2014-12-26

Amagi Brilliant Park

Amagi Brilliant Park (甘城ブリリアントパーク) is a 13 episode comedy based on the light novel series of the same name by Gato Shoji.  The anime originally aired in Japan in the Fall of 2014.

    Kanie is a perfect high school student in most aspects, and he’s completely full of himself for it.  Due this attitude no one wants to really associate with him and be spends much of his time bored.  That changes when a transfer student named Isuzu begs him to be the temporary manager for the decrepit and failing amusement park Amagi Brilliant Park.  They are in danger of being forced to sell the property to a developer unless they can bring in 500,000 guests by the end of July.  Kanie refuses and thinks it would be better off closed and sold.  He is shown the real purpose for the parks existence though and is convinced enough to take the job to try and save the park.  Many of the employees of the park are actually magical beings from a different realm.  The park is used to funnel magical energy into the realms princess who resides in it.  If the park is closed her life could be in danger.  This tugs at his heart strings, as he encountered the princess when he was younger and she left an impression on him.  Now it’s up to his direction and efforts to try and save her.

    This was a run of the mill comedy that had a predictable ending and rote story lines.  The animation is nothing special, and the characters are rather one dimensional.  There was really nothing of worth in this show aside from some of the parks living mascots, who tended to be rather crude and entertaining, as mascots should be.  Imagine if Mickey wasn't a costume and he spent his nights getting hammered and chasing women!!  Otherwise it really wasn't worth the time.  The character of Kanie was your standard smart-ass know it all.  Isuzu really seemed to be there only for her boobs and as Kanie's lackey.  The princess looked like some tragic shojo character.  Near the end a strange background plot line was added in that actually seemed a bit unnecessary and didn't stop the show from ending predictably.  In fact, I would say it made even more pathetic in the end.  The main story concludes with episode 12 leaving episode 13 as a bonus 'fun' story which was actually somewhat entertaining.

    There is no word yet on this series being licensed for release in North America in any format.


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