Paripi Koumei

"This is a business." -- the following is a brief paragraph on my introductory thoughts, followed by spoilers with character and plot exploration. reader discretion advised. -- I think I've come to the realization that I love music anime. K-On started this fascination with it's obvious focus on jamming, Sing a Bit of Harmony continued it and a further appreciation for OPs, EDs, and inserts just led me to be in the perfect mindset for Ya Boy Kongming. An incredibly enjoyable show that is, without a doubt, my favorite of the season. Paripi Koumei is about a famous Chinese strategist being transported to present day Tokyo with an understanding of Japanese and a younger frame. From the get-go, it sounds like an isekai, a story dealing with the MC's new environment and dealing with the changes around them, but this show is actually about Eiko, it's her journey. Eiko is an aspiring singer/songwriter who finds herself working at a club and occasionally performing. Kongming sees her as a new master who could help fulfill his dream of peace, this time through music rather than war. The trials and tribulations of the music industry, as well as one's place in the world, is explored over the brisk 12 episode length. Eiko is finally given a more substantial platform to share her music with the world, but then is met with the hurdle of "why?". What's the point? Why are you doing this? Why THIS in particular? After the opportunity of sharing her talent with the world, she's given another one to better herself and become more in-tune with not only her passion, but herself. It showcases how hard it is for newcomers to enter this industry (as it is for any landscape that finds itself oversaturated) and grow as well as how someone can find themselves with devotion to the future. Kongming helps her musically and mentally and she does the same for him - cutaways to him back in the Three Kingdoms age and reflecting on his past are fantastic. The other two music side-plots are fun and emotional too. Kabe Taijin is a rapper who has faded from the spotlight, experiencing a case of stage fright and letting the criticisms of others get to him. Kongming discovers him as a potential musical partner and encourages him to try rapping once more. His growth is similar to that of Eiko's, finding out why he does so, but his story is more concerned with where he started and why it was fun in the beginning whereas Eiko's journey is finding why it's relevant NOW and how to improve. Kabe is coming back into the fray, Eiko is trying to find the footing to jump in the frying pan for the first time. The differences between their storylines and character make both plots a joy to watch. Nanami is another artist, one that touches Eiko with their shared career-path. The two bond over street performances, a true friendship is formed, but ends abruptly as Nanami reveals she's apart of a girl-group shooting for the same opportunity as Eiko, a chance that only has vacancy for only one artist. Nanami doesn't have the same unique circumstances though as she and her high school friends have had to deal with prolonged lack of exposure leading to another hole in the world of music - labels. A controlling manager, sacrificing what made them them in turn for promised fame, the lack of money and success leads to the want for both, but the cost is the loss of identity. Eiko, an individual who isn't under the same restraints, reaches out to Nanami and reminds her of why music is something so many people want to indulge in - that personal element. Kongming's right - she has the ability to bring people together and realize what's truly right. Eiko's growth in Kongming being the one to give her a chance and being the one who encourages Kabe leads to her being able to reach someone completely on her own with minimal strategist meddling. Passion over power, love over agony, do now not later - this show has all the intentions of filling the viewer with happiness. And Kongming succeeds in spades. A hilarious and surprisingly touching show for how outlandish it's plot seems, the ingenious method of taking historical tactics and modernizing them for a different field and time (and some further modifications that show Kongming's growth as well), it all just clicks into place with ease. Fantastic inserts. A show I won't shut up about for months to come and a new all-time favorite.

I'll be a bit biased about this anime. It is the most relatable series to me. I felt close to Eiko as we both are nobodies trying to be somebody. I've gone through so many hardships and victories with what I am trying to do, and can understand where she is coming from. Sure, her character development did not go the way I wanted it to, because they developed her singing more than her character, though I still appreciate what she stands for. I got pulled into this series because the opening exploded on the internet. Yes, it's great. Though to say it's the best, means one would have to explore anime openings, as there are many that I feel are significantly better (Texhnolyze and Steins;Gate comes to mind). It's a really catchy song. I would say that this anime had a strong beginning, weak middle, and strong end. The beginning of Kongming and his stratagems seemed really unique. You have an ancient Chinese tactician that gets thrown into the underground clubs of modern Japan. He finds an aspiring singer, and uses his art of war to try and help her rise as a star. One would think this makes no sense, and yet this story makes sense of it. Previously, I had been disappointed with P.A. Works with The Aquatope On White Sand, though they really pulled through with this one. With every fail, I felt that. Eiko really tried her best, and as I said, it was all too relatable to me. Kongming is a character too likeable to not like. Graceful, humble, intelligent, and so supportive, there isn't anything not to like about him. Sure, it seems odd he just clicked with everything. Still, it's because he mastered the skill of adaptation. Even the opening felt like one of his stratagems and a breaking of the fourth wall, as it pulled lots of viewers in. In the middle, the series sort of betrays what it promised. The focus shifts to Kabe. I noticed that this really divided the viewers, though it's mostly because some people are too biased about rap to try to enjoy it. Looking closer, I did find Kabe's focus the weakest part of the series. Looking at his rap, trying to rhyme with "yeah," and nonsensical sounds put me off. He didn't feel like a strong enough character and arc to make up for the absence of Eiko and Kongming. There was a lot of outcry that Kongming was being pushed into the background, and that his stratagems that made the series where pushed away. The middle is the weakest part. Also, the animation is inconsistent, and often resorts to slideshows. Other times, the series skips important moments, and it's painfully overt when it does that. The last 2 episodes had me in a rollercoaster of emotions. There is the rivalry between Eiko and the other singer. I think the way it was executed, fleshed out, and made to come full circle was really inspiring and touching. It's about being yourself as an artist. To not be so hollow and fake to just do what sells. Don't go by the book, write your own. As an aspiring content creator, Eiko really moved me. As cliche as "be yourself is," hardly anyone follows that advise. It will always bear repeating. The so called antagonists do take a while to appear. Still, I was in tears by the end. The beauty of progress and success floored me. I won't lie I was cheering Eiko on. Her singing "Be Crazy For Me" in a small club to a small audience made me think. Someone with so much passion and talent can't be held down like this forever. Being sincere and daring to push forward has it's benefits. If someone has a gift in what they do, the potential is great, though don't let the corporate world of whatever you do take you over. This is her story.

SPOILER-FREE! Imagine this for a minute – you burst into the boardroom at an American television studio and tell them you have this idea that you want to see worked on. The board members ask what the idea is. You then say in an excited, giddy tone that it’s about a bygone-aged Chinese military strategist who, in modern-day Japan, uses his perceptive insights to help a young starlet gain fame as a popular singer. I can only imagine the looks that you might be given by the board members; probably a mixture of bewilderment and someone frantically pressing the big red button to call for security to kick you out. The question they ask is clear, though – “How is a series like that supposed to work? Who would watch this?” "Ya Boy Kongming!" is a reminder that one of the beautiful things about anime and manga is that not only do properties dare to get those questions asked, but also that a Japanese studio would take the idea and run with it. When I was perusing the list of anime that were releasing in Spring 2022, this was among the ones that I added purely on a lark. The English-translated title got my attention, and reading the synopsis, I knew that this was something that I had to watch. There’s something to be said about insane ideas having a kind of crazed magnetism that makes you too curious to not see developed. At the very least, I hoped that some good songs would come out of it. After dying and being reborn, Kongming finds himself wandering around what he thinks is Hell, but is actually the modern day (which, depending on who you ask, is not that far off) on Halloween. He finds his way into a club where he hears a young woman named Eiko singing to the crowd, and he’s captivated by her voice. After being brought back to her apartment and realizing he has the chance to live a peaceful life now away from warfare, Kongming takes it upon himself to become Eiko’s new manager and “tactician,” arranging for her to gain new superstardom, achieve her dreams, get more likes on social media, and make the world a better place. It goes without saying that this premise is silly, and indeed, comedy is interwoven into the fabric of the show’s narrative and plot. Though virtually every single character in the show is funny in some fashion, Kongming stands centerstage as the show’s comedic ringleader. The show brilliantly uses the transplanted-from-one-place-to-another device in two ways: firstly, antiquity is brought to us rather than the present brought to antiquity, so the modern world is a given rather than being the odd duck out. Even though this is not an inherently unique idea, it helps breathe a little life into the cliché itself. Secondly, it’s also used to suffuse humor into everything surrounding Kongming. Absurdities come one after another either along with him or in his wake, giving nearly all of his scenes an unpredictable quality both in terms of material and timing. One minute he’s heavily debating how to move forward with his plan, and then maybe ten seconds later he buys garish glasses. Kongming’s antics are thankfully not purely used for silly comedy, either. His natural capabilities as a tactician allow him to navigate his new geographical and temporal landscape, especially given that his lack of knowledge regarding the present would leave most in his situation at a complete loss. He demonstrates an adaptive, perceptive quality that not only ingratiates him to those he meets, but also in scouring for information and evaluating any given scenario. These often lend themselves to even more comedic moments where some seemingly-innocuous thing he does actually has a purpose, which humorously comes to fruition in the later minutes of episodes or entire arcs. The result is that "Ya Boy Kongming’s" comedy works in both planting brick jokes that pay their dividends, and in brief one-off gags. But even in the midst of its comedic goofiness and propensity for laughs, the series has an endearing heart at its center. None of "Ya Boy Kongming!’s" comedy reads as cold or mean-spirited since the crux of the series lies in the warmth of its characters and how they support one another. Kongming being transplanted into modern-day Tokyo is taken care of initially by Eiko, and through their interactions, he begins to take steps to make sure her natural talents bear fruit and blossom, nudging her in the right direction and fostering what is already there. And these moments are handled gracefully. "Ya Boy Kongming!" thankfully knows that within the midst of its oddball tone and setting, it needs to make the few times it pauses to catch its breath work effectively. The show demonstrates this quality not only in its earlier outings with Eiko soothing Kongming’s apprehensions, but also with the other characters as the ensemble size increases. While the actual relationships at times are more one-sided, with Eiko being the main beneficiary to Kongming’s guidance rather than the opposite, they believe in one another’s ability to help the other. The show’s use of diegetic music greatly supports this notion. Since performance is intimately woven both into Eiko’s character and the overall universe of the story, both the performances in front of crowds and the more-private listenings carry dramatic significance. Eiko’s singing voice actress, 96Neko, especially captures both sensitivity and bravura as the occasion calls for it. To contrast with that, Chiba Shouya as Kabetaijin walks the fine line between crisp pronunciation and smooth delivery. Nearly all the performances thus have a zest and charge which is always supported by the narrative, including comedically when it fits. And I’d be remiss if I did not mention Zoltán Tarcsi for composing an immanently-memorable OP cover track, which forced itself into my brain with its Eurobeat techno goodness and still hasn’t let go. And visually, the series works surprisingly-well. The Tokyo landscape affords numerous bright, neon-esque colors both in and outside the various clubs, and Eguchi Asumi’s first foray into color design makes a solid impression with its nighttime and sunset sceneries. The character designs are also a nice breath of fresh air – since we’re not dealing with high school aged characters, there is more liberty at work in what the characters wear. Converse-style shoes and a wide assortment of street clothes give freshness and personality to the people involved. If there is one particular aspect of the aesthetics that could be picked apart, it’s that there is a slight overreliance on one particular song. On some level, it makes sense for the show to do this – the song in question, “I’m Still Alive Today,” serves as one of the show’s thematic devices to help track Eiko’s growth. That said, there are a couple of times where it leans too heavily on it, regardless of its particular personal significance to her. Therefore, the song, while in and of itself not a poor composition, is still a slight annoyance. One of the episodes actually uses the song three separate times, which is rather much. This gets somewhat helped by the fact that its plot-relevant uses have some variety and utility in how the song is used, which makes this less of an issue overall. I mentioned the song’s use of tracking Eiko’s growth, and growth is, in many ways, the underlying theme of the entire series. The little bits of information about Eiko’s life that we are privy to learning about indicate a young woman whose passion has been stepped on more times than she can remember. Though success for Eiko translates to performing at music festivals and letting her own singing be heard by more people beyond the scant followers she has, it also relates to her own downtrodden, reluctant outlook. It’s not enough to just be good at what you do – it’s acknowledging seizing the moments presented to you and making them your own, with a little help along the way if needed…which may or may not include repurposing military strategy and destroying your opp…

If this show’s telling me anything, it’s that P.A. works is really good at adapting shows. But terrible at making their own in-house ones. This is like the third adaption in a row they’ve knocked it out of the park, and if those aren’t results, I don’t know what is. Story: Tsukimi Eiko is a young hopeful artist hoping to make her name famous in the Japanese music scene. On Halloween night, she meets a man that calls himself Zhuge Liang, otherwise known as Kongming, who becomes enthralled by her songs. Eiko accepts after being offered his services as her tactician to make her well known (since he’s THAT Zhuge Liang that got isekai’d into the future), and the two embark on a journey into the world of music. In hopes of making Eiko’s dream of performing on the big stage a reality. I don’t know what Yotsuba Yuuto was smoking when they came up with the idea of combining the modern Japanese music scene with ancient Chinese war tactics, but whatever it is, I fucking want it. Paripi Koumei (cause there’s no way in hell I’m putting ‘Ya Boi Koumei’ as the way I’m referring to this series here) is effectively a twelves episode run that focuses on the underground music scene in Japan. Every few episodes more or less has Eiko participating in an event devised by Kongming. These events can vary from small time events and music showings, to much grander showings with fresh faces showing up once in a while. Effectively, the show gives the audience a brief look into how multiple facets in the Japanese music scene works, ranging from small indie bands and rappers, to larger names that’ve had their own struggles to get to the point where they are today. All while the whims of an ancient Chinese war tactician applies his own techniques in the modern world in order to accomplish what’s asked of him. While the show is admittedly by the numbers, I never felt like that really detracted very much from the experience. True, Eiko doesn’t really suffer that many pitfalls in her rising career past an undetermined amount of time prior to the show starting. but I don’t think that really matters in the grand scheme of things. As what really makes the show enjoyable are really the lives and careers of the characters shown. Friendly rivals in the same business or just learning about what events or tricks people use to gather an audience. It’s all a surprisingly well-informed look into what struggling or aspiring artists in that scene deal with. The quality and passion of the music, the marketing and networking, as well as the random spouts of inspiration all come together in a well-paced adaptation. Which is sold really well due in part to the show’s aesthetics. If there’s something I wish would be better incorporated, it’d definitely be the past characters that serve as the ‘antagonist of the week’. After about three episodes, whatever foe that Eiko and co. have to face effectively drop off the face of the earth. Which is a damn shame because they should have some kind of stake in everything that goes on even if they’re not currently battling Eiko in a significant manner. Maybe a mention or two after a few episodes with an Instagram mention every once and a while could remind us that they still exist. The war tactics used by Kongming also feel a bit deus ex machina as well. Pretty much nothing bad happens in this show, as it’s practically just an upward trend towards jumping Eiko to the top. It makes Kongming way more infallible than I think he should be, but that’s surprisingly not as big of an issue as I thought that would be. Cause ultimately, Paripi Koumei’s story is about the music and how its passionate artists tackle the music scene and produce the songs they want other people to hear, ranging from the big concert moments, to the more quiet harmonizing sections with just someone and a guitar. It’s really pleasant, actually. And it’s the kind of thing in storytelling that works so well when the heart and soul of the series is given the correct time of day. Characters: Zhuge Liang, or Kongming, is a bit of a mixed bag unfortunately. As the famed historical tactician, Kongming definitely falls under the extremely smart man stereotype, being the one person who always seems to be five steps ahead of you in any given chess game. As a result, this leads to him being a sort of ‘messiah’ character, where so many things go right that it becomes a bit expected since he’s so smart, and he’s so capable of manipulating the public to do whatever the hell he wants. By contrast, he’s also a man who laments his situation. (At least during the early parts of the series.) As he realizes that the world that he once knew is gone, everyone he knew is gone, and he no longer has a place in the area he first came from. Heavy stuff that certainly does make a small impact later on, but his character for the most part stays within the realm of funny ancient haha man interacting with our modern world. Something that becomes less prominent as the story switches to actually feature him less, preferring the lives and stories of the artists to make up its runtime instead of Koumei’s scheming. Which he still does plenty of, mind you but it just feels more like the plot in the background. As such, I actually think Koumei is one of the show’s weaker aspects. Since it’s clear that his character is vitally important for the show’s progression, but his relevance is more or less a plot device than a character with an extremely relevant or meaningful story. Eiko, by comparison, is…well she’s also a bit of a mixed bag. But less so than her tactician. The crux of Eiko’s character is her drive to become a top performing artist and shoot for a big showing in front of a live audience. Which is, of course, the dream of many young hopefuls that get in this business in the first place. I wouldn’t say her character is completely by the numbers, as she has a lot of quiet and personal moments that give her time to stew over things and come to conclusion herself. But since she’s aided by a story that will not let her fail, there aren’t a lot of dramatic downs to contrast her many ups. So there’s not really a significant amount of leeway for character growth as there are for other characters. A trait that’s made worse by the fact that the series actually uses her less during its middle portion, which is understandable given how she’s not the focus, but is still a shame because one of your key characters is basically not in the story for a good chunk of it. The last slot for the character section features the various artists that the show features. Ranging from similar indie stars, to bands, rappers and their own scene, producers, as well as big time names signed on with a major label. These characters, as well as their interactions with Eiko and Kongming, are what I believe to be some of the series’s high points. Each and every one of these characters encapsulate a story or snippet within the Japanese music scene. Who talk primarily about the way things go and what sacrifices or choices they made to make in order to get where they are today. There’s some clear favoritism in the show’s presentation at which scenes get more focus than others, but I think their stories and what they represent for real world counterparts in terms of image, music, and marketing doesn’t make that discrepancy as bad as it could’ve been. As for other side characters, I think they’re more ‘fun’ than anything else. The owner of the BB lounge that our main duo works at is certainly a fun character. And the rest of cast doesn’t really fall short of that either since everyone seems to like making a spectacle of themselves when they show up. It’s fun. And it definitely adds to the overall energy of the show in a positive way. Aesthetics: While it’s made by PA works, it doesn’t…look like PA works. You know? Which my be indicative of the fact that this is an adaptation of a work and not an original. But I think it’s important to put that out there…

Paripi Koumei was a show I was not expecting to get heavily invested in, originally I gave it the 3 episode taste to see if I would enjoy this show that seemed gimmicky, but after watching, I realized the show goes a lot more deeper into the music industry as a whole, while also managing to always tie it back to Kongming. Story: 10 Zhuge Liang aka Kongming, a genius tactician from The Three Kingdoms Period in China, dies and wishes to live in a peaceful world in his next life and gets transported to modern day Tokyo (Not the most peaceful place I could think of, but better than most lol) and meets a singer named Eiko, the whole plot revolves around those two and Kongming helping Eiko succeed in her music career with various other characters being added as the show goes on. Overall the plot is great with various tactics that Kongming comes up with to blow up attention around Eiko and doesn't dip or fall off towards the end. Don't want to say anything else for spoilers sake but the story is S+ tier. Art: 8 Only part of the whole show I wasn't fully on board with, but for a show like this it did everything it needed to. No noticeable CGI, no lack of animation funding. The visuals weren't amazing but for a music show, what you really need is the: Sound: 10 Original songs and they're all bangers. They incorporated rap into the show and there was great flow and bars. Kabetaijin, another main character in the show, doesn't really have a voice for rap but it makes sense given his character and since he's spitting bars, it doesn't matter. Often times when anime tries to put in rap in their shows it's usually a bit.... cringe. But Paripi Koumei is not one of those shows whatsoever and I enjoyed every bit of the music. Characters: 9 All the characters were interesting, with most of the relevant characters getting a proper deep dive into their pasts leading up to their situation today. Some of the characters were slightly one dimensional, but the main characters had good chemistry and were definitely not boring to watch. Enjoyment: 10 As a musician, everyone haves doubts and fears about their success, or believe that they can't make it with dedication to their music alone, and this shows really does a great job exploring those insecurities and doubts, showing off the darker and more vicious side of the music industry. Overall: 9 Paripi Koumei isn't just about Zhuge Liang and his stratagems being implemented in modern day society. It's about the fear of failure, the hard work that musicians go through to gain relevance, and the euphoria and depression of being able to succeed through whatever means possible. A great show about the music industry and can't wait for season 2! side note: haven't read the manga, but the most disappointing part of the show was that there was not a big focus on the side of music creation, the main characters makes a song throughout the whole season but never really touched upon other than (your singing sucks, improve it) when I make songs, there's always a perfectionist side of me saying that whatever I make isn't adequate or up to par and I know a lot of musicians in the same boat as me. It would've been nice to see some struggles involving scrapping ideas for songs or something along those lines, although I can definitely see why they chose not to focus on that side since there's not really a way to connect it to Kongming, much less be interesting in general lol.

A pleasant surprise. A music anime that isn't idol, melodrama, and shoujo. Biggest surprise of all? It's actually well made. Coming into this show, I thought it was destined for failure. The first three episodes were really not drawing me in. It kind of just confused me. Are you really going to take Zhuge Liang and isekai him into the modern world, just for him become a manager for a musician? What a waste. I was thinking that Zhuge Liang is probably turning in his grave when he's being produced into a caricature of his former self, being a manager in modern Japan, speaking Japanese, and being made into an anime by Japanese people. I mean, making him serve a female as well? He'd probably laugh his imperial Chinese ass off if his substitute for Liu Bei was a woman. He'd probably be turning in his grave anyways if he was brought into a Chinese cultivation novel, but at least the premise and setting would have been cohesive and makes sense. However, it did start coming together after you give it some time. With the introduction of Kabe Taijin, and overall just well executed and paced plot points, this show does start shining. Making a "connection" to Zhuge Liang's past each episode was a nice touch, no matter how forced some of these as well. But the main reason why the anime starts getting good is the pitfalls that it avoids, and perfecting the main charm points of series that focus on entertainment. The first pitfall is CGI. Each dance for each song is hand animated. Regardless of how little dancing is shown, there is no CGI. Plus, when there is actual dancing scenes happening, they're well made, and the choreography, despite used to mask some of the costs of animating full body movement, was still good, and I have no complaints at all. Facial expressions, lip syncing and dancing were all above average quality when they were shown. The second reason is having relevant characters. What I mean is that each character that Kongming encounters or recruits is not a Mary Sue. Take notes, Carole and Tuesday. To have people start caring about the main characters, you have to have them feel like it's realistic. Some sort of obstacle, or some sort of coming of age and realization. Kabe Taijin has stomach cramps and has anxiety. Eiko isn't a world class singer from the get go. Sure, these obstacles do get solved to an extent, but they both are talent that can be produced and also, grow more. They're unpolished gems, and you get some gratification when you see them overcome their obstacles. I think I see it too often that a lot of the main characters in showbiz media are perfect from the start, and the only problems that they encounter is outside of their control, like rich companies bullying them, having no money, etc. Their talent is of course, on par with the best of the best, but those other things are weighing them down. It's boring. That being said, characters are decent, but they're not great. I like the small pool of characters, and that does bring the quality up. You don't encounter showbiz people that are eccentric to the point of being obnoxious, and some of them show visible weaknesses sometimes, and act like human beings. Amazing. But even our main characters, mainly Eiko and Kabe Taijin, they're just average. That's honestly good enough. They're not charismatic enough for you to actually like them--we're all there for Zhuge Liang obviously--but they're not bad enough for you to hate them. Pair that up with the next reason why the show is good, which is their progression to stardom, and you got a banger. A lot of showbiz media tend to have some sort of concrete goal for the MC. In the case of Eiko, it's to sing in one of the famous venues in Japan. That's good, and on the way there, there will be a lot of clear objectives. These things can be generic, like just filling up a venue, getting enough CD's sold before a time limit. etc, and Paripi Koumei is no different. Other than the more generic objectives like filling up a venue, or beating a rival singer, this show used a competition to garner 100,000 social media likes as their clear objective. That in itself is nothing special, but it's the setup that's important. The story arc is clearly the culmination of a lot of character development, and there's an actual sense of cohesion and accomplishment amongst the people participating. The competition that Eiko faces isn't just another random band, but rather, their main competitor is someone that Eiko got to know. Kabetaijin ties up his loose ends with his personal arc and can finally move on to better things, working with Eiko towards that goal. There's a conflict with Eiko and Azalea, her competing team. There's Eiko and Kabetaijin overcoming obstacles to get to where they are, to compete against Azalea. Azalea, too, has their own ambition and discord that also will come to a boiling point. And best of all, the execution is well done. The social media event, the direct confrontation between the two bands, and the strategy that Zhuge Liang employs is good. That brings me to the last point: Zhuge Liang. Obviously he's the actual main character of the show. He's also a cheat. Similar to Narsus in Arslan Senki, Zhuge Liang is infallible. He's basically omniscient. All of his tactics works, and they work to a terrifyingly high degree. Nothing his enemies do can make him sweat. Rather than say he's a smart tactician, he's just a broken omniscient god that can rectify any and all situations. And that's fine. Unlike Narsus, Zhuge Liang is not leading armies or battles in a serious fantasy world, where outcomes of battle are a matter of life and death. He's just a manager for a singer. It's comedic. Zhuge Liang makes peace with a lot of the opponents he faces, and that in turn, is good worldbuilding, and perhaps, setup for another appearance of these characters later on. This show isn't exactly comedic, but it's light-hearted for the most part. It still irks me that Zhuge Liang has an attitude of servitude towards Eiko. Like, disregarding anything else, is Eiko really a suitable replacement for Liu Bei? Couldn't he have been on equal ground with Eiko, rather than serving under her? Don't give me that crap that the show does this because Zhuge Liang is accustomed to serving under lords, and is stubborn about his ancient ways. As if the show also didn't let him get accustomed to modern world in no time at all, with his personality completely warped and changed. Other than that, I also want to talk about the music. Honestly, nothing special. The songs are professionally produced, and the singers are good. That's about it though. Rather than listening to DREAMERS, I'd rather be listening to fighting dreamers. Hell, I thought Grotesque, the supposed "lifeless corporate" song, to be one of the best. DREAMERS was kind of just sounded like generic JPOP to me, but I guess that's up for debate. Azalea's final song was good, the I'll admit. I'm personally not the biggest fan of 96Neko, but it's pretty cool they got a well known Vocaloid cover artist to star in this show. She's pretty good too, but if they managed to get Ado in, it'd been sick. Oh well. Good show.

HIDDEN GEM OF A LIFETIME wow what a ride this show was, Paripi Koumei has perhaps one of the most outlandish plots I've ever come across but my goodness they somehow manage to make it work. Was so engaged right from the start and I grew to absolutely adore each and every one of the characters. Eiko is such a fantastic co lead, she is realistic and charming and also so relatable thanks to her very accurately depicted struggle. The other supporting leads like Kabe and Nanami are also such incredibly enjoyable characters, once again with greatly portrayed struggles and issues that I think the show explores really well. And of course, how could I not mention Our Boy Kongming, I don't think I've enjoyed a character this much in forever what an absolute delight he was to watch. Definitely a contender for the most swagged out anime character of all time, Eiko is the main character in my eyes despite the eponymous nature of the title but damn would this show not be anything near what it is without Kongming. The music in this show SLAPS so hard, which is to be expected in a show about music but you can really feel the emotion in the songs which only aids in progressing the plot in a believable and immersive way, I especially loved the scenes with Kabe rapping because got damn kids got bars!!!! For real though, the songs in this anime are a real treat to listen to and I am absolutely smitten with the opening what an awesome break from the usual anime style. Overall this show is an absolute must watch and frankly deserves all the attention in the world, I can only pray for a season 2 sometime in the future!

Paripi Kongming put simply is a delight. On paper the premise is bizarre and its outlandishness of it might put people off from giving it a chance. I will say that you should absolutely watch this show because it actually does pull it off. The story follows Eiko on her journey to becoming a renowned singer and she has the help of a tactician from the three kingdoms period. Obviously, there is a fish out of water aspect to this and the first couple of episodes play into this but after that, it focuses on Eiko and her journey and how Kongming's strategic brilliance gives her chances to let her talent carry her to victory. That therein is the crucial aspect, Kongming's strategies which are based loosely off of real battles in the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history help Eiko win but it's her own abilities that truly shine. The show does a good job of letting each of the characters have moments in the sun and Kongming doesn't drown out Eiko or the other characters. There is really heartwarming storytelling here about art and overcoming hardship to succeed despite these obstacles alongside the flashy art style and outlandish plot which all accentuate each other to produce an excellent series.

Paripi Koumei is one of the most just flat out FUN times I've had watching an anime in quite a while. Kongming himself manages to slot into 21st century Tokyo quite well despite being a fish out of temporal water. Eiko brings an energy to the show that shines through to everyone around her. The music is absolutely phenomenal, and the supporting cast work so well together. This is one that I'm going to be coming back to time and again if I ever need a pick me up. This may not be my absolute favorite anime of Spring 2022, but it surely is the one I had the most fun with.

Spoiler Warning: I shouldn't have judged this anime by its cover when the trailer first came out. "Ya Boy Kongming" was unexpectedly a surprise to watch. Not only was the concept strange at first, but by some miracle, it worked out incredibly well. Not only was its premise engaging throughout watching the twelve episodes, but it also reminded me how much I love music in any media, from anime to video games, and continuing the list from there. Witnessing the first three episodes aired in the beginning motivated me to continue this series, and it's worth watching this season. With that, here are some of the things Ya Boy Kongming did that I enjoyed the most. The anime's plot was first about reincarnation, but more like a reverse isekai situation combined with the aspects of the singer/idol industry. At first, it was strange watching a Chinese tactician getting reborn in the modern world, but towards the second episode, it made me realize that this series is so much more than just that. As for the music concept of this anime, it feels like it's brought to life when it's animated, giving life to the music sung by the characters. In a way, it also does a good job accurately portraying the music industry, especially towards the latter half of the series. Even though I don't know much about the music industry, I feel that the anime sets realistic standards for the protagonists by not making them magically achieve everything in twelve episodes. But by showing how important hard work can be, I'm proud that the heroine was able to accomplish another big step toward her goal. With the way the anime concluded, I would be excited if they announced a season two with enough source material to animate. The anime's story is simple to understand, Chinese tactician Kongming, getting reborn into his younger years in modern-day Japan. Along the way, he meets a woman who's trying her best to become a famous performer, so he helps her to achieve her dream. Along the way, Kongming uses many stratagems to help her succeed as she makes friends with certain people that help her become a better singer. Finally, the overall goal motivates the heroine to stand out as a singer. Overall, all of these concepts may be simple, but it gets straight to the point, and the pacing of all the events is well done. However, the story itself is just that but adds some breath-relieving moments to calm down the tension now and then. What I love most about this anime is the payoff the heroine gets when she prepares for a significant event, and it succeeds thanks to her and Kongming's efforts. As a former high school singer, I understand how much she went through to make it this far into the music world, and I could feel it through her songs. Out of everything that intrigued me, the characters and their development were a secondary factor that motivated me to continue watching this anime and forget that the overall concept of its premise was confusing at first. I'll be honest, seeing how the anime portrayed Kongming made me somewhat curious about The Romance of the Three Kingdoms series. And it was surprisingly accurate to events during that period. Among all the characters, Eiko is my favorite, mainly because of her perseverance as a rising star, but the way she sings helps other characters with their development. With that, I believe that Eiko will become one of the candidates for "best girl" this season. As for the other characters, especially Kabetaijin and Nanami, their inclusion in this anime made it even better, with Kabe's rap battles and Nanami's backstory as a performer. This anime did an incredible job at making them key factors for Eiko to achieve her goal for the anime's remainder, as their influence also shows how Eiko develops as a character and a singer. When it comes to music genres, it portrays how each character is suited for each type of song, and they all complement the story favorably. All while revealing that everything was planned using Kongming's high intelligence, showing how important he is still to the story while working out his tactics off-screen most of the time. Considering the previous P.A. Works anime I've watched, this didn't have as much unique animation as those works. However, that doesn't mean it's hard to watch. At times, the quality of the visuals fits the atmosphere given whenever a performance was occurring, such as the moving transition between angles when Eiko sang in episode two. The best part of P.A. Works's consistency was the expressions and choreography, mainly how it does a good job bringing the characters to life along with their voice actors. As the animation made the characters stand out, even more, as it goes well with the art direction for each location that scenes take place in, making any moment a character sings feel more magical to listen to every time. Despite not reading the manga, I feel like the coloring for the location of each performance brought even more life into the anime, making it stand out for that factor. The music is a crucial part of this anime, as not only does it have a catchy opening and closing song, but the soundtrack throughout each episode plays an important role. For the songs with vocal singers, such as 96neko singing for Eiko, the way she sings does a great job singing whenever the music plays. Her songs, such as "Be Crazy for Me," not only demonstrate good use of English, but the appropriate usage of her singing makes each song in this series resonate within my heart, and I commend the anime for doing that. As for the rest of the soundtrack, they were phenomenal. So much so that I quietly applauded after every moment any of the characters performed. The opening song is a cover of the original version used for the anime, containing a catchy beat, which motivated me to watch this after the first three episodes already aired. As for the ending song, I love how the melody stays consistent and that it eventually continues to grow throughout each character introduction, mainly with Kabe and Nanami singing giving the music even more flare. My thoughts on most songs are a mix between energetic and bittersweet as it portrays the atmosphere of specific episodes. Overall, "Ya Boy Kongming!" is easily a hidden gem of the Spring 2022 season, and I don't regret watching this at all. Not only was the music and animation beautiful to witness, but the characterization of the cast impressed me with how far P.A. Works went with this adaptation. I thank Honma Osamu for his stellar directing. As well as Hikota Genki for his incredible soundtrack played in each episode. Without them, this wouldn't have been special for me to watch. This adaptation is hands down one of my favorite music anime, and I'm hoping the series will get a second season in the future.

I’m gonna be honest, I didn't expect much from this Paripi Koumei before the season began, but I'm glad I gave it a chance because it genuinely was a really well-done feel-good anime and caught me by surprise. It almost never failed to keep me entertained. Now it isn’t perfect, but it's a nice watch that I would recommend to anyone. Art: 7 In all honesty, the art is pretty basic, but the use of vibrant colors and fun character designs really stand and to me here. This isn’t exactly the reason I would watch this anime for anyway, but by no means was it a let-a-down. The art supported the type of anime this was well. Sound: 9 I mean there was no way this was gonna get a bad score. The sound design was good, the music was good, and that intro is legendary. Honestly, for a music anime, it did the job for me as there was no moment that I really hated anything, the rap portions were a little rough, but a great job nonetheless. Characters: 9 The best part of the show, ill say it straight. I didn’t think that this would be the show that had some of the most memorable characters from the season, but it really did. They felt very human, and the character development in the show was pretty top-notch. Also, Kongming is always enjoyable whenever he is on screen. Story: 8 Good! I dont really have much else to say, the story plays off its strong characters well enough and it's just good. I think they could have had better comedic moments, but it's hard to find a career in music and I think this anime did a great job at portraying that.

When Spring season started, every single one of my friends online were talking about one specific anime just because of its OP and how much of a banger it is. I was convinced and went to watch it... and I didn't regret that decision. It was in fact one of the best decisions I've ever made. Step out, Spy X Family and Kaguya-sama, we have the anime of the season right here. Heya, Kylinity here, reviewing another anime I suppose... this time we're gonna be exploring Paripi Koumei, which came out of nowhere and went from a hidden gem to quite a global sensation [well, not really, just in the anime community, I suppose.] Paripi Koumei might be one of the most unique anime that I have ever seen in terms of the premise. I mean, no one, and I MEAN no one else can think about a Chinese war tactician from the 2nd-3rd century being reborn in modern Japan after 1800 years to be a tactician to a singer who feels like giving up singing except for the author of this series. Original concepts like this are always a plus to me, only if it was well-executed. I'm glad to say it was well-executed and had fun watching it. I don't know anything about this Three Kingdoms thing but this anime has made me learn about ancient history too, which is very cool. I like learning useful and useless things in anime that I'll never share to anyone but myself... [wait I really just blurted it out loud here... right...?] I believe that this show is one of the best examples of what a music anime should be, and not just lalalala music music tea time and repeat [I'm definitely not talking about K-On, I like it though]. "I wish to be reborn in a peaceful world." This one wish was what started Paripi Koumei. Although, reborn in Modern Japan [lmao anime logic, everything revolving on Japan] 1800 years later, although Kongming first thought of this modern world as Hell. Well, of course everyone might think we're in the underworld now when we die, so no offense to Kongming. At that time, it was a city-wide Halloween Party and people think Kongming is cosplaying as Kongming. Later on, he meets the "Songstress of Hell" [well that's just Eiko] on our beloved BB Lounge in which her singing shone through Kongming. There were other singers too who sang in the lounge, but only Eiko's singing was the only one that really shined through. Although Eiko feels like she should give up on singing since no one really listens to her songs and such, Kongming had an idea. To become her tactician, and lead her to success and make her dreams come true. The art though is pretty good and well-animated. It's pretty vibrant too, which fits pretty well with the anime which usually have colorful lights and brings the anime more into life. It's not a thing to worry about because if it wasn't as vibrant, this would be somehow pretty dull. Now for the characters, I'll go in the same format as my Bisque Doll review, aka going one by one. Kongming - The MC, CHinese war tactician, a Kongming cosplayer- I-I mean a music tactician, and a rapper. He's one of the main reasons why Paripi Koumei is such a blast to watch episode-by-episode. He's very humorous and a very well made character, thanks to the author's knowledge about the Three Kingdoms. Plus about his stratagems, they are pretty legendary and I like it. Eiko - The Songstress of Hell- I-I mean the singer striving for success, a possible Waifu of the Season contender. Yeah, she's the best girl of the season for me. Sorry Yor. Also, I'd be in jail if I said Anya was best girl, so she's best daughter. Eiko is very moe. She made me realize that girls wearing oversized clothing are pretty cute [Honestly, I can't believe I just noticed that now]. I believe she's the most developed character in the series. She went from being on the verge of quitting singing and now she's enjoying it a whole lot more now. Her journey is very fun to watch and see how much Eiko has improved with the times, with some thanks to Kongming's help Kabetaijin - the King of freestyle rap. He's introduced halfway through the show as part of Kongming's strategy to find a rapper to accompany Eiko's journey to be a star. He's also developed too. At first he wanted to quit rapping, but after a rap battle with Kongming, he remembered that rapping is just for fun like the first times and not about winning, and now he's having fun to be a part of Kongming's team and having fun rapping with his friends at times. Owner - wait, does he have a name? well to be fair, he's just there to manage the BB Lounge and also talk with Kongming about the Three Kingdoms. That's like... it. Although there are other characters too like Sekitoba and Nanamin, but I'm not gonna go through them, because it's kind of a hassle. Sorry. CHAN CHAN AH CIKI CIKI BAN BAN- Sorry, a habit of mine. Sound. The most important aspect of this show. A music anime isn't a music anime without music. Don't worry, I won't be like last time where I'll literally just go "wow the VAs fits the characters well and the OP is bad, ED good" so let's start. Alright... The voice actors did well. Their voices match the chara- DIDN'T I JUST SAY I WON'T BE LIKE THAT IN THIS REVIEW??? Agh... now my review is ruined to ashes. Shit. Alright, I gotta move on. THIS ANIME HAS THE OP OF THE YEAR. This OP is the literal reason why so much people watch Koumei. Maybe this was Kongming's stratagem to hook other people to watch this show. At first, I thought the OP wasn't a banger like how my friends are saying, but this OP is the kind where if you listen to it more, the better it will be. I fell in love with it after only 3 episodes and the epic choreography in the OP makes it so much better. The ED too is a banger, just like how it should be. Plus the singing, rapping are really good and on-point, just like how it should be. Enjoyment. The good quality of the comedy, hype, the amazing music, good art and artstyle, mixed together, I wouldn't believe that this is one of the most enjoyable anime I have ever seen. Just one step into the anime, I know that you will enjoy such an unforgettable journey that you've set foot onto, even though you might just be watching on your chair watching. But I'm so glad that I enjoyed Eiko's journey. So well yeah, there goes my shitty review about the Anime of the Season. I can see Koumei to be a total classic years from now. This was a remarkable musical journey that I'm proud to be a part of every week. I hope this review might have convinced you on how good this show is. Thanks for reading.

An ancient Chinese general transported back to modern day to play the role of a manager for a girl that wishes to become an idol? sign me up! As you just read, the story itself is quite unique, and i can't exactly remember anything that has a similar plot to this. Though, the presentation itself isn't exactly something new, and Koumei himself is in there more so for the name than the character itself. Because honestly, you could probably just change him with an eccentric 40 yo dude who's favorite subject in high-school was history and nothing would change But not everything out there needs to be a masterpiece, so if you wanna feel good and have a good time with some silly characters, this is the show for you. Or if you just don't know what to watch in the moment. Either way, this is a safe bet for an enjoyable afternoon, it doesn't require you to invest to much time into liking the characters, or the general plot itself. also the music is pretty enjoyable.

It is a blast I completed it in one go. So, in a landscape that feels barren to me, I turned on Kongming based on a friends recommendation and found that every episode just flat out filled me with joy. This anime has heart, it has good character growth, and it has a very particular quirkiness that hits the right buttons. And that was honestly all it needed to make it the most fun I've had watching anime in a long time. Let’s talk about what the show is. At its heart, it is a lighthearted breezy music anime. If I were forced to throw it in a category with similar shows, I think I’d probably pick something like K-On. Kongming is not the main character; the main character is Eiko, an aspiring pop singer and Kongming’s chosen warlord. The show is relatively drama free. Eiko has some history that’s hinted at in the early show and then relatively forgotten about; the actual conflicts driving the show are mostly characters overcoming small character flaws by finding their motivations. That may not sound especially deep, and it isn’t, but it’s clear that the show really cares about its characters, and because of that it’s hard not to feel joy as they succeed. The show really gets by on its heart.

Paripi Koumei is one of those feel-good series that transcends fandoms. Even though I dislike music anime in general, I gave this show a shot after hearing its catchy OP, and from episode 1 I was hooked. Although I didn't finish it in one go, I did 4 stints of 3 episodes each, which may be a better watch to watch this show, to allow the good vibes to sink in over time. This reminded me of Yofukashi no Uta in how it left me feeling every time I watched it. A really good vibe episode to episode, that is worth the 4 hours. It also gave me Hikaru no Go vibes as well, Kongming resembles Sai, and the character growth of Eiko and Hikaru are strong points of both animes. The manga status reads "publishing", so I hope there is a contunation not too far down the road. Animation 8/10 - Not super action based with the singing, but the colors, characters and environments are all done well. Sound 8/10 - The music is great, the OP is great, the voice acting is pretty good as well. Story 7/10 - It's a basic premise of Eiko growing into her musical persona, and gaining "populace", which is endearing to watch. Characters 7/10 - All the characters are solid, but being 12 eps, most lack a lot of depth. Our main cast being Kongming and Eiko are great. Enjoyment 8/10 - This is a super easy to watch anime, and I would love to see more. I would recommend this to those seeking that easy going anime experience.

This anime is damn good. I think everyone is same,not expect this anime will be damn good. Even i dont know who is koumei but the anime doing his job perfectly so all who doesnt know koumei, will know koumei The story is uniq, its like time travel or reincarnation. When a fsmart old man who doing his whole life for thinking about strategy meet a girl who want to chassing hes dream and almost give up, so thats was how this anime made. The character built on this anime was dope too. A boss who care about teenager life, a koumei who want to create a piece world, and the last a girl who want chassing hes dream. -Spoiler Alert (Just a litle bit and safe) And THE BEST PART IS the music. The music just amazing and beautifully syincron with every scene. The best part is episode 11 & 12 for me. Under world & Dreamer just like Dark & Light. The cry from azalea member when Dreamer music playing was so emotional, i feel that. This part just related to all people and also me who work at art. Inevitably have to follow the company in order to survive in the art industry. Ready or not but thats how this life work, what a life. By the way Enjoy this anime its very worth to watch and the last from me,FACE THE WORLD.

No, I'm not even going to attempt to justify my score. Kongming is a great anime, but by "objective" standards it probably isn't a masterpiece. What it was, though, was exactly the anime that I needed right now. The fact is, I'm getting older. Anime has moved on from me. I look at the new season lists and feel no particular desire to watch anything that's on them. Isekais universally leave me cold. So, in a landscape that feels barren to me, I turned on Kongming based on a friends recommendation and found that every episode just flat out filled me with joy. This anime has heart, it has good character growth, and it has a very particular quirkiness that hits the right buttons. And that was honestly all it needed to make it the most fun I've had watching anime in a long time. Let’s talk about what the show is. At its heart, it is a lighthearted breezy music anime. If I were forced to throw it in a category with similar shows, I think I’d probably pick something like K-On. Kongming is not the main character; the main character is Eiko, an aspiring pop singer and Kongming’s chosen warlord. The show is relatively drama free. Eiko has some history that’s hinted at in the early show and then relatively forgotten about; the actual conflicts driving the show are mostly characters overcoming small character flaws by finding their motivations. That may not sound especially deep, and it isn’t, but it’s clear that the show really cares about its characters, and because of that it’s hard not to feel joy as they succeed. The show really gets by on its heart. As I said, Kongming is not the main character. He is also, surprisingly, not the author’s self insert character; a role which is reserved for the manager of the club that Eiko works at, who just really wants someone to talk to about the Three Kingdoms with. No, Kongming is the Jeeves of this story, a hyper-competent assistant (or tactician in this case) that succeeds in everything but mostly works from the background. He’s mostly absent from the second half of the series, though you can feel his invisible hand. Kongming is a tantalizing presence in the show. There are occasional nods toward his history, the most compelling being the glimpses of Lu Bei. Kongming’s feeling for Lu Bei are deeply conveyed as we see him through Kongming’s eyes. I’ve never been hugely into history, and my knowledge of the Three Kingdoms is frankly shallow. The hints of it in this show were enough to make me start reading about it and learning some of the broad strokes. And honestly, I think that was the hidden goal of the show in the first place. It’s clear that the author really wants more people to be able to talk about the Three Kingdoms, and maybe someday, when I’ve read more about it, there will be one more person in the world that can.

This is breath of fresh air! In times were many anime just rely on tropes and the characters seem interchangeable, an reverse isekai with a amazing premise stands out. Paripi Koumei is that and it sticks the landing. If you love music like me you will absolutely love this. Because the production, the OST, the opening and the ending slap. This is obviously really important for an music anime. Eiko, the protagonist, is a musician with big hopes and dreams, Kongming an tactician out of ancient China helps her to achieve them in hilarious and heartwarming way. the characters: Eiko is an amazing character. I really enjoy seeing a woman in an anime who isn't overly sexualized. She is an nuanced character, with highs and lows. But what I personally believe to be most important: You understand why her music inspires the people around here. The development she goes thru can be understood, because it gets reflected in the music. You actually see the development because of her music. Just to make this clear. This isn't the deepest story, but it doesn't need to be. It starts out using the same episode structure multiple times in the beginning, but when it would become boring it changes it up and tells a deeper story about Eiko finding herself to become the musician she aspires to be. If you want to have fun watch this! Because Paripi Koumei is just pure enyoyement.

Oh, man. I writing this just because I can't stand it anymore. Yes, the anime is nice. In fact, really nice. Kongming is awesome. The story is great and funny. The art, for most part, outstanding. I mean I even said "whoa" out loud and I never do that. Or rarely. I'm talking about the dance from the episode 11. The choreography was bad (or meh), but the moves were smooth and realistic looking. And now fast-forward to the part why I'm writing this. The music is lousy. That OP is trashy. I know people have different tastes and it should not be a subject for disscusion but cmon... It is catchy, it is entertaining, it is enjoyable, fine, whatever floats your boat. But don't call it amazing! I get it. These 1 summer Ibiza hits are all the rave for young people with fleeting feelings. This "life is short, I must live it to the fullest" and go the extra-mile because they don't know any other way. In fact, the ED was decent. I don't remember it, but I know it was better than the OP :))) Ok, moving on. Next, the bland Eiko. Both visually and singing. Fine, not really bland when you go for blond hair and blue eyes, yet still... bland. I can't think of her any other way. And the songs too. Especially the episode 8. Or was it 9? Next, lets talk about "Dreamer", the song that was supposed to be the "whoa". Man, what a let down. I mean I rather enjoyed the "Underworld" one. That one was really good. Not the bits where the singing voice was trying to put extra-feeling in order to make it sound more powerful. But even so, it was good. Honestly, this felt like a promoting anime for some up-and-coming idols. I don't know, I won't check. If we could separate/eliminate the singings parts, like I said, the anime is awesome. The art, the story, the voice acting. Up until they tried to put the singing the main dish. Lousy songs, lousy singing. Not even the rapping was good. But I've seen rapping of same level in other anime, so I think thats how it is in Japan. So, yes. Overall you will enjoy this anime.

who would have thought that the isekai anime where a chinese tactician reincarnates in modern shibuya was about the struggles of surviving in the music industry? jokes aside, paripi koumei was SO FUN!!!! following eiko on her journey is a awesome experience, seeing her advance and REALLY feeling that she is taking steps forwards each episode. the rest of the cast are great complements to eiko and to the plot in general, basically each one of them singing a different music genre (pop, rap, rock) while also having their own interesting journeys. talking about the songs... THEY'RE AMAZING. i always would almost cry everytime eiko started singing, her voice is just so easy to get you emotional. couldn't stop myself from singing "HEY DJ!" along with the ending at the end of each episode lol the character design is one of the things that really caught my attention and i think, one of the most notable things that made me want to start this anime. everyone is just so full of personality even only from their looks, especially their outfits, since we're talking about an anime that takes place in shibuya. i don't know much about fashion myself, but i'm pretty sure their outfits are very accurate to a mix of 90's street fashion and modern street fashion (the bucket hats, oversized hoodies, etc). on the whole, paripi koumei is an super good and entertaining anime, and if you like unique characters and good music, this one is for you!