Paripi Koumei

What if one of the greatest tacticians of the Three Kingdoms period of third-century China becomes the manager of an upcoming singer in modern day? That's Paripi Koumei! It has everything one could want: Catchy insert songs. Comedy. Drama. Romance of the Three Kingdoms references, and many more! The plot is both slice-of-life and progressive as each instance is the characters growing in both career and confidence. All the characters--including the antagonist felt fleshed out and relatable. There's this level of nuance that made me understand why the characters think this way even though I dislike some more than others. The show's interpretation of Kongming is also interesting as he is a person who not only wish to live a peaceful life but to also do the things he regretted not doing during his previous life. The show itself is visually and musically pleasing too. I love the concert lights, the neon of Shibuya, and the sound design is top notch. I even enjoy the rapping segments. Overall, I recommend this show if you're into music anime with a sprinkle of comedy, drama, and fun.

I managed to find out about this series when it was first announced as an anime, I read the manga and I just think it needed to be flesh out more in terms of banger music, visuals and the unique voices on the characters. Well it was worth the wait for this to become an anime because i throughly enjoyed the whole series! No over the top drama, it was just what I need for icing on my cake goddammit! Anyways I really liked the relationship between Eiko and Kongming like I wouldn’t even consider them a couple but I wouldn’t rule it out either because they got on well so much! That includes the other characters like I thought everyone was likeable, there’s literally no bad blood among everyone or even a single person who I would consider annoying! The art was amazeballs too like you be mindblown to see how much work PA Works put into this anime. I really hope they do another season as this was such an enjoyable series to dance around! It’s also definitely a series to boost your mood if you are feeling down!

Ya Boy Kongming! is a music series. Regardless of any time-displaced tacticians as its main motivating mechanic, the story, especially in the past few episodes, has made clear that it is centrally about the power of performance, how that motivates musicians and the audiences they engage with. One of the key criticisms I had in the earlier parts of this anime regarded how Eiko came off like a passenger in the journey Kongming was charting for her musical career. There was a sense of her lacking agency in the plans he cooked up to promote her abilities he had faith in. The skewing was understandable, since Kongming's schemes were a major entertainment-value draw in those initial episodes. Hell, I even spent part of last week's episode review eagerly anticipating some dramatic reveal of a final gambit from Kongming, expecting one last triumphant trick up his tactically-deep sleeves. I should have known better. There was no more need for tricks or gimmicks at this point, it was all about Eiko's music. It had always been about the music. Yes, Kongming had co-opted Azalea's concert venue contest to draw audience members to Eiko's spot, and deployed Kabe to stall Azalea's own accumulation of likes and demand those attendants' attention. But none of that would have meant a damn thing in the end if Eiko's performance hadn't proved worthy of that attention, and that is what Kongming's been telling us for the duration of this arc. In spite of his certainty, there's still a palpable tension in the moments running up to Eiko's song here; the fog of war becoming thicker than ever coupled with her brief hesitance to start. We, as viewers, understand that this all has to work out somehow from a narrative standpoint, and yet in that moment our beliefs are tested as they have across this whole storyline wondering how Kongming was going to make this work. It's only a small delay before Eiko busts into her performance of "Dreamer," the big setpiece that arrives just three minutes into the episode, but that's enough run-up to make it deliver. How you actually feel about "Dreamer" as a song (and as mentioned previously, I think 96Neko's done a stupendous job of conveying how far Eiko's performing ability has come) isn't super relevant in selling this scene, since the direction therein is as expertly expressed in doing so as anything Ya Boy Kongming! has pulled off in its run. We hear the audience expressing that "Who is this?!" response a performance like this has to provoke in order to work. That audience is a macrocosm of the member of the populace we know Eiko has resolved to sing for at this point: Nanami, who is fully turned against her producer Karasawa and the direction of her career. She doesn't need to dramatically take off her mask in that moment, the art instead simply opts to only now fully render her eyes behind that mask. It's honestly an inspired artistic choice, as Nanami's identity was something the show never kept secret, it instead illustrates her fully realizing who she is again on an internal level— saved from the death of self by Eiko's music, as Eiko herself was previously saved by music. That might come off as overblown in description of what is still, essentially, a reverse-isekai comedy with a goofy title like Ya Boy Kongming!, but it's 100% on-brand for this series, which has always been completely serious about music and its power. Eiko's victory-securing song is immediately followed up with Azalea getting their own lavishly animated performance, playing for the fans, their real fans, who would still show up for them regardless. This turns out to be where Kongming's machinations come back into play and we finally confirm the full scope of his schemes. It would appear that Kongming really did plan for each step involving Azalea in this arc, already having a graphic ready to go for their "Reborn!" iteration, proving to Karasawa that there was a way to provide the band that 'One Big Break' they needed to be successful performing for themselves. It's an engaging spin, given those earlier misgivings about how involved Eiko was in promoting her own performances for Kongming, who always believed in the musical power of his Lord, to prove to Karasawa the importance of having faith in one's clients capabilities. The brief tease in this confrontation, the idea of a marquee managerial battle of Kongming vs Karasawa, is dispelled almost immediately, as it's clarified that his big, surprising plan in this case was not just to help Azalea, but also Karasawa himself, in all rediscovering their love of genuine performance. It rounds back to the ultimate theme of Ya Boy Kongming! in this case, one that's been teased throughout the series: the idea of "character development" for such an established exaggerated historical domain caricature as Zhuge Liang. His series opening wish to be Reborn! into peaceful times wasn't simply setting flavor-text, it was a direct declaration of intent from this version of the man himself. Apart from deploying cutthroat military tactics as applied to musical promotion, Kongming has, every step of the way, made a point of assisting his and Eiko's opponents as well, seeking to leave them better off than when they clashed with them. With the revolutionizing of Karasawa and his approach now as an example, it shows how Kongming could wind up being so much more than a passive participant in this peaceful world he's been Reborn! into: his approach could end up revolutionizing the world of music, and maybe the world itself, into a kinder, more genuine place. We understand, in this moment as he gazes upon the ghost of his former master Liu Bei, why wanting to make up for all the lives he took in his previous incarnation would mean he wasn't being exaggeratingly grandiose in his titling of this scheme as "Plan For Peace Throughout The World, Volume 1." "Volume 1." This obviously isn't the end for Kongming and Eiko's story, but it is where this season of anime leaves them off, and it's a pretty damn good finish. My expounding on the (perhaps too flowery described) depth of everything that led here is something I hope makes its successes clear, but even simply as a depiction of an eccentric tactician helping a lovable up-and-coming EDM artist promote herself, it all comes together swimmingly. The finale makes use of a presentational trope I admit to being an absolute sucker for: the quiet, reflective conversation between the two leads at the end (bonus points if they're on top of a roof taking a breather from a big party that's otherwise happening). The synergy and faith in their abilities for each other is more palpable than it ever has been. As well, the revelation about Kongming's role in bringing about this "peacetime," how far he's come because of it, clarifies that it wasn't just him helping Eiko out in her journey, she's provoked development and growth out of him too. Harmony is a key part of any good musical performance, after all. And Ya Boy Kongming! has always been about the music.

FINALLY! A mature anime with a wholesome story. Ok first time watching this i thought it would take the romance route between kongming and eiko and i thought eiko would be a minor, but nah this goated anime chose the chad path: kongming and eiko are tied with professional relationship only (no hint of romance which is very pog, he was only moved by eiko's voice), and eiko is an adult! So nothing creepy about the story (bare minimum but rare). Characters are all likeable, even the "bad guy" turned out to be wholesome at the end. The only villain is the girl u see on the first 2 or 3 eps? and that's it. I love how the characters are well developed too. Like even kabe got his side story. Rap battle arc was amazing (seriously the freestyle rap was fire), friendship arc between eiko and nanami was also very nice. u see i love how there is no stupid story like one of them is succumbing to let the other win, they take this seriously and still managed to give both sides a win. The art is nice, sound is nice, OP is amazing (i couldnt get the CIKI CIKI BAM BAM song and dance out of my head), eiko and azalea songs are actually fire. The humor doesnt always hit but it's not bad. Overall this is a very nice isekai anime. (yes it is an isekai fight me)

I was initially going to give this series a 7, mostly because I think the story is pretty so-so and I'm not really big into the genre of music they sing, hence I didn't enjoy most of songs as much as I should. After thinking about it though, this Anime is the epitome of a how an adaptation should be to me. I dabble in reading the manga while the series was still ongoing, and honestly it was pretty bland and pacing was too fast for my liking. The Anime however, its color are vibrant and everything just looks gorgeous. The characters are given more time to develop, and the flow of the event feels more natural. This might feel that I only like this series because it's better than the Manga, and it definitely factors to it, but the Anime made those qualities its own merit.

Reviews if you don't have time. *SPOILER-FREE* Sometimes there are some shows in a season that are so good that are able to leave the incognito status it begins the season with. And “Paripi Koumei”, an adaptation done by P.A. Works studio, is one of the latest additions to that list. Animation wise, the show has a really good balance and overall colourful feel to it, which since it develops in the busy and crazy streets of Shibuya, helps a lot with the night-life atmosphere and palette. On the other end, the music production of the show is amazing, and it makes it so people can truly appreciate the songs in the show and the whole set of instruments behind it. Unfortunately, I personally think that could have been a bigger pool of songs used and one or two more scenes of that calibre of music production, but in no way it disappoints. However, if there was a stand out aspect of this show, is the characters and their development along the story. “Paripi Koumei” was able to present an extraordinary set of characters that not only feel very real and down-to-earth but have struggles and flaws that people can resonate with and sympathize as well. In addition, the way the main duo bounce of each other and with the supporting cast is really wholesome and fun making that much more gratifying when they overcome some difficulties and grow as people. Overall, if you are looking for a wholesome, exciting and almost informative show about the struggles of being an upcoming music artist, with awesome character writing, music production and one of the best openings in recent times, then you’ve come to the right MAL page.

Oh boy, where do I start? This anime has been an unexpected trip through the season and has successfully developed a perfect balance of comedic value, character development, story progression, and overall enjoyment in the most unexpected ways possible despite being a genre that most watchers typically try and avoid. Of course, this is the first anime review I'll be writing. **Story and Character development: 10** First and foremost, this anime builds its themes by incorporating two different main characters that vary so much in background and era. This combination works so well together to build and develop a trusting relationship that holds long-term value in each other's goals. In a way, it is sort of brilliant that one character is able to adapt so quickly despite being so different from the rest of the cast from a historical standpoint. The same goes for all other characters, as they all have developed in many ways upon his appearance and influence throughout the show and it really depicts the struggle and motivation. Additionally, having modern stereotypes that are very admirable and relatable. The conflicts each character has is also unique and written well done. **Art: 8.5** The art is very vibrant and colorful having a good amount of impact in conveying the emotions throughout the show, going well along with the sound. It's a perfect fit for the story being portrayed and catches the watcher's attention. It wouldn't blow away expectations, however. **Sound: 9** This anime emphasizes around a musical theme with idols and military tactics, which is something common yet uncommon. Paripi Koumei goes above and beyond to compose individual songs that foreshadow and build up throughout the entire show and set a standing point for new watchers that don't expect it. Other than the songs, the sound design is normal but song development really creates the atmosphere it has and it's what separates it from the manga since you can actually hear the development as it progresses. **Enjoyment and Overall: 10** This anime I say was definitely worth watching with some friends. I enjoyed the brilliance of present-era Kongming alongside several characters' personalities and growth. An unexpected watch I would find enjoying to the fullest, and I really hope for a second season.

Adapting a music-focused series has its own challenge. Obviously, manga is only limited to visuals. I wouldn't be surprised if Paripi Koumei is one such adaptation that failed miserably in the audio department. Except that's definitely not what I get after watching this. Unexpectedly exceptional is what I would promote this series as. Putting aside the published genre, I must be one of many who hesitated when seeing either the promo poster or the title. To be fair, it's not an exclusive problem to this particular show since I have seen many similar cases. Glad I tried watching it. The show itself is pretty much straightforward. Although the combination of music showbiz and a Chinese strategist isn't something you would see every day, the story itself is pretty much a predictable success story. The main selling story, aside from the cliche "it's not about the destination, but the journey," is the cast itself. Combined with the superior animation brought by PA Works, I would say I enjoyed each time the show tried to depict each person who appeared. And as far as I can tell, the songs are also tailor-made to specifically support defining the character involved. Even with the choice to put separate voice actors for the conversation and the songs, they pushed through to make the difference in how they sound as neglectable as possible. They didn't spare putting their best to make this show.

On his deathbed, legendary Three Kingdoms-era strategist Zhuge Liang (aka. Kongming) wishes to be reborn in a more peaceful era, and promptly finds himself in modern day Japan. A chance encounter with a captivating but unknown singer called Eiko leads him to formulate his ultimate strategy: to bring about world peace by becoming her manager. Yes, it's Bill and Ted: The Anime (with less time travel). It's a weird concept, but it works, mainly because Kongming is such an irresistable presence every time he appears. The strategies he employs to raise Eiko to stardom all echo famous ones from the Three Kingdoms tales, often remixed in surprising and hilarious ways. There's an engaging amount of pathos at play too, as he seeks to rid the world of conflict without resorting to violent means, and reflects on his inability to do so in his own time. Where the show falters a little is any time Kongming isn't around. Eiko is a likeable protagonist, but Kongming is this show's sole unique selling point, and the parts without him settle into overly familiar territory we've seen many times in anime about struggling singers. It still works well for the most part, except the episodes focused on rapper Kabe, since his rap battles are pure cringe. The show does have a nice self-contained arc that builds to a somewhat satisfying conclusion. This is clearly just the tip of the iceberg in Kongming's plans for Eiko, though. We get no indication of his longer-term plans for world peace here; at this stage he's still trying to drag Eiko out of obscurity. Ultimately it can't help but feel like a 12-episode advert for the manga. If it seems that I'm focusing a lot on negatives here, the high mark I'm giving it just reinforces Kongming's massive impact on the quality of the show.

Paripi Koumei is shockingly one of the best anime i watched this season. I was skeptical at first like how you make Zhuge Liang/Kongming, one of the best tactician in the Three Kingdoms fit in a modern era of Japan as a manager of a bar singer in pursue of her dream? But all my doubts disappeared after watching the first episode and my god i know that this will be a good show and i was right. The show itself is about a legendary tactician called Zhuge Liang/Kongming that in his deathbed hope that he will be reborned in a more peaceful era and thus got isekai'd to the modern day of Japan. He then met a girl named Eiko which do work in a bar where the owner sometimes let her sing at the bar. When hearing Eiko sing for the first time, Kongming was immediately amazed by her voice. Kongming was intrigued and found out that she wants to become a professional singer but don't know how. Kongming also saddened when he remembers that all of his ally already dead in the previous era and now he lives in a different world. Eiko then sings to calm him and Kongming sees his old master Liu Bei in her figure. Kongming feels that her song save him and as a symbol of gratitude he pledge to Eiko to become her tactician and will move heaven and earth for the sake of her success. The adventure of Eiko reaching the top steps begin! The storytelling itself is balance and great, they know when to slip comedy in between conversation without disturbing the main story and it just fits perfectly. Also because the story revolves around Kongming and the war of Three Kingdoms there's so many reference that i understand and i love it very much as i was a fan of the Three Kingdoms story because of the Dynasty Warriors series. I would say that this is kinda risky that not everyone knows the story of the Three Kingdoms and might confuse them and make them think that this anime is either confusing or too niche for them which is understandable, but for die hard fans this is absolutely a treat for us. The overall pace is also good, nothing is really feeled rushed and character development progress also looks okay, but it kinda feels a bit draggy somewhere in between episode 8-10 but it's not that big of a deal. The character design is very P.A. Works to be fair and it's good that it doesn't really different from the manga itself. The art and animations are beautiful and very smooth also, the little problem maybe is the cgi camera movement where it still too stiff in some area and would be better if drawn even with 12 fps as usual but maybe it's to cut budget and time as the transition doesn't really matter tbh. The sound and song used for this anime is top notch, the opening is very catchy, unique, and good at the same time no wonder it goes viral. The ending song absolute banger and actually one of my fav songs in this show, the more episode you watch the more good it will be. There's also so many insert songs that are very good like Be Crazy for Me, Dreamer, and I'm still alive today, both are very good and props to 96Neko and Lezel for singing as the main character for this anime. But i kinda feel some songs which i won't say what is kinda repetitive, it sunged so many time that it lost its feel and wished it become one timed only. Overall i enjoyed this show very very much, it's a treat for me a Three Kingdoms fan also it's an absolute banger and hidden gem of the season that honestly no one really expect it to become this good. Flaws are only natural and its really minor that it is covered by its beauty. Great show, would like a season 2 as the manga still continues. (10/10)

The storyline is great, From a past of War to a Present/Future peace. The sound and music is also outstanding it just give ton of vibe and also you can relate this anime to anyone in the world. Struggling at first and being successful in the future. Great anime. Please have a season 2. So many good anime that aired this season,so many shows on my watchlist and yet this hidden gems still shine brightly between those. Paripi Koumei is a treasure, and so is the star, Kongming: One of the most accomplished Chinese military strategists of history. Upon his death in 234 AD, he wished to be "Reborn in a more peaceful era," suddenly, he appears today on the streets of Hell (aka Tokyo) in his handmade Taoist robe with his iconic crane feather fan, amid a Halloween celebration! The bewildering party people, who he mistakes for Hell's minions, get him drunk and sweep him into a nightclub. His first real interaction is with an underdog singer Eiko in a nightclub. After discovering her unappreciated skill, he vows to ensure her success and becomes her millennia-old manager. Appearing like a full-time cosplayer, or a delusional history nerd, Eiko takes him in and accepts his help. Little did she know, his background prepared him to be the perfect manager! He instantly concocts 100 million IQ strategies to lure in audiences and keep them engaged, often deviously. Kaede Hondo kills it as Eiko as she did as Sakura in Zombieland Saga. It's fair to say it does for Japanese hip-hop what Zombieland Saga did for idol music; breathe life into a genre drowning in unfabulous idol fodder.

I enjoyed the series from start to finish. Good thing I just don't stick with the mainstream shows. The animation is truly wonderful. I like how the story was told from start to finish. All characters were presented in a way that the audience can easily connect to their lives, struggles, and success. The studio made the story even better by presenting the characters' body language and hand gestures to make everyone understand their emotions in different scenes. I keep repeating all songs, especially the "Beautiful Dreamer". The lyrics are meaningful and inspiring (Like Kongming's wise sayings). I am also into historical stuff, so personally, that is a plus for me. Somehow, it also gave me a "Hikaru No Go" vibe. For a 12-Episode Anime, it's great. What to look forward to (hopefully): More about Eiko's backstory and her family...

Paripi Koumei, aka Ya Boy Kongming, is a story about Chinese tactician Zhuge Liang Kongming being reincarnated into modern day Japan and becoming an agent for up and coming singer Eiko Tsukimi, helping her overcome personal insecurities and realizing her dreams of improving and gaining renown. Outlandish this premise may sound, this anime adaptation is also one of the most phenomenally well produced works of Spring 2022. A treat equipped with quality original music and stunningly detailed visuals, it also proves to be a compelling story of growth and achievement in its own right. Chinese language and history enthusiasts may find some interest in Kongming's use of Chinese proverbial knowledge as well as war tactics to either outwit Eiko's competition or to teach her how to overcome her weaknesses. There's some also (not so) subtle word/naming choices made in this series, like how the Kanji in Eiko Tsukimi's name shares two characters with the wife of Kongming in actual history. I am personally not an expert on these references, but it adds to the charm of the show knowing fine details like that exist. As a production in general, the animation for characters and backgrounds is fluid and during moments where Eiko and other characters are performing, the animation in most cases faithfully follows what they're singing/playing on guitar. The backgrounds were not neglected either, as the city of Shibuya is captured beautifully in multiple lightings with a lot of detail to spare. Even more impressive is how various youtube singers voice the songs performed by the characters in this show. Most notably 96neko as Eiko's singing voice, made even more impressive that the song "Be Crazy For Me" is mostly ladled with English lyrics that are delivered with impeccable, while definitely Japanese-accented pronunciation. With all that considered, it's no wonder Eiko's voice captivated Kongming, leading him to work towards her victory. The music is very well done and a true highlight of the series. Perhaps the only remote complaint I could scrounge up about Paripi Koumei is that it's not a non-stop action series, and flows more akin to a slice of life. Maybe an episode or two is slow paced inevitably because in many ways it's a story about everyday people dealing with personal insecurities while they dream about higher achievements. It's a relatable experience with a twist of fantasy, but the show is certainly quite exciting when Kongming demonstrates that his wartime cunning can be applied to bring victory without ruin or bloodshed, in the form of music that makes everyone happy. Truly this show made me happy as well, between the story, wit, and production values. I think there's something for everyone to appreciate in this masterpiece.

Paripi Koumei has probably the stupidest premise of any TV show ever; a military tactician from ancient 3 kingdoms China is sent to the modern day after his death, and becomes the agent of an up-and-coming singer. How does someone even come up with that? It's a silly concept, but it, for some reason, just works. The show isn't all that reliant on it's animation, it focuses more on the comedy and writing side of things, but the animation is passable. The character designs are really good, you'll know exactly what their personalities are like after just one glance. The characters are funny, the comedy is witty, and the story is actually really good, as dumb as it sounds. They build up the characters in such a way that makes you want to see them succeed and achieve their goals, and it's always fun to watch Kongming come up with a plan to make that happen. One of the best shows of the season, It's definitely worth watching. First 7 episodes: 8/10 Update after completing the show: Well, the second half of Paripi Koumei was not as great as the first. I liked the ending, but there was a string of 3-4 mediocre to bad episodes prior to the finale. Throughout the last 6 episodes, the comedy, rather than stemming from good writing, came from the hilariously goofy Engrish singing in the music scenes. It was so bad that at certain points that were supposed to be big emotional climaxes, I involuntarily burst out laughing just because of how silly and awful the lyrics of some of the songs were. I saw someone else mention this too; despite the entire season being about Eiko learning to put her emotions into her singing and improving as a musician, she still sounds exactly the same as she did in episode 1. There is no change at all, despite all of the characters acting like there is. I still liked the show as a whole, but I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed with the second half. There were a lot of flaws, but it was still an enjoyable experience. Overall: 7/10

"Be Crazy for me, Make me shine on you!" This series sells its premise so hard. Ancient Chinese strategist/politician/attendant/artist Kongming reincarnates in modern day Japan. He as a fish out of water stumbles around "hell" for a few hours until he finds his new purpose: to be a rising musical star's tactician. The music in this series really kills it. The bright and bumping music in the clubs, the battle rap, the hard angsty idol punk, all of it slaps. the soundscape of this show keeps creeping back into my mind even days after I watch an episode. I really hope this series continues to be adapted. I hope it spawns a genre of historical figures being reincarnated in the modern era.

There is very little that can be said about this show which is not overwhelmingly positive. I'm not sure what else to say other than you should watch it if you haven't already. It somehow takes a played-out, absurd premise, and turns it into one of the most realistic and grounded animated stories I have ever seen. You will walk away from every episode thinking about the characters' struggles like real people's struggles, because quite simply they are real struggles. Even background characters look like they're real people pulled off of a city street and digitized. The setpieces likewise. The writers actually have to keep reminding you of the fantastical premise, because with the exception of his speaking mannerisms and getup, you will forget very quickly that the plot began because of a second-century Chinese tactician who was transported to modern-day Tokyo.

*Light Spoilers Ahead*: The OP to this anime is a complete bop, the best of the season by far. An earworm like that really gets you pumped up to watch the anime following. However, even though the OP can really set a great first impression, it's worth nothing unless the show itself can handle the bar set by the OP. Paripi Koumei, not only reaches the bar, it exceeds it by a mile. The premise of this show is extremely unique, with a mix of strategy that reminds you of some psychological anime mixed entirely into the music genre. It seems like a weird combination at first, but with the competitive nature of the music industry, it meshes quite well. Kongming, the namesake of the show, is isekaied into Tokyo, where he instantly meets Eiko. Enchanted by her singing, Kongming vows to be her tactician where he'll use strategies he's learned from the war so that she'll rise to the top in Tokyo. The premise is great, but it relies on the strength of the characters to succeed. Who cares about somebody rising to the top of the music industry if that character is bland, boring, and hard to root for to succeed. Fortunately, Eiko, the star of this anime, is none of those. With her infectious cheerfulness and charm, she shines brightly in the forefront of this anime. Her blissfulness, yet hard desire to succeed makes it virtually impossible not to cheer for her during the anime. However, in the second half of the anime, it takes on a new major theme, self-identity. Through the characters, Kongming and Eiko interact within the second half of this anime, self-identity plays a huge role, and certain characters find their own identity throughout the industry. Finding one's own self-identity can be challenging at times, so the sheer emotion that was presented through this theme was quite a nice contrast to the overall cheerfulness and blissfulness of the first half of the anime. Overall, I'd rate Paripi Koumei a 9/10, for its uniqueness of the premise, the charm of the main characters making you'll root for them as you go, and the extremely well-executed use of a theme that really made me reflect on life in general. You might have come for the CHIKI CHIKI BAN BAN, but the anime itself is the real star of the show.

This is the darkest dark horse seasonal anime I've ever encountered. While I did have an inkling to this being good from the moment I watched the preview, it was more a hope then an actual prediction, purely because I thought that the concept was unique and refreshing, which immediately boosted the score to an 8. I can happily say show exceeded every expectation I had for it. STORY: Zhuge Liang, the master strategist of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" fame(Or, for millennials like myself, that dude with the fan from "Dynasty Warriors"), dies full of regrets. He then opens his eyes, finding himself rejuvenated, and in modern Japan on Halloween night. Unsure what had happened, confused by all the costumed individuals and loud noises, he thinks he is in hell, and while wondering the streets, he hears a performance from what he first thought to be a demoness, which shakes his soul. a few more events happen, and he eventually decides that he was brought here to help this young lady achieve her dreams. And he does so, as masterfully as only a master tactician can. And while there WERE some things that were obvious plot armor(ie in the way he somehow managed to stumble into meeting all the right people), it didn't feel forced, but rather a result of a master tactician obviously being a smart enough to figure out how networking works. A perfect 10. ART Beautiful colors and character designs. I especially loved the chibi Eiko in the ED. Those cheeks are so squishably wholesome! However, I had to deduct a point over something very bad: The teeth. Dear god, the teeth. They don't match the shape of the mouth at all, even curving in the completely wrong way. So 9 it is. SOUND This is a music anime, so you would expect sound design to be top notch. And it is. Let's start with the OP: It's a cover of a Eurobeat song from 2013, and seeing as the setting of the show is the Japanese club scene, it seems like a great club song would be perfect as the OP to get watchers into the vibe. And it worked perfectly. I couldn't skip the OP even once, because it was just that good. Also: Koumei dances like me, which was hilarious to see. They brought a professional singer for Eiko's singing, which I understand isn't a common thing, but it worked perfectly here, because I really believe half the impact would be lost without a proper vocalist. And the RAP section! Holy crap, Koumei's rap bit was INSANE! And the ED stitches it all together, with a perfect wholesome wind down. A perfect 10. CHARACTER The main cast are all some of the most well rounded, three dimensional and complex characters I've seen in anime in a while, and it's a pleasure seeing them grow and evolve. Koumei has regrets he wants to tie off, and uses Eiko as a substitute for his long dead friend. Eiko is using music to fight through her own issues, and slowly recovers. Kabe tripped into his talent and passion, but said talent and passion eventually caused him to develop a fear of performing. Again, a perfect 10. ENJOYMENT You will either love it, or not. If you're in the former group, it'll be a 10. If you're in the latter group, you'll likely think it's a 5 or a 6. However, for me, it's a perfect 10. Overall score: 10/10, will definitely be rewatching it a lot.

I came into this show not expecting much. Probably like many others, I had seen the opening, and thought it looked like it could be fun. That is exactly how I would describe the show. It is just fun from beginning to end. I love the character interactions, the story really makes you want to root for the main character. Every time a new strategy occurs, you can really see the brilliance of the characters. It makes me feel like I am partying the entire show, even through both the legendary opening and ending credits. Personally, this was my favorite anime of the season. I love Spy X Family, I love Summertime Render, and I find Love Is War to be funny as well. But if I could only watch one show this season, this would be my choice. It is a very complete show, and one of the most fun shows I have ever seen produced in anime. If you are looking for a show that gives you party vibes, this is the show to watch.

Great music anime! It's the best anime in 2022 spring for me. characters, music, arts, story all are quite high quality. the relationship between Eiko and Zhuge Liang is definitely precious. Incidentally, Eiko's name comes from Zhuge Liang's wife, Lady Huang. I thought it was hard to collaborate Zhuge Liang and modern music anime at first, but it goes amazingly well. There're a lot of humors, human drama, great music. It's not waste of time to watch it. ## Characters - Zhuge Liang He was one of the best tacticians in the Chinese Three Kingdoms. He love to serve someone, in the past he served Lie Bei, instead now he serves Eiko. His deceptions are really awesome, so they always help Eiko. it seems hard to convert historical deceptions to modern ones. However, it's suited so much. - Eiko Once she was unpopular singer who sang in the little night club. but she changed when she met Zhuge Liang. In the first place, she had less confidence but she get more confidence after her success given from Zhuge Liang. She already had wonderful voice and good sing but didn't have enough confidence and the reason why she sing. She find what she lacks steadily and finally become a famous singer. - Kabe Taijin He is really like Eiko because he lacked confidence but already had a talent of rap. His role is to provoke audiences, but he has many stories as much as Eiko has. VA, Shouya Chiba's act is really well, so I was drawn into his performance.