ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka

I must say, this anime is definitely one to take a serious look at. At first, when I was going to dive into it, the score was a 7.20~ish so I decided to let it ride for a little more time. When it rose to 7.41+, I decided to start- and when I did, I couldn't stop! The animation isn't totally consistent, but not to the point where it's a bother. The style is pretty retro, like early 2000’s retro, but with the modern clarity it's very enjoyable. Loving the op theme and bgm, has a jazzy feel to it; in contrast the ed is softer. What I like about the pace of the plot is that for a 12-ep series, it gradually builds up instead of totally throwing the climax at you at the last moment. At some point, you notice all the allegories to America, mainly scenery-wise (for the sake of keeping spoilers to a minimum), which I thought was kinda cool. I love the characters: none completely static, all fit into their roles (the wonderfully-told flashback ep really helps), and there weren't any I found annoying. The main character, the average Joe at his job and very normal, finds himself in the midst of “favors” by some of the top elites. At the same time, he learns many things, both about himself and the country. The interactions between the elites themselves are all the more interesting and nothing is blatantly obvious, while it may be a little predictable (which is good sometimes) after things start to come together. Because of the creator’s previous popular works, I knew what to expect going into it. I'm not at all disappointed and am getting very much needed excitement and entertainment out of it. Definitely recommended!!!!!!!!!!!! OvO)/”

TL;DR Section at the end of the review. This review may or may not contain minor spoilers. ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka is my pick for the most underrated show of Winter 2017. With a different type of story, slow pacing, and fascinating characters, ACCA kept me so intrigued week after week after week. The story revolves around Jean Otus, the second-in-command of the Inspection Department of ACCA. While starting off very slow, many questioned if ACCA was going to do okay this season or not. However, this slow build is exceptionally well executed for the story and the show, and is what really made the show great. At first, it seems to be just a show of Jean's experiences in the different districts, which in itself is not that exciting. What also made this enjoyable was the diversity and uniqueness to each district, and how they handled whatever the problem might've been at the time. This alone hooked me, as it was so fun and relaxing to watch how someone might go about a problem whilst thinking how you would personally go about it. The characters as well start off slow, with Jean appearing as an aloof, go-with-the-flow kind of guy. That changes drastically throughout the story as he makes his rounds through all of the districts. Nino, the ever mysterious best friend to Jean makes you want to sincerely know what his backstory is, and how heavily he'll affect Jean and the others. Lotta, Jean's younger sister, is a (cute) young girl who runs the apartment complex they stay at, all the while keeping an upbeat and cheery outlook on everything (including sweets. Lots of sweets). As more and more characters get introduced, you find yourself surrounded in a vast cast of unique and superbly interesting characters. The one drawback to such a wide display is that there are a lot of things to remember and to keep in mind when seeing each character, as well as the fact that ultimately, it's centered around Jean (some characters suffer due to this). ACCA boasts a visually attractive art style that fits the type of story nicely, along with a great OST (man, that OP is catchy as hell)! Even the main ED of the show was regarded as one of the best this season, and for a good reason. Madhouse does an excellent job of making this look good, sound good, and feel good. TL;DR: ACCA is a slow political/drama show with lots of emphasis on diversity and character development. While focusing on the main character Jean, ACCA still does a terrific job of keeping you highly interested for what may happen next, regardless of the outcome. Highly recommended if you're okay with the slow pace that the show takes to truly introduce and explain everything.

ACCA: 13 Territory Inspection Dept. is a show that does not waste your time. Never has an anime been able to pack so much content into a mere 12 episodes with the tact and thoughtfulness found in ACCA: 13. Not a single second in all 288 minutes is wasted; every scene is so dense with information, yet as a viewer, I never felt overwhelmed or that things were moving too quickly. Every character interaction, every conversation builds on the last in a rewarding way, and it allows for the story to hit each beat with the intended rhythm. It's an absolute masterclass in pacing. Because of the aforementioned density, the scale that is created is downright impressive, and the Kingdom of Dowa truly feels alive. Some districts are more important than others, but each adds a unique layer to the world and story. We're able to see where everything in the kingdom comes from, such as food, natural resources, and various other industries, which really makes the world feel so lived in. It's through this that ACCA becomes such a believable government body, and the bureaucracy behind it is so legitimate that it felt like ACCA's operations could plausibly exist in the real world. In turn, the authenticity of the Kingdom of Dowa naturally heightens its residents. The characters don't go through very much meaningful development, and the show is not trying to elicit a huge emotional rise. That's not to say there is no character development or emotional tension, but Jean and friends are mostly fixed and the story is mostly grounded. That may sound unappealing, but I think that it fits the show and allows for a greater focus on the complex political subjects that form the driving conflict. These characters don't need to be incredibly in-depth; they just need to be consistent and believable avenues to deliver an in-depth story. In this regard, they are exceptional. The art and sound direction are certainly not lacking either. The animation is shockingly good for such a niche show, and with hardly any action the extra attention to detail in other areas such as the background and micro-movements add up to create a first-rate atmosphere. The soundtrack is also fantastic, combining contemporary and piano jazz sounds with the more upbeat tracks making you feel almost like you're in a small coffee shop, and the more relaxed ones something more like a sophisticated nighttime bar. The story itself is as charming as it is weighty. It tackles the messiness of modern bureaucracy with grace and frosts every frustrating layer with a rich icing of mystery in a coherent yet stimulating way, encouraging you to really question what everyone in ACCA's true motive is. The show is almost entirely dialogue, and I was never craving action even once, the back-and-forth is just that engaging. The story slowly unravels in a plausible, satisfactory way, leaving no question unanswered and no box unchecked. The conclusion at first seemed lackluster to me, but the more I played with it in my head, the more I came to accept that its undisguised circuitous nature is more in line with reality and I've grown to appreciate it. ACCA: 13 may just be the slickest show I've ever seen. It's classy, captivating, and concise, never straying from its path or trying to be something it's not. It's because of this air-tightness that it's capable of delivering a wholly unique and pleasing political drama like I've never seen before.

I do think I'll forget about ACCA 13 within the following months, probably due to its deficit of spectacle or events in general. Its a rather calming series following a nations ongoing development through the eyes of a national body called ACCA, the meat of the series is political intrigue, the functions of ACCA, royalty and the 13 states, along with a metric fucking tonne of bread and cake. There is an overlying story presented in the series but its almost never presented as urgent or imminent, its generally an easy going drive down a swerving road with surprises aplenty to keep you seated. Even though I'll probably forget this, from where I stand now I can say this was an enjoyable ride. Bring a snack, it WILL make you hungry.

How do I begin? I guess I should first say that I regret putting off this anime for so long. Granted, the first couple of episodes of ACCA aren't so interesting. Rather, you have to almost be in a certain mood to be able to enjoy it. (I actually dropped this anime twice since I couldn't get past the first episode.) However, the fact that I finished the remaining 11 episodes in a day should say something about how much I loved this show. Let's start with the plot. I'd rate it a solid 8/10. The beginning was slightly confusing for me since the setting with the "Dowa Kingdom" and "ACCA" itself tripped me up a bit. However, the way the story unfolded and the intricately spun plot twists all came together at the end. (Mild spoiler: Remember how Grosseur - did I spell his name right - told Jean he never received transfer requests? Well, that got answered too.) The plot holes that I thought of were all eventually answered, and I quite loved the twists that were not over the top but also not what you predicted. Above all, I absolutely delight in how the anime had a "journey"-like feel that let the audience experience all kinds of cultures within the 13 districts. I found myself immersed in each of their stories, even though most lasted an ep or so long. The fact that nearly everything comes to fruition in the end also is what makes the story lovely. There is no major climax point per se, but the buildup is well done and so is the creation of the atmosphere. In a sense, this anime is unexpected. It's unique, and the plot plus the setting helps ensure that. Next, let's talk about the pacing. I'm a bit biased here, so I'll give it a 8.5/10. Let me explain. As I've mentioned, the beginning episodes start off quite slow and have no sense of urgency as other 12-ep animes do. It almost felt like a slice-of-life anime, which usually isn't my favorite genre. However, I still loved ACCA. The first half of the anime gave me time to absorb and understand what was going on. It allowed me to start getting attached to certain characters and begin to appreciate the setting. Without the slower pacing, I doubt I would have been able to enjoy Jean's journey across the 13 districts. However, you can almost feel the shift in pacing near the end of the seventh episode when the big reveal occurs. I really appreciated that the latter half started having faster pacing once all the actions started getting going. What I love the most, though, is that even within that faster pacing, the original feel of tranquility and "journey" is never lost. I most appreciate the final episode, because it actually shows what happens to the characters after the climax in detail. Too often, I've seen animes just gloss over the endings of different characters and only focus on the main character. However, I'm truly grateful that the anime gave me proper "endings" for characters I loved. Now let's talk about the characters. Wow, I'll just say that I absolutely loved each and every one of them. However, to try and remain unbiased, I'll rate them a 7.5/10. Firstly, let's talk about Jean. He's a breath of fresh air. Not really, but for me, who's been binging through a gazillion isekai and sports animes recently, I felt refreshed when I saw Jean. He's someone you can relate to and quite a smart and intelligent character to boot. I loved the fact that even after all that happened (no spoilers!) his character still remains constant. It's not that he didn't get any character development. Rather, I'd say that, as the audience, we saw new sides of Jean as the story progressed (he smiled more!). Rather than making Jean change, I enjoyed the fact that we just came to understand him better. As for Nino and Lotte, I absolutely adore them. The story cannot be complete without them, and I sincerely treasure all three of their relationships with each other. I wished there would be more elaboration on certain characters, like the chief and the first princess (for those who haven't seen the anime yet, don't worry about it for now), but they all got their quality screen time in the end. Even characters that were introduced in the beginning turned out to play relatively important roles near the end. Plus, the characters were truly multidimensional and grew. All their behaviors and actions made sense coming from their backgrounds, and the way they developed truly fitted their personalities. Though some people may say that the interactions between the characters were quite dry, I think they just acted more like adults would, since people in reality aren't as animated nor dramatic as some animes paint them out to be. In general, I loved all of them. Finally, let's talk about animation/art and music. I'll be honest. The art put me off a bit in the beginning. I was used to seeing isekai art and wonderful masterpieces from studios like kyoani and Mappa so I was a little startled when starting ACCA. However, the art soon grew on me. The animation was very fluid and had a unique feel, which quite suited the overall atmosphere of the anime. Speaking of atmosphere, the music played a big part in everything. It was to the point where I sometimes didn't notice the music was playing. That's how well the music integrated into the story. (I think I'll go search up "ACCA ost" or something later since.) Final rating: 8/10. Conclusion: What can I say, I loved the anime. I loved the story, the characters, the pacing, the art, the music, just everything. I am aware I'm most likely biased because of my past experiences with anime, but this is a hidden gem. If you enjoyed anime like Mushi-shi, Gankutsuo, Natsume's book of friends, and Terror in resonance, I have an odd feeling that you'd like this anime too. I hope I haven't bored you out with my review, and hopefully, this convinces you to (re)watch the anime for all it's worth.

ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept. is a mouthful of a title, and (unfortunately) not very memorable—this is a series that is worth remembering. It does something very interesting by starting off as a fairly laid back, casual, almost slice-of-life in the way it communicates narrative, but then pivots into a fairly detailed, interesting political drama. It retains that laid back feeling, even as the tensions ramp up, making it easily consumed without spiking anxiety (at least for those of us prone to feeling anxious, lol). Unfortunately, the political angle does get kind of convoluted and messy. There just isn't enough time in twelve episodes to really hammer the finer details required to make everything click properly. But I do think it's also representative of trying to do too much—getting too cute with the story. I think they could have streamlined the political side of the plot for a crisper, cleaner experience. It's not a dealbreaker by any stretch, but it does keep my enthusiasm tempered just a touch. Regardless, this is a fairly easy recommend, especially given how deftly it manages to thread the political intrigue into a series whose tone feels much more casual.

ACCA:13 is a slow-burn, cerebral, political anime which hones in on the thinking and strategies that surround government decisions. It ponders the notions of rebellion and seeks that type of plot out throughout the course of its narrative. But really that's all it attempts to achieve, political pondering and anti-climax. Going in to this series I didn't expect a lot of action. I had heard about this anime a long time ago and when it popped up in my recommended anime catalogue I decided to give it a try. The outstanding art style was what initially drew me in, and then the anime's lively opening begged me to stay. The show's ending is also beautiful, with an interesting sketchy art style to accompany its elegant yet rough animation. If you watch the ending all the way through it's a great way to spend the time wondering about the happenings of each episode. You will need to think about what happened if you're invested in the story, but maybe don't theorize too much as it, unfortunately, won't return the intrigue it sets up with satisfying results (or consequences for that matter). The premise of the show is interesting in its own right, there isn't much political drama in anime as we know it right now (the best of its kind I've seen so far would be Legend of the Galactic Heroes; ACCA:13 does not pose as a direct rival to it, unfortunately). But when I say this show is slow-burn I mean it, whole heartedly. This show is about deliberation first and foremost and unfortunately in later episodes that deliberation comes without the serious stakes as it would in more traditional political dramas. You spend most of the time waiting for someone to make a move like an incredibly cautious board game. ACCA:13's characters, for the most part, are laissez-faire. Direct actions rarely come, and if they do seem to come it is usually the result of a backseat puppeteer. If I were to name favourites, I'd say Nino is by far the best character. He is the most nuanced and his character decisions are the most motivated out of the entire cast. Mauve is also an incredible character. I only wish we got to see more of her own motivated action and expression of self that wasn't in need of Jean being there. To address Jean though, I think he would have been more compelling if only the story's plot wasn't stringing him along. That probably comes from his characterization though, he's laidback by proxy. Despite that I was in want of more drive from him as the narrative's central character. He was the key to everything going on and as a viewer I really rarely ever felt that way about him. His importance to the plot felt confused for most of the story until about two thirds into the series's course when it turned out nearly everything lied on his shoulders. He doesn't feel like the anime's main character. Overall, don't expect your watch of ACCA:13 to be thrilling. It's a nice anime to lay back and watch for its sharp art style and delicious looking food stills (I was craving pastries and bread nearly every episode, that's how effective it is). But if you're looking for a political drama that delivers on intriguing set up and satisfying, fulfilling pay-off this anime may disappoint you as it surely disappointed me.

ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka is a mature show with style. Concerned with politics and culture, it delivers a steady story filled with mystery while also being wrapped with a relaxed atmosphere. Driven by an interesting assortment of characters and stylised by its colorful and vibrant animation, ACCA'S lack of explosiveness is replaced with all the right amounts of flair. Enter Jean Otus, an inspector in the ACCA Inspection Department, an aloof individual tasked with helping ACCA preserve the peace of the show's world. Along the way, conspiracies are shared, mysteries are hinted at, and somewhere along the line, Jean gets involved in a political mission that's much more than what it seems. ACCA's story is straightforward in its premise but clever and thoughtful in its execution. This is elevated with the likable cast of characters that have their own quirks that serve to create interesting interactions and dialogue as the plot thickens and mysteries are revealed. The vibrant animation helps in creating a relaxed and chilled aesthetic even when the more serious scenes take center stage. The way it balances both serious drama and its relaxed comedic moments is smooth, feeling realistic in a way that fits naturally into the show's concept. Given that most of the show is structured in a seemingly episodic fashion, the overarching plot at play is still given its needed focus while also allowing time for the audience to breathe. Even with the mystery aspects in mind, which are intricately presented and executed, there is still a lot to enjoy from the show's quirky sense of humour. It also makes the show's ending that much more fulfilling. The portrayals of all the various districts that Jean visits throughout the course of the show are properly realised in a brief but thorough manner, giving each place their own personality and distinct culture that sets them apart from each other. A lot of this is due to the animation which does a great job at executing the look and feel of the different districts. Given the various introductions to different places, ACCA has a very fun and comfy road-trip vibe that doesn't overstay its welcome and presents the viewer an interesting new setting to take in in the world of ACCA. A lot of what makes ACCA so unique and fresh is not only from its politically driven story and interesting characters, but also with its powerful and bright way of incorporating visual imagery and creating a wonderful overall setting with its animation. While ACCA does lack in giving fully-realised characterization, its characters still fill their role as interesting personalities, with its main duo being extremely likable and entertaining to watch. Jean and Nino make for the perfect partners, relaxed and aloof, and their interesting personalities establish a likable pair to invest in. The rest of the characters are also great in their own way, and even while a lack of screentime - especially with an anime that is only 12 episodes long -, may hurt the story, ACCA does a great job in handling its characters in a way that doesn't leave them underutilised. ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka is a show with style. A political mystery filled with likable characters and an equally captivating story, wrapped with a blanket of colorful animation, it delivers in its own unique way. And I loved every bit of it.

Why they talk so much about bread? Anyway, this show is fun, has good plot twits and the narrative is ok, but i think the characters are too superficial and a lot of them are just for "bread jokes" and for "looking cool". The animation is functional, the character design is great, but the art direction don't is the most amazing work from the studio and the visuals are kinde boring sometimes. For the OST, i need to say that it isn't memorable, but the Opening and Ending are awesome. Also, yes, the creator really loves bread. Really, really, really. There so much "let's eat bread!" and people talking about bread tha it's annoying and made me stopped eating bread for 2 weeks. Therefore, if you like political stories with drama and tension, this narrative has a lot for offer in the story aspect, on the other side, if you want something that has powerful characters that moves the story, that's not the right anime. In the end, ACCA wasn't special for me, but it's a good anime. But, please, answear me, why so much talking about bread?

Spoiler-free review - ACCA is a curious anime, certainly not the usual modern flair. I'm NOT surprised it's not more popular, given it doesn't rely on cute girls doing cute things, mindless action or pointless filler episodes, which seems to be something many actually enjoy. This is a slow burner that'll satisfy anyone looking for intrigue and political conspiracy. It's also just generally a well-executed story, so if you want to just sit back and take your time watching something that's more relaxed and still manages to keep your curiosity high, ACCA is also for you. The characters here are all rather likeable and most of the main ones will have their stories fleshed out to a decent degree. Each of them will also have their own quirks explored and I didn't think any of the characters felt dull, although Lotta could have used some more development. As far as art goes, it's very good. I don't have anything else I can compare it to, but I would say the style is modern and slightly unusual. I thought ACCA was quite pleasant to my eyes. Landscapes look pretty, sceneries are often quite detailed and most characters feel unique. When it comes to sound department, it's also not lacking in any way! Both the OP and the ED are worth listening to, I didn't feel I needed to skip them even once. The OP is a nice jazzy, upbeat tune - while the ED leans on a more calm and almost melancholic sounding composition. The songs played during more mysterious/suspenseful scenes are also appropriate and they added a lot whenever they were played. There's a few details one could nitpick if one so wanted but, overall, this is an enjoyable show with a non-cliché story, very good sound/art and likeable characters. Give it a go, you won't regret it. This should certainly be more popular and I'm glad I decided to watch it despite it not being as well known as some other shows out there.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE PEOPLE TALKING FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE EPISODE, THEN DON'T WATCH IT. The story was good. You don't really see political slow burners in anime, but this was the exception. At first, you won't see a crazy power system, an evil mastermind of a villain, or a device that will end the entire world. You just have one guy that goes around towns because it his job. It takes time to get to the real juicy part. Art was awesome, nothing more to say. The sound was okay, it wasn't bad nor memorable. The characters were decent. The MC is kind of like a brick wall, he doesn't really change or go through development and doesn't have any crazy reactions. However, it is the people around him, especially his childhood friend that really captivated me and stopped me from giving me a lower score. If his friend was the MC, I would have enjoyed it more. The enjoyment was very good, little by little, you get important by. And by then, it's like a powder keg, it explodes. OVERALL PRETTY GOOD SHOW, IT WASN'T A SNOREFEST (HOWEVER IF YOU ARE COMING HOME FROM WORK, I RECOMMEND WATCHING THIS AFTER YOU GET SOME SLEEP AS THIS HAPPENED TO. ME) AS ALWAYS, THIS IS PHASMA SIGNING OUT

It's an intelligent anime, despite its innocent look. There is a lot going on behind the scenes that one can surmise if you pay attention (even from early on) but it never forces you to because all threads are eventually unraveled. It can be a slice of life, a mystery thriller, a detective series, or political drama. It all depends on your point of view, but most importantly, its blend of genres doesn't feel forced. It's relaxing, with manifold eye candy scenery when the main character travels around as a part of his job. It's something you'd watch after feeling inundated with over-the-top stories and repetitive or cliché subplots. This feels fresh, and you definitely need this to cleanse your 'anime fatigue' that happen once in a while.

I knew going in that this would be a slow-burn, political thriller with lots of talking and world-building, but through the first eight episodes, I wasn't bored, but I was not as eager or interested in what was going on than I expected for a show as laid-back and stylish as it is. There is a lot to go through 12 episodes so only a few characters really get to develop or reveal something new about themselves, but even the new district of the week kind of pacing didn't really draw me in, and I'm not entirely sure why. That said, it picks up in the second half and the last four episodes in particular kept me very interested in how things were turning out. The story is basically about a large, nationalized bureaucracy that runs all sorts of public services and stages a coup when the incoming king says he wants to dismantle the bureaucracy and rule as a monarchy (even if in name only). From this weaves various factions trying to manipulate the situation in their favor. Part of my lack of enthusiasm for the show comes from some of the oddities given the backstory and relationships with Nino and *ahem* Oulu. Also it really starts to feel like every other scene for most of the show involves people with supposedly great metabolism enjoying breads and desserts. Nothing wrong with that but it does get old as it happens so much. It has a jazzy, pop song for an OP but doesn't incorporate the music much as opposed to say Cowboy Bebop or Samurai Champloo. That is a bit of a shame because when the music does start to come in, it's pretty good and helps with all the different places Jean visits and the tense situations that creep up. So I have my complaints, but I do really like this show. Jean is a cool, collected main character who doesn't let on too much what he knows or wants, and he just likes his job and life, simple as that (I loved what Ono did with his cigarette case). He's always asking questions and learning more about the situations of the districts that gets him involved or at least aware of their problems. The three main high officers are all cool: Grossular, the Sephiroth red herring antagonist who in his Hopi-Arizona district dresses like a Xatu and is loyal to the bureaucracy, Mauve, the competent, French molehunter who presents a strong front and wants to get to the bottom the coup and who's hair color is dark blue, and Lilium, the wet hair look, hookah smoking, desert petrostate intelligence agent who just wants to help out his family. The story does wrap up a simply which is expected given how long the show is, and I like that there is not any anger or bitterness but global politics have changed in some pretty significant ways by the end. It's a good time.