TENCHI SOUZOU DESIGN-BU

DESCRIPTION

CAST

MANGA ComedyTenchi Souzou Design-bu
ONA ComedyTenchi Souzou Design-bu: Tokubetsu-hen

REVIEWS

• 

  ranrannerson

  95/100
  God has spoken: approved!

  I'm a big fan of quality edutainment, so a show about a bunch of goofy designer angels making the animals of the world because God ran out of steam is a great idea to me. Despite the fantastical premise, there's a lot of fun scientific explanations as to why certain animals do or don't work. Who knew that the real reason we don't have unicorns is because the horn would cause them to suffer from osteoporosis? It's also really fun to try and figure out what animal the team is creating before it's finalized. There's one that I was sure would be an insect of some kind, but turned out to be quite different...! Well, perhaps not too different, but I was surprised by the result nonetheless.

  Of course, I don't think the show would be as good without a strong cast, and the characters are really entertaining. They're not particularly deep, of course, but their personalities lend themselves really well to fun gags and interactions, and there are a few really good episode plotlines that barely have anything to do with just designing animals, like the vacation murder mystery. My favorite episodes would have to be the ones where the design team gets involved with designing creatures for Hell, just because Yokota is so much more pleasant as a client than God. It's hard to pick a favorite of the team because they're all really charming. I think in terms of personality I like Neptune the most because he's large and soft, but Pluto's got my favorite design aesthetic. I love animals that are weird and kind of horrifying, so of course I'd vibe with her. I really could keep going, though, because everyone has something I really like about them. The show's goofy without being mean-spirited, as well, which is a plus in my book.

  As far as the production goes, the animation isn't super intricate but this isn't the kind of show that needs it, and the characters and animals always look really nice. The in-episode music serves its purpose well enough, and the OP and ED are really catchy. I have to admit that I like the animation for the ED a little better than the song, just because the picture book style is really cute.

  It's hard to think of any real flaws to the show, honestly. It's not really a big, bombastic, award-winning type of show, but it's very fun and you're pretty much guaranteed to learn something new unless you're a hardcore evolutionary biologist. It's a cozy show that's definitely worth a watch, and since the manga's still going I really hope there's another season at some point. It's a series you could very easily show a kid who likes animals a lot, too. I'm not really sure how many people on this website are looking for something like that, but you know. I know I would've been all over this as a kid.

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• 

  kougrafighter

  85/100
  God outsourced the creation of life because it was too much work.

  In the beginning, God created Heaven and Earth, followed by light, waters, and land. Then he created the many animals that would inhabit it or... that was the plan. It became too tedious so he outsourced it.

  The basic backstory of the show is that God, after creating the world has outsourced the creation of creatures of the world to Heaven's Design Team. The show is broken up into halves during the episode, usually having one small story per half. Every small story usually revolves around a specific animal or group of animals being designed.
  
  There is no overarching plot to this show but it is a very nichijou style story. The main selling point of the Anime is its storytelling ability to show why creatures have adapted to their current looks. For example, have you ever wondered why a pegasus or unicorn would never survive? The show does an excellent job of explaining it in a comedic way that had me laughing the entire way through. The length of the show is 12 episodes, which I feel makes it short and sweet. Any longer and it would just get repetitive. Though I wouldn't complain if a second season came out in the future.

  The characters are pretty diverse as the myriad of personalities makes the show more enjoyable to watch. The main character, Shimoda, is a new hire of the Design Team and mostly supports the team through office work and relaying messages to God, their main client. The Designers are categorized mainly by the type of creature they work on. For example, Kanamori works on beautiful creatures, Kimura works on tasty creatures and Meido works on “cute” (mostly poisonous) creatures. The designers often butt heads but that tends to work in their favor as many creatures are created as a result.
  
  The animation is pretty lackluster as the show does not call for overly flashy scenes of intense action sequences. However, the art style I feel fits the show very well and the use of colors makes the character’s individual personalities really pop. The opening soundtrack is one of my favorites as it's so catchy. Even if you don’t end up watching this show, just give it a listen. The ending soundtrack is less catchy but fits the bill as it is sung by the cast. This show sports a great cast that really brings the characters to life. Junichi Suwabe, the voice of Mizushima, voices Aizawa from Boku no Hero Academia. Junya Enoki, the voice of Shimoda, also voices Sekkekkyuu AA2153, the main character of Cells at Work! CODE BLACK.

  Should you watch the show? If you’re looking for a casual and funny anime then this show is right up your alley. There is no action or plot so if you’re looking for those things, you won't find them in this show. I personally recommend this show as it's easy to watch and enjoy.

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