Anime Review: No. 6

English Title: No. 6

Japanese Title: NO. 6

Director(s): Nagasaki Kenji

Screenwriter(s): Minakami Seishi

Studio: Bones

Released: 2011

Runtime: 11 episodes, ~24m each.

Starring: Kaji Yuuki, Hosoya Yoshimasa, Shindou Kei, Yasuno Kiyono, Sakuma Rei

Adapted from the 9-part novel series of the same title by Asano Atsuko that was published from 2003 to 2011, No.6 is in many respects a typical dystopian story. I have not read the novel series so this review is of the anime only.

No.6 is the name of one of the cities that is a false utopia. The main character Shion is a 12-year-old boy who lives in No.6 with his mother and is some sort of elite. One night, he sees an injured boy, Nezumi (lit. rat), who obviously does not belong in No.6, but Shion provides aid anyway. Of course, the authorities find out, and Shion and his mother are stripped of their elite status.

Shion is kindhearted in nature and a little naïve but he does question authority. A few years later, when Shion witnesses a freaky and fatal outbreak, he is arrested. This is obviously a bioweapon but the purpose is not clear. Nezumi comes to the rescue but there is no turning back for Shion.

The plot follows Shion as he goes underground with Nezumi, and along with Nezumi’s associates, deals with this bioweapon threat and the authorities.

A sci-fi-ish utopian-dystopian premise and setting in which the main characters live under a totalitarian regime, although derivative, typically has potential and is intriguing enough, at least for those interested in the genre.

Unfortunately, it is somewhat bland. Whilst Shion is kindhearted and a little idealistic, Nezumi is more cynical. This is understandable but the contrast is not that particularly dramatic either. Admittedly, it is different from many anime in which the primary relationship is between one male and one female; here, it focuses on two adolescent males but their relationship does not particularly resonate either.

As for the bigger picture, it may be realistic that the underground has no grand plan against the authorities, as they can only react, but whatever plans the authorities have are not sufficiently explained either. They want to control the population and in part by using a bioweapon, that much is clear, but the history and the intricacies are just touched on.

As for the dystopian themes, the authorities are overtly the bad guys, it’s just black-and-white. Those outside do vary, they’re not all decent folk, but the tone presents them as such. In other words, it subtly presents the underground “rats” or any who rebel as automatically the good guys. Whilst the work is not overtly ideological, one has to wonder given Asano’s communist sentiments.

Visually, it mostly looks good as expected from Bones and the voice acting is solid. The tone is mostly dark and gritty. This and the intriguing premise are enough to hook one into the series, but it’s not enough to make it good.

Overall, the story may work as a novel series, especially if it provides more and clearer details as to what is going on and why. However, although the anime is well-produced, neither the plot nor the main characters are particularly gripping or satisfying.

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