Zenshu Ep. 1 “FIRST STROKE”: An Animator’s Isekai [Review]

Zenshu Ep. 1 “FIRST STROKE.” is an anime that defies genres and other conventions of anime. It makes you think it’s going to be an anime about making anime like Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, but then it suddenly pulls the rug out from under you and turns it into an isekai anime. One featuring a female main character to boot. It’s this combination of norms being defied that’s already making this anime shape up into potentially one of the best anime of the season.

Zenshu Ep. 1 “FIRST STROKE.”: Details

Zenshu Ep. 1 “FIRST STROKE.” will be the very first episode of this isekai fantasy anime series. Said anime series is not the anime adaptation of any manga, but rather, it is its own original anime. MAPPA (Zombie Land Saga, Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man) is the animation studio behind this anime series. Crunchyroll is the company licensing this anime for its global release.

Production Cast

Alas, we don’t know yet who is precisely behind Zenshu Ep. 1 “FIRST STROKE.”. However, we do know that Mitsue Yamazaki is the director behind Zenshu overall, with Kimiko Ueno as the script writer. Yoshiteru Tsujino is responsible for character design and world setting, with Kayoko Ishikawa also doing character design while also being the chief animation director alongside Etsuko Sumimoto, Kazuko Hayakawa, and Shuji Takahara. Sumie Noro is the assistant director, with Akio Shimada as the art director, Ayako Suenaga as the color designer, Kenta Fujita as the director of photography, Mutsumi Takemiya as the editor, Yukari Hashimoto as the composer, dugout as the sound producer, Makoto Tanimura (Sound Wing) as the casting manager, and Takahiro Ogawa as the animation producer.

Now as for that music: the opening theme song for Zenshu is “Zen” by Band-Maid. Meanwhile, “Tada, Kimo no Mama de” by Sou is the ending theme song.

Voice Cast

Zenshu Ep. 1 “FIRST STROKE.” features the voices of Anna Nagase as Natsuko Hirose, Kazuki Ura as Luke Braveheart, Rie Kugimiya as Unio, Minori Suzuki as Memmeln, and Akio Suyama as QJ.

When and Where to Watch

Zenshu Ep. 1 “FIRST STROKE.” will make its streaming and airing (aka. simulcast) debut on January 5, 2025. You will be able to watch this episode only on Crunchyroll. In fact, you will be able to watch this entire anime only on Crunchyroll due to it being an exclusive there.

Zenshu Ep. 1 “FIRST STROKE.”: Synopsis

Alas, Zenshu hasn’t even aired yet at the time of this writing, let alone Zenshu Ep. 1 “FIRST STROKE.”. Thus, you will all get the official synopsis of this anime from Crunchyroll rather than a spoiler-filled plot summary. Here’s the synopsis below:

After graduating from high school, Natsuko Hirose starts her career as an animator. Her talent quickly flourishes, and she makes her debut as a director in no time. Her first anime becomes a massive hit, sparking a social phenomenon and earning her recognition as an up-and-coming genius director. Natsuko’s next project is set to be a romantic comedy movie themed around first love! However, having never been in love herself, Natsuko struggles to understand the concept of first love, and as a result, she’s unable to create the storyboard, causing the movie production to come to a standstill. One day, she passes out while working on her storyboard and wakes up in the world of her favorite childhood anime movie “A Tale of Perishing”.

Zenshu Ep. 1 “FIRST STROKE.”: The Good

There’s really no question that the story of Zenshu Ep. 1 “FIRST STROKE.” is why I love it so much. The only real question is “Why?” Well, basically: because it’s one of the most serious attempts to redeem the entire isekai genre I’ve seen thus far. First off: as you can see, the main character Natsuko Hirose is female. This alone would make this anime stand out from the sea of male main characters in the typical isekai. However, there’s more. Natsuko doesn’t even get isekaied by the classic Truck-kun. I won’t give you the exact details for spoiler reasons, but let’s just say: it’s a huge dose of black comedy at work here.

And even once Natsuko gets isekaied, there’s even more happening that’s wonderfully unconventional. See: she is not overpowered. Even when she gets her traditional isekai superpower, it’s very far from OP. It’s powerful, yes, but OP it is not. It’s a skill that she has to learn how to use if she not only wants to survive, but find a way to change everyone’s fates in the isekai world. Especially since said isekai world is from her favorite anime, so she has quite a bit of reason to want to risk life and limb. It’s all pretty clear that this is not your typical isekai anime, and that’s what piques my interest.

Adding to all of that wonderfully un-isekai isekai tropes is the animation by MAPPA. You can clearly see the studio’s trademark quality in the animation, and even their creativity. Seriously, there are so many clashing art styles in this one episode alone that it’s a treat to watch. Not to mention the isekai world itself, which takes a lot of cues from old 90’s dark fantasy anime. All of that adds to the eye candy value of Zenshu.

Zenshu Ep. 1 “FIRST STROKE.”: The Bad

Honestly, this anime has it all. From comedy to some very bloody violence, it’s got a bit of something for everyone. However, if you’re a diehard action fan who only cares about action and nothing else, then this amount of action might not be enough for you. If that’s the case, then might I suggest watching Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Solo Leveling, Kaiju No. 8, DDDD, DAN DA DAN, and/or Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II? Those anime should have more than enough action to satisfy any action junkie.

Tune back in to THS to find out more about Zenshu and other anime when we do.