EX-ARM – Could This be an Undiscovered Masterpiece?

Production

One of the immediate ways to tell that EX-ARM is the anime of the future is by simply looking at it. The entire series is unashamedly CG. Granted, some of the older otakus out there might grumble at new technology. But we live in a world where Vtubers and streamers are rapidly outstripping real people n popularity. Fact is, entertainment will likely be largely computer-generated sooner rather than later, and shows like EX-Arm are the vanguard of this new era.

It’s not like technology doesn’t have its advantages after all. It would be cynical to believe that this was simply a budgetary decision. The character models in EX-Arms stay rigidly consistent from start to end in a way that is almost never seen in classical animation. Abd a lot of whimsy can be seen in the way these characters move.

I also couldn’t help but be impressed by Alma’s array of tactical bathing suits!

Story & Characters

But a masterpiece in the making needs more than great production. It needs a timeless story that will resonate with generations to come and characters we can both admire and relate to. I know this sounds like a tall order, but there’s a reason we’re not churning out these types of anime triumphs every other week.

Some of you may be familiar with GITS or Ghost in the Shell. It’s an older series that had some success in its day. I only mention it here because you could consider it as a prototype for EX-ARM. There are some similar ideas and settings in both series but of course, EX-ARM having the benefit of hindsight could only pick the very best that GITS had to offer and further develop it into a deep thought-provoking tour de force that seamlessly blends modern philosophical quandaries with shattering displays of raw emotionality.

It’s fitting that EX-ARM was released in 2021 as it does a fantastic job of dissecting the theme of isolation. However, I believe the impact will not be lessened in the future as the show manages to frame its existential anxiety by contrasting it to our increasingly digital world and what existence will mean once the physical starts losing importance in reality.

It’s an interesting and very ambitious question that few shows have had the mettle to tackle and certainly not in such an agile way as EX-ARM. For those who enjoy pouring over life’s mysteries and quandaries, the show will offer ample food for thought.

However, some of us just want to watch anime to distract ourselves after a long day. It is entertainment after all and sometimes, you just don’t have the energy for lofty epics. Fortunately, EX-ARM has got you covered. It somehow manages to convey a dizzying amount of narrative depth through immersive breath-taking action that is entertaining to watch regardless of the rest.

Basically, even if you don’t actively invest yourself in EX-ARM, you’ll still be able to get a lot out of it and find yourself engrossed in the show before you know it.

Of course, no show is going to be for absolutely everyone. Or at least that’s what I thought before EX-ARM. Despite early caution because of the ecchi tag, there is simply something for everyone in this series. I guess I’m just throwing another glowing review into the seas of praise it has already received. Still, I feel like I should shout out my fellow reviewers and give those of you who have not yet had the pleasure of discovering EX-ARM a better idea of what you’re in for by just pointing to a couple of completely random reviews on AniList that represents well the general view of the anime watching public:

• https://anilist.co/review/10335
• https://anilist.co/review/10381

You might like this anime if:

You have either a brain or a heart. You’ll love it if you have both!

I save all my screencaps on my Pinterest and you can find more there if you are interested. But I still like to show you a few in the post. If you’re like me, screencaps are something that really helps you decide to watch an anime or not.