“I absolutely love it. It has as unique feel to it. It appeals to a certain group of people who find this type of humor hilarious,” Victoria Whalen, junior at Chapman University and media communications major, said. “It’s not your stereotypical anime, so it’s something new and refreshing to watch.”
The first season of Ezra Koenig‘s new anime series “Neo Yokio” offered a new style and outlook on anime series. The fantasy-comedy anime is only available on Netflix and is focused around Kaz Kaan, the most eligible bachelor is the great city of Neo Yokio. Kaz Kaan, who is voiced by Jaden Smith, is exorcist aristocrat who is also mildly obsessed with the fashion industry.
The series takes place in a mixture of New York City and Tokyo named Neo Yokio, the perfect place to intertwine modern pop culture and the classic anime style. In the first episode, Kaan is just getting over a break up and is seen moping around the city. During that time, viewers are introduced to the main cast of Neo Yokio. The first is Charles, a flying robot butler who aides Kaan in most of his exorcisms and shopping excursions.
The show is appealing even to those who previously did not consider themselves anime fans.
Jimi Kanith, senior business major at Simon Frasier University, said “I’m not really not anime, but I really enjoyed it.”
Additionally, some people who generally enjoy anime are not as fond of “Neo Yokio.”
Mackenzie Oliver, sophomore psychology major at Fairleigh Dickinson University, said “I’m am a fan of anime, but this one was I did not like. I didn’t really get the point of it.”
In the season finale of the show, a lot of story lines are left unresolved.
Somehow Kaan ended up in a drag race with a few other characters introduced throughout the first season. One of those is Arcangelo, Kaan’s nemesis, who he ultimately befriends in the episodes leading to the season finale. Also, Kaan is left wondering if Neo Yokio is actually the greatest city after all.
Most novice anime viewers or new comers to the anime world seemed to enjoy the series if they understood the concept; however, professional critics seemed to have the opposite reaction.
According to Hidden Remote, Neo Yokio is a new American take on Anime. The show looks a lot like anime, but it does not necessarily feel like anime.
Anime critics do not seem to appreciate the aesthetic quality Koeing was trying to introduce with the Netflix series.
Fans say that if you understand what the anime is going for from the very beginning, then it is more enjoyable; however, if you are an avid watcher of anime and have become accustomed to a certain style, then this new style of production is not for you. As a whole, it seems as though Ezra Koeing’s “Neo Yokio” is either a hit or a miss for anime viewers.
“All I have left to say is if someone hasn’t watched ‘Neo Yokio’ yet, that they at least give it a chance,” Alexander Sanchez, sophomore psychology major at Cabrini University, said.” They should look at it from it’s different aspects, art style, comedy, content and plot.”
