically the ones in the districts that Jean visits are somewhat one dimensional, but seem to have history with Jean, which is very interesting because either they or Jean remarks how they've changed since they've moved to their new assigned district. This enhances the character and allows some insight into the district itself. IT'S MULTILAYERED OH MAI GAD. This is shown quite subtly in one of the last episodes when a character named Eider comes back to the Inspection Department HQ, when some of the female agents ask her about her relationship status. Here's the thing, only one of them is not from HQ. There were other female characters from other districts present, but they didn't take part in the conversation as their personalities weren't fit for office gossip. It really made me feel like even there minor characters were, in fact, people with their own history and lives. There was also another scene among most of the guys right after that one that was chill as hell. Enjoyment: this almost immediately made me kick off another show fro my favorites and put this there. Yeah, it's a 10 in enjoyment. Overall: not like most other things. 9/10 due to the surprise factor i got from it. I've not much more to say. Watch it if you want something fresh, but not heavy. Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu is also fresh, but has a much heavier, emotional tone, regardless of whether it's better or not. ACCA looks great and is just a fun, lighthearted ride, that isn't too slow or distractingly fast, but is still methodical, subtle, smart and surprising. If you have any suggestions on how to make my reviews better or just want to have a talk about anime or whatever, message me or invite me or however people communicate with each other on this website. Thanks for reading, and check out my other reviews if your like this one (I feel like a Youtuber). Have a nice d…

Sci-fi/fantasy is my favorite genre of anime (and my favorite genre for any media pretty much). But something any fantasy fan can tell you is that there’s no shortage of generic fantasy media out there. In fact, there’s heaps and heaps of it. But what keeps my love for the genre alive is the occasional unique gem of a world, and that’s exactly what ACCA delivers. Well thought out, nice to look at, fun and full of variety – that’s how I’d describe the world of ACCA. Now, this show isn’t for everyone. I think a lot of people find it a bit boring, but it is a political intrigue drama about a government agency after all. You have to know what you’re getting into. The show takes its time setting everything up, and I’ve heard complaints about the pacing. However, I have none. I thoroughly enjoyed every episode of this show, never once feeling like it was wasting my time. When not setting up crucial plot points early on, ACCA spends its time showing us the wonderful world it inhabits. Thanks to Jean’s job, we get to travel to each of the thirteen districts and explore them along with him, getting a brief but fulfilling taste of each place. I’ve also heard complaints about the characters, but again – I have none. From Jean to Nino to Mauve to Lilium, it’s a fun cast that really helps to smooth the way through what might indeed have been a dull show without them. Jean’s deadpan voice and attitude might be a problem for some, but I actually found myself loving it. To me, he’s the perfect character for the narrative position he’s put in. And hopefully this isn’t considered a spoiler, but I found myself rooting for one of the show’s “villains” just because he’s so damn compelling. Besides all of this, the show just looks good. The character designs are wonderful, the backgrounds are solid, and each district is a delight to be exposed to. Combine that with a catchy OP, and you’ve got one of the more stylish shows of the season. I don’t consider this a ‘show for intellectuals’ or any of that, just because it starts slow and concerns politics. I think it’s a show anyone can enjoy. If I had to name a flaw, I wasn’t a huge fan of the end. I thought they wrapped everything up in a way that was a little too perfect to be believable. I’m rarely completely satisfied by an ending, though, so I may just be being picky here. Boasting one of the more unique fantasy worlds I’ve seen in a while, and some interesting characters to populate and utilize that world, this show is definitely worth the time it takes to lay out its groundwork.

This will be a short commentary, an impression. No spoilers. I am so glad I gave this little show a chance! I love the characters & got the impression that nothing was left to luck and chance, that everything the characters are and everything they embody is intentional = heavily pre-planned. The protagonist is loveable. (And cute...) The (many) characters we get to know, all of them come with a unique personality and by that I mean, every character on the show would make a great first protagonist. The first episode wasn't much. However, before the 2nd episode was over I had found myself entertained and engaged, more than I had expected... I really had a great 3 months. The story is well-drafted, the result being a detailed picture and an intriguing story that opens up slowly but steadily; it demands to be watched. I had such an amazing time with ACCA, I am actually sad it's over. It is really, really, really sad but it has gotten me (back) into the realm of intrigue, mystery, fun&chill time, and anticipation... I want Madhouse to give me more. And I want more of that genre! Good that The Americans (TV) are back with a new season. I can't wait for GoT and House of Cards, I want them to give me my shows right now... gotta hold my breath and hope for the best. I am not sure if that's it for ACCA, if that's it for the franchise. There's a lot of potential for fast/slow-pace side-stories. I wouldn't hold my breath though. I hope we will get an OVA... something! Is the story complete? IMO, definitely, yes! Is the ending satisfying? Yes, but underwhelming. It is a 9 out of 10, for what it is. I'm giving it a 10, BECAUSE.

(Greetings from Portugal) (Spoiler-free) (7/10 overall) If you’re that person, who likes slow burn narratives, with some thinking in it, well, ACCA 13 is for you. Jean (the MC) is quite interesting, he is very passive, very calm and introspective and he works as an inspector for ACCA, in a kingdom (yes there’s a 99 year old monarch). The story is not that special, but it keeps you guessing. You’ll have to be an active viewer to enjoy ACCA 13 – forget multitasking! It’s not advisable to lose all the little details, because they are quite enjoyable and important to understand the story as well. Oh, and in ACCA 13, the 13 districts have different levels of progress and there’s bread… I wish I had seen more character development… But the art is fine, the animation is very cinematic or photographic – Madhouse did a good job. The sound (very good opening) is great, very energetic when it wants to be. Thank you for reading my review.

For what it's worth, I enjoyed it. I definitely think it there are areas which were lacking, for instance the intrigue was not what I hoped for a show about political intrigue. The world and characters were interesting which were really what drew me in. It inspired me to read the manga as well, but I didn't find it nearly as grabbing. I definitely think it's worth a watch if your time isn't at a premium. I thought the art was really nice, with some wonderful visuals. The way each district was represented gave a Zootopia-like vibe, providing much diversity to the different factions. I really enjoyed the characters and their interactions, the relationship between the MC and his childhood friend featured interesting developments. The ending was less than ideal, leaving the story generally in an okay place albeit a little disappointing.

acca is a perfect marriage of political thriller and iyashikei it speaks to the unbearable tension all of us young people face in the modern world with a gentle "it's all okay" hand it is a beautiful, comfortable, acheing story about love and life and what we're willing to do for others it has no flaws it is a complex dance of hidden motives and it is totally chill like playing one night ultimate werewolf with friends check it out if you like a slow burn mystery, or if you like to sit back and let the tone carry you forward. for people who like both Code Geass -and- Hidamari Sketch. ACCA is a show that captures an emotion that I've not seen tackled head-on like this before, and it might not be what you're hungry for if you like shows with lots of murder or consistent stake-raising.

THE WAY I GASPED IN THE LAST EPISODE WHEN "THAT PERSON" WAS REVEALED. Yes, I'll start strongly from the very end of the show. But let's get back to the review itself. Genre-wise it is a gem in the world of mystery and drama. There are a lot of questions that have to be talked about: starting from resource limitations and distribution, political games, ignorance, revolutions, and ending with trivial human relationship problems. Along with the complex issues we are given the riddles to solve and answers to find ourselves. Characters are magnetic. Yes, at some point you can feel like they're flat and two-dimensional. But by the end of the show, you see how compounded they are. Niino is the best friend and just an ordinary human who is willing to share his life with the close ones. Mauve, the Queen with the greatest mind, shiny hair, and will so strong that any men could compare. 5 Chiefs with their deep love for the hometowns and nation itself. Lotta, who is too naive and kind for this world. And Jean, with his ignorant face I was screaming out loud seeing the flow of emotions just behind his gaze. I might be (and I surely am) biased, but the art is superb I just love how sharp the people are, while the scenery and surroundings are kind of round-ish and tender. This contrast of colors and forms just made the whole feeling of the show kind of edgy (which suits mysteries and detective, ofc). Additionally, ost is alluring, Jazzy and bluesy notes were created for puzzles. As a person who loves expressionism, jazz, and good psychology books, I would surely recommend watching ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka. This was a meditative yet tense experience.

Nowadays most popular anime series are those with big fight scenes involving overpowered mc. Hence, it’s nice to come across an anime series whereby the premise is mainly on dialogues. ACCA is a seinen anime series that will appeal to a more mature audience as it deals with political science, witty humour and to a certain extend office politics. I will not give away any spoilers in this review but instead touch on my personal view of how I felt the recognition that this anime deserves. If you are even reading this review, it would mean this anime has piped your interest. My advice is to watch the first two episodes and if it interests you than watch the whole series. If you find it boring than skip it as the rest of the anime will have the same tone. I will expect that this anime will only appeal to a certain niche in the anime community as no offence but I doubt a young audience will appreciate this series. No epic fights, no battles, no transporting to another world, no slice of life and no romance comedy. Just a lot of smoking and political wheeling and dealing.

A political thriller that's long on glamor but short on substance. STORY ACCA-13 seems to have all the pieces of a good political thriller: a multitude of secretive factions, individuals with murky allegiances, back channel maneuvering, and high stakes. Except there's one critical problem, none of it adds up. They have all the game pieces but forgot to include the board. A good political thriller partly relies on the audience knowing how the political system works: 'House of Cards' depends on its audience having a basic understanding of how the US Congress operates, and 'Valkyrie' made sure to explain how the coup masterminds planned to kill Hitler and assume control of the German government. ACCA-13's chief weakness as a story is that the political system is a vague mess, at some points implying the country is a loose confederation with a figurehead monarch and high levels of regional autonomy, and at others acting as if the royal family has enough authority to restructure the entire civilian bureaucracy with a word. The word 'coup' is thrown around a lot, but it's never really clear what would be overthrown or how. Cracks start appearing the second you take a serious look at it. ART & SOUND Art is the high point of the series. The series has the glamorous 'Josei' look to it and some good backgrounds and character animation. It's easy on the eyes. Sound is also good with some solid voice acting from Funimation's experienced crew and a pretty decent OP. This series has some good production values, just not quite good enough to make something truly memorable out of fairly mediocre writing. CHARACTERS The large cast suffers from problems spilling over from the story writing. With the political system unclear it isn't to tell which character is responsible for what, how much power they are supposed to have, and which ones we're supposed to be paying the closest attention to. The big character reveal of the series suffers from this same issue, without going into spoiler territory we learn the backstory of a major character which revolves around a political plot that makes no blooming sense. Now strictly as characters, the individual cast members do well enough even if they don't break any new ground. The series toys with the idea of 'maybe Jean Otus is a mastermind, maybe he really is just a clueless pawn' but never does anything spectacular with it. The cast is OK, but I wouldn't go beyond that. OVERALL ACCA-13 looks different and sounds different, it's obvious nobody would confuse it for this season's generic otaku power fantasy/harem schlock. But it doesn't have enough 'meat on its bones', so to speak. If you want a new aesthetic experience and are willing to not look too closely at the internal workings, ACCA-13 is enjoyable enough.

(This review has been adapted from my blog/reddit thread. Spoilers ahead!) ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka features lots of smoking. Thankfully for me, I’ve never smoked a day in my life. The horrible side effects. The frightening commercials. The wisdom from my parents. Many an influence has made the decision to avoid cigarettes an easy one, indeed. It’s not an incredible feat by any standard, but I’m glad that I did not start something that would only negatively impact my health. While ACCA itself does not (and literally cannot) smoke, its mistakes hurt it enough that it doesn’t need to inhale nasty chemicals to reach the same unhealthy state. STORY ACCA centers on an unassuming man by the name of Jean Otus. As Deputy Chief of the Territory Inspection Department within ACCA, the esteemed organization that protects the people through governmental rule, Jean finds himself tasked with visiting each of the nation’s thirteen districts. But, little does he know, a coup d’état broils – and he’s at the center of it all. From the very beginning, the anime sets itself up as a mystery drama with all the makings of an intriguing tale at its disposal. The encroaching coup foreshadows the endgame. Jean’s semi-unreliable-narrator status forces the audience to keep everyone under scrutiny. A handful of different perspectives, from the royalty of Dowa to the Five Chief Generals of ACCA itself, keep the puzzle pieces in reach but slightly out of position. It’s all there – but ACCA cannot complete the picture. One of ACCA’s bigger blunders comes from an inability to land firmly on its more dramatic reveals. Despite the show’s penchant for mystery, when it comes time to unveil certain information, the landing doesn’t stick either because the show fails at qualifying this info or because it isn’t as weighty as the anime would have the audience believe. For example, Nino reveals himself to Jean once Jean knows that Nino has been spying on him. Yet the subsequent “showdown” occurs in the middle of a forest without much consequence, leaving the dynamic between them unaltered. Jean learning of his royalty status also makes for weak drama. He and Mauve cross paths on a sidewalk in Dowa where she drops the info bomb on him. The two talk a little more about his actions and his suspected involvement, but this revelation does not lead to anything more plot-wise. The gifted cigarettes are even more anticlimactic. Upon visiting a new district, Jean receives an oddly designed cigarette that will presumably hold major significance or be used for something grander later. Nope. Instead, they simply represent each districts commitment to the coup. Something that Jean already knows and hears regularly when he talks with the nation’s different peoples directly. To the anime’s credit, it does itself a service in providing a full backstory into the origins of this tale and how Jean’s situation came about. Episode eight goes back in time, taking on different perspectives and highlighting the series of events that eventually led Jean (and Nino and Lotta) towards their strange lifestyles. This dramatic reveal, unlike almost all others in the show, gives an appropriate amount of time, an appropriate amount of detail, and an appropriate amount of importance. Besides the dramatic reveals, there’s also trouble with the districts themselves. As the title of the show describes, thirteen distinct districts split up the entire nation. A territory where, like Texas, everything is bigger. A city gung-ho about gambling. A tropical place where the inhabitants live uncharacteristically long lives. As Jean travels abroad, the audience comes to see that each district truly does have its own personality. However, this separation also leads to a disconnect. These districts neither affect one another nor ACCA, failing to introduce anything wholly relevant to the plot save for representing another area that Jean visits. Plus, as the season progresses, the anime must make way for the reveals and the backstory and the ensuing finale, leaving even fewer chances for ACCA and the districts to make a name for themselves. And that’s a problem. Thematically, the anime argues for two key points: the necessity of order and the existence of individualism. The former comes through in ACCA’s ideals, the continued peace of the nation, and the looming threat of a coup that drives the story. The latter comes through in those districts and the uniqueness with which they handle and portray themselves. These two points are linked. Order gives the districts the freedom to express themselves, and individualism gives way to a nation that respects ACCA’s guidance. Throughout the season, the anime likewise makes this connection between the two. Each district has their own strengths, their own wishes, and their own presentation that shape their identity, and ACCA’s representatives watch over their territories, taking in their culture while managing their direction. Yet ACCA almost never challenges this symbiotic relationship between order and individualism. Instead, it keeps the disconnect going – to the point that it’s way too late. The threatening coup that the anime has been building towards the whole season doesn’t actually happen, and, when the districts finally do come together, there’s no meaningful exchange. They don’t share interesting words or create thoughtful ideas. It all amounts to an unfulfilling ending that makes the audience wonder what was so important about this story to begin with. Episode four, where Jean travels to Suitsu district, marks one of the only times such a challenge occurs. Stuck in 1700’s America, their coup (lots of coups in this show) demonstrates what happens when too much order takes hold, inviting Nino’s involvement, Jean’s promise to hide what went on, and the show’s arguably only memorable sequence. Despite so much misplaced importance, the anime does try out other narrative routes. An assassination subplot targets both Lotta and Jean, but Lotta’s lacks reasoning and Jean’s isn’t too effective since Nino (willingly) stepped out of the picture for a while. There’s also the real coup forming under Lilium’s leadership, but it’s not handled well. It’s introduced too late, and it’s rather convenient that Pranetta district strikes fortune to keep the nation afloat (since Lilium’s district’s defection means no more resources for anyone). And why would Jean even be manipulated by them in the first place? He never showed signs of that throughout the season, and his calm approach to life wouldn’t make him an easy target whatsoever. The anime does reveal that Owl, Jean’s supervisor, was the guard that watched over Schnee, served as Nino’s secret boss, and destroyed Jean’s letters for reassignment. And there’s symbolism attached to the red bird: freedom, optimism, peace. But these small details are not nearly enough to make up for the anime’s numerous narrative problems. ART/ANIMATION Although ACCA’s narrative structure lacks cohesion, its artistic direction makes for an entirely different case. It’s mainly seen in the characters’ designs. Their generally taller, lankier builds give them an air of maturity, and the decorated ACCA uniforms – all black with gold and red accessories – up their professionalism. They do at times go for the classic multicolor hair choices – dark-blue hair for Mauve (which is quite ironic), green hair for Payne, pink hair for Moz – that seem to go against the more realistic direction of the show itself. But this diversity matches that of the districts and their own diverse personalities. These districts often have new scenery for the audience to admire. Idyllic plains with hills and grass. An underground civilization made of rock and stone. Red, mountainous regions. Snowy forests. Beautiful flower gardens amidst Egyptian-esque buildings. In essence, the very nature of ACCA’s plot provides many opportunities for the anime to showcase its diverse nation. Opportuni…

ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka (ACCA: 13th Territory Inspection Department) "The story revolves around the second-in-command of the inspection department performing his audits on 13 states of the country." --This one liner fails to entice a huge number of its viewers to a certain extent. As the description implies, the plot is not your usual "power of friendship" fiasco: it involves investigation and deducing conspiracy theories. At most, it filters a lot of its audience during the first few episodes. However, once you have been invested in the series, provided that you are observant, you can enjoy following the flow of the story. I found the story to be complex and difficult to predict. Despite that fact, it was quite enjoyable because it stuck with its original point from start to finish. (With a lil' bit of side-trips along the way.) Also, don't forget about the plot twists. Again and again I have been baffled at how many times this series could make my predictions go wrong. What contributes to this predicament is that there were times that it relayed very predictable actions/character reveals, but all throughout the series there were also misleading elements. Characters are a bit unique, although there may be design-and-archetype combination that might be faintly familiar for some. Along with the creative writing, there are several points in this series that showcased the appeal and personalities of most characters. Most of the supporting cast had their distinctive sense of personality. In terms of art, it's safe to say that the art style was not too shabby. My only complain is that there seemed to be quality drops starting from the middle of the series. It became quite terrible at some point, having poor animation and low quality. Either way, if you're not to particular when it comes to this aspect, there really isn't much to mention. No picture-perfect scenes, but there are some pretty neat illustrations that, most likely, are based on popular and/or historical places in the real world. (Also: Less eye-candy.) Sound quality: It has good voice-acting. There was nothing intense with the background music nor sound effects, but I cannot say that it was lacking. Aside from the fun and serene combination of opening and endings, there would be nothing else that is noteworthy in particular, in my honest opinion. [TL;DR] Story : 8 (40% = 3.2) Character : 9 (25% = 2.25) Art & Animation: 5 (20% = 1) Sound : 8 (15%= 1.2) Overall : 7.65 ~> 8/10 (Enjoyment : 6, Not Included in Criteria Rating) Not suitable and/or enjoyable for all audiences. Enjoyable for those who love political & power struggle/detective type of shows. Also, again, plot twists.

When Acca came out it caused three types of reactions: -Those who lost their shit because it was made by the same author that wrote House of Five Leaves. -Those that lost their shit because it seemed similar to Joker Game. -Those that didn’t watch any of those shows and thus didn’t care about it at all. And I am one of those that didn’t watch it when it came out. So, I decided to check it out now and found it astronomically boring. So, there’s a kingdom composed of thirteen states and a public service organization that maintains peace amongst all of them. Jean, the protagonist, is an inspector of said organization and is doing inspections in every state while rumors of a coup d'état have spreaded throughout the kingdom. Starting with the strongest aspect of the show, the sound department; the sound effects are passable but the soundtrack is very good, sometimes calm, sometimes upbeat, but always classy. I’m not much of a fan of its opening and ending, but both were good, the former got a song with an original and interesting mix of different music genres and also great visuals, while the latter was simply beautiful. There is a second ending that was ok too. As for the voice acting, I think some of the choices in the casting weren’t accurate (Pastice), but everyone did a good job. Following with the visual department, it looks weird mostly due to the color palette, it has some quality drops and since it’s not a series where the movement is important, that element is rather weak. Other than that, is a solid work mostly for the backgrounds and the character designs, which although having a generic look of a josei manga, they still manage to look different than most other series, again, mostly for the color palette. Although they have weird hair colors, most of the characters look as serious adults, with the obvious exception being the fat version of Tintin, seriously what’s up with that guy? Also, since every district that is part of the kingdom is evidently based on a real country, there’s a lot of variety amongst them in shapes, traits, skin, clothes and stuff. It fits the setting nicely, which, as I said, it is based on real countries from Europe, Asia and to a lesser extent, Africa; so there’s also a lot of variety in the series when it comes to backgrounds, and everything looks beautifully drawn. Speaking about the setting, this is when the negatives start since it doesn’t make much sense, although the depiction of the countries the states were based on were mostly accurate, the whole setting looks like it’s based on the post-war era and yet there are satellite antennas and even modern day technologies such as cell phones and notebooks. The plot feels slow, mostly due to the tone of the first episodes; where the protagonist, Jean, go to every state, sees the situation on everyone of them, takes little action on some small conflicts that happens there with a totally disinterested attitude, eats sweets and breads, buy some more sweets and breads for his sister (mostly sweets) and drinks lots of beer with his best friend; but midway on the series the story tries to convince the viewer that he was actually plotting the coup d'état all along. HOW? He was clueless about it until the Director of the organization told him. Also these first episodes have some silly moments like every scene with Lotta, the mc’s sister; and the prince, because, well, he is stupid, no, seriously, even the other characters point it out until the final episode. Things get more interesting and serious on the middle episodes and onwards, there were still some comical moments, but from that point the series feels more focused on its plot and drama. The coup d’état was moving forward, slowly and completely by talking about it, but moving forward regardless; and there were some really touching moments regarding Jean and Jino’s past, where the show starts to present its characters as people instead of spies puppets. But when the series was going well, the finale came and it was a complete ass-pull. Turns out Jean had a master plan within his master plan all along; and what a plausible one, stop everything with two people, yeah, right; also, there was no foreshadowing about it, it was complete bullshit. Jean is easily the most boring and uninteresting character in the whole show, although he has a great past, he doesn’t react to anything that is going on in an interesting way, not even the revelation of his real identity; I’m not saying that the series should have showed that in an overdramatic way but we got…almost nothing. Also he is labeled as some super genius by everyone else when he is otherwise clueless, disinterested and distant on the first episodes; but I will admit that he got slightly better on the middle when he starts having internal thoughts about how to proceed on the whole thing…until his stupid hidden master plan within a master plan ruined everything. Well, at least he is slightly better than most of the teenagers with first world problems modern anime is so full of; and most of Urobuchi’s passive mouthpieces. There was only a moment when Jean seemed a human, and that was only because he got turned on by Mauve. Speaking about her, why wasn’t she the main character? Apart from being the definitive waifu from 2017 (with Angie Varley from Mahoutsukai no Yome being a close second), she is also constantly thinking and investigating about what’s going on, while also having strong ideals, she is the whole opposite of Jean, give her a past and make her the main protagonist, and this show is automatically better. Jino was another decent character, although he is shown as only a typical cool mysterious protagonist’s best friend in the beginning, the revelation of his past, and his work as a double agent, as well as his actual thoughts and feelings about the whole situation, and being shown as someone with actual own will, made him a lot better. That’s as far as the good goes with the characters; the others aren’t bad, but nothing more than passable, the antagonists are not psychotics PURE EVIL ones like lots of anime today like to portray theirs, but nonetheless; they still remained as typical mysterious master minds behind the whole thing with little to none information about them, and the secondary characters didn’t really matter, Lotta and the female subordinates of Jean were particularly annoying, what does sweets, breads, and girls talks have to do with a military setting where a coup d’état is taking place? They are useless and unnecessary but on the other hand at least they felt like people. Wobular could have been a good character if he had more presence, something that didn’t happen, but he was still ok; the exact same thing can be said about Oulu. In the end, Acca wasn’t a bad series; it does have problems regarding its pacing, setting and closure, but the plot wasn’t awful thanks to its mid episodes, the cast was decent because it didn’t have teenagers with first world problems, moeblobs or psychotics villains, the production was good and the setting was realistic up to some point, and it didn’t ruined said realistic setting completely with a psychotic edgelord loli that blows up shit with magic like Youjo Senki did.

Since I have been learning about how animations are made I can tell from my kinda professional knowledge that this anime is REALLY GREAT. If I had to rate it now it would be 9.5. but later even 10. I really don't like to rate stuff in numbers Anyhow. Story: While you think that the story progresses quite slow it's actually testing viewers abilities to find what could be the main plot of the whole story. Before you even notice ,the main point is thrown stright into your face and you kinda feel dumb for not notiicing it (opening, and other small details). Art: While the style now is quite rare newdays , it has good feeling about it. Like a fresh breath of country air. You come to like it a lot. Sounds: The sounds compliment the whole plot but not overshadow it. Characters: I am amazed by how smart the author has made them. All their plot twisted characteristics and stuff. Not to mention relief characters that really complimented the main ones( Lotte, Magie etc.). Enjoyment: God. It was awesome. Maybe ,since I couldn't notice the main point only when it was thrown at me. I went into happy overdose. I COULDN'T predict many upcoming things and that was like fantastic and mind opening about how predictatable/clichē some other stories have become. If I had a bit more time I would definitely watch all episode in one day. I think that I kind of forgot some stuff overnight, but the main point was remembered. This might have been long review but in order to review it best it was necessary. P.S. For those who still read this review- thanks and good job. At least some found it interesting.

Warning possible Spoilers This is definitely the most interesting anime I have seen from the 2017 winter season so far with it's nostalgic feel and well thought out story. The story is set in the Kingdom of Dowa which is divided into 13 different states and are controlled by ACCA a peacekeeping division and Jean Otus has been assigned to inspect each ACCA agency in each state, but unbeknownst to him he's been dragged into one big situation that revolves entirely around him and his past. I thought the story was actually pretty good it started off slow, but over time the show got more intense especially when you find out more about Jean and his families history, seeing each of the districts was also interesting since each district has something different and unique about them which kept the show fresh, I liked the conflict that was going on with the higher ups in ACCA and the mystery that was being unravelled when Jean was starting to take note of the situation going on around him, there actually was few plot twists here and there that actually did surprise me and it made me like the show even more and for a show that is only 12 episodes it actually ended well too so hopefully a season 2 is not needed. Now the characters were decent I enjoyed the relationship with Jean and Niino they had good chemistry together and even when Jean found out that Niino was spying on him their relationship didn't change which was good to see since a lot of anime's always make the best friends fight each other so this was a nice change of pace too. Jean was a very interesting character and even though he is a very monotone person he generally seems like a nice guy to hang around with plus he was a very intellectual person which meant he wasn't easily fooled by his enemies. The supporting characters were ok it was interesting seeing how the ACCA officers were adapting to their posts in the districts and some supporting characters like Rail and Maggie actually got better over time by either helping out another character or by being more comedic. I really liked the Artstyle it gave me a nostalgic feel of anime's from the early 2000's, but with a modern touch and the opening was also another reason for that feeling too with it's Jazz theme, the way the characters looked again reminded me of the early 2000's just that the eyes aren't as stupidly big hence the more modern touch added to it, for some reason food is a very big part of this show I feel like the show should have been called ACCA the 13 food districts like seriously almost every single scene has something to do with food it wasn't really a bad thing I was just asking myself a lot why food was such a big focus in this show. If you're looking for a show that has a interesting story or is a Madhouse fan then this is definitely something you'll enjoy or if you're someone who really enjoys the site of food then this will also cover that area for you.