I have been excited about the anime The God of High School since it was announced. I’m happy to say that the first episode, set up/stand up wasn’t a disappointment. The God of High School is based on the manhwa of the same name, created by Yongje Park, the series follows Jin Mori, a martial artist practicing Taekwondo. The first thing that you notice is the animation and style. The God of High School is beautiful. The animation is fluid, but the series is also stylish. As Jin speeds through the city he encounters two old ladies. During each of these moments the animation shifts to a more childish animation style. The angles as he’s rides are dynamic and impactful.
This all adds to the manic energy the series presents. The God of High School is also funny. Jin and Yoo are both goofy. They meet after Jin runs Yoo over with his bike. He quickly convinces her to join him in stopping a thief. The third main character, Han, seems to be more laid back. Jin is typical of an anime main character. He’s a male with high energy and apparent love of food. The God of High School tournament features participants that are directly recruited by administrators. They’re permitted to use any style of martial arts and any kind of weapon. Given bracelets that monitor their vitals, the fighters are injected with nanomachines that monitor their physical status. These bracelets will heal “any injury immediately.” The winner of the preliminary and the tournament will be granted any wish.
The Battle Royale
After the announcer explains the rules he begins the battle royale. The battle royale is a convenient way to introduce us to our main characters and show us their skills. We got get official introductions but based on design and skills there are approximately eight main fighters. The main villain so far is Kang Manseok, a prisoner that has his arms tied together. As a result, he can only use his legs and speed to fight. He quickly defeats several fighters before encountering Yoo. The conflict is brief but shows several things. First, Yoo isn’t useless without her sword, Kang has mastered the use of his feet to the point that he can use his toes. It’s refreshing that Yoo is capable because female characters can often be useless in a series like this one. It remains to be seen if she will have a further impact during the tournament.
It rare for an anime to meet the expectations set by anticipation. However, The God of High School does just that. The larger setting and lore that exists hasn’t been revealed yet but I’m excited about the possibilities. The trio of main characters and the other fighters are thinly drawn right now, but I’m interested in learning more about them. The God of High School makes a massive impact right out the gate, with flawless visuals, good humor, and great action it has the potential to be a hit.
One thought on “‘The God of High School’: An instant hit”