I drink and watch anime

The Delightfully Disastrous Life of Saiki K.

Irina

The Disastrous Life of Saiki K anime review

 

When you just happen to be extraordinary, it takes a lot of effort to appear average. That’s a disastrous reality that Saiki is all too familiar with. Having been born a psychic with an entire catalogue of wondrous powers, he dedicates each day to not drawing attention to himself. But life is hard when you’re forced to hear everyone’s random thoughts, when you constantly have to consciously limit your strength and speed, when you routinely get sucked into outlandish situations and all you want to do is eat your coffee jelly in peace. Thankfully, Saiki is surrounded by loyal (if a little annoying) friends and a loving (if very annoying) family so it’s not all bad…I guess…

Generally speaking, I don’t bother much with anime buzz. Even in the Otaku community, my tastes tend to be a little unusual and I rarely get that interested in highly anticipated titles. I wrote that with a straight face while drooling over Steins;Gate, thoroughly enjoying Megalo box and counting the days until MHA s3 is done airing so I can binge it. 3 of the most overhyped shows in recent memory…

I’m just gonna start with this pic for no particular reason

Ok scratch all of that. Let’s start over. I love comedies and had been hearing that The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. shouldn’t be missed for a while now. When it appeared on Crunchyroll (a few days ago from this writing), I actually did a weird little jump of excitement and immediately moved it to the front of my queue….

As you can gather from that previous paragraph, I didn’t so much watch this show as absorb it through osmosis. I usually have a limit to how many episodes I can watch in a single sitting but these just flew by me and before I realized it, I was watching episode 24 and using all my telepathic powers to make Crunchyroll buy season 2.

Part of Saiki’s innate watchability certainly has to do with its unique structure. Each 20 minute or so episode is a collection of 3 to 5 independent vignettes to have little to nothing to do with each other aside from occasional pt1/pt2 setups. Everything is essentially set-up, delivery, punchline. You don’t have time to get bored as everything goes by so quickly.

I didn’t know how to illustrate quick and I got frustrated

Characters are all supremely quirky so they can be established pretty much instantly by insisting on their one crazy trait, but all of them get organically developed as tidbits of personal information and background get dropped throughout the vignettes. Similarly, Saiki himself and the universe he inhabits, become clearer little by little without the need for lengthy exposition.

The production values may be somewhat modest but somehow fit perfectly with the anime as a whole. For instance, there isn’t much animation to speak of and it’s always a little jagged, but that frenetic movement is in line with the spastic storytelling and quick-fire narrative. Designs are fairly simple, but they are all very distinctive and play on common anime tropes so that the very look of the characters is part of the joke.

Similarly, sounds design is just a tad exaggerated to add a touch of parody to every scene and voice acting is exceptional but rushed. Boy does everyone talk fast in this show. It took me an episode to properly adjust and for those of you who dislike reading subtitles, the Disastrous Life of Saiki K. could prove to be a challenge.

thankfully some characters are telepathic

As for story, well it’s really just the goofy school life adventures of a super powered psychic and his eccentric group of friends. It’s both pure Slice of Life and pure comedy with only the characters tying the episodes together in any way. I could patiently describe every character and what makes that particular person great. For instance, how Saiki’s dour grandfather is a classic Tsundere and how fantastic it was to see the trope subverted in such a creative way. I could praise Saiki’s perfect deadpan delivery, a particular favorite of mine, that ensured the touching moments never got too sappy. I could try to convey the brilliant touches of tongue in cheek absurdism that litter the season. But you really won’t get it until you see it for yourself.

The best way I can define it, is that this is Anime-Gataris done right. The show is extremely self-aware. The fourth wall gets pretty much obliterated with nonstop meta references and dialogue directed at the viewers. Anime tropes are lovingly and relentlessly teased. This is a series meant for viewers who enjoy anime. You can feel the kinship through the screen. I’ve rarely felt a connection to the anime community like I have with this show. It really made be believe  that it was made just for ME. I wa laughing more or less nonstop.

something about this show just spoke to me

Once in a while, a show like this comes along. It’s extremely rare. My reaction to it is very visceral and subjective. The delivery and comedic timing are of the type I enjoy most. The humour is irreverent but never mean. The pacing was such that I never got bored and my mind never tired itself out either. I had to actively stop myself from watching “just one more” after having seen 7 in a row and it was early morning on a workday. Every episode just had my smiling within minutes. The last time I remember having a similar reaction to a show was with Nozaki-kun. (btw I Love Nozaki-kun).

You know what – sweeping declaration – go watch the Disastrous Life of Saiki K. Laugh a little. Stretch a little. And then start your day in a better mood.

such poise, such grace, such beauty!

Favorite character : Teruhashi (I love her so much….)

If you don’t drink, how will your friends know you love them at 2 a.m.?

Suggested drink: Psychic Venom

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