English Title: Odd Taxi
Japanese Title: オッドタクシー
Director(s): Kinoshita Baku
Screenwriter(s): Konomoto Kazuya
Studio: OLM & P.I.C.S.
Released: 2021
Series Runtime: 13 episodes, ~24m each.
Film Runtime: 2h 7m
Starring: Hanae Natsuki, Kimura Ryouhei, Iida Riho, Hamada Kenji
My Verdict: Intriguing crime-mystery as a 41-year-old walrus taxi driver tries to unburden himself of the consequences of a missing high school girl.
● Based on the manga of the same name written by Konomoto Kazuya and illustrated by Abaraya Takeichi, the story is set in Tokyo where all the characters are anthropomorphic animals.
● The main character is a 41-year-old walrus named Odokawa Hiroshi. He drives a private taxi and works at night, having insomnia amongst other issues. The story is essentially a crime-mystery and perhaps a mild thriller with some elements of a psychological thriller. The premise involves a missing high school girl who was possibly a passenger of Odokawa before she went missing. The plot follows Odokawa and others as they try to deal with the mystery and its consequences.
● As such, at least one gangster is interested in Odokawa’s dashcam. And when one gangster is involved, then so is another. Whether due to past connections or because of their present relationship with Odokawa, his acquaintances get dragged into the intrigue as well. This includes his doctor and two of his recent fares.
● One may be reminded of the recent anime Aggretsuko which also features anthropomorphic animals. The two series are very different. Whilst Aggretsuko is essentially about a single young woman’s work and relationship problems and is mostly wholesome, Odd Taxi is about the dangerous city nightlife. And this includes the stereotypical nighttime radio talk show that Odokawa listens to. It is not hardboiled but is mildly noir.
● Odokawa is a cynical middle-aged man and Hanae Natsuki gives a solid performance, delivering the lines with a calm if not deadpan curtness. His character’s personality and attitude in the face of serious crimes and dangers give the series a little dark humor even though it is not an outright comedy.
● The premise is intriguing. With over twenty characters who all, to varying degrees, play a role in the plot, the mystery comes across as a little more complicated than it actually is. In any case, the number of characters keeps it fresh although some may consider it too busy. But since they are anthropomorphic animals, they are not particularly difficult to remember and track.
● The pacing is mostly good, helped or masked by the involvement of all the characters doing different things. The main weakness is the involvement of the puma Tanaka Hajime who by chance almost got hit by Odokawa’s taxi. His backstory is told in one episode which somewhat stagnates the plot in the present. This does not ruin the series but it is apparent even if not jarring.
● Visually, it looks more conventional than Aggretsuko. At least the characters and objects such as cars look more conventional, taking advantage of CG. Part of the environment is stylized with an effect that resembles dry paint daubs. On balance, it looks traditional enough to be anime but different enough to be… well, odd.
● The compilation film, Odd Taxi: In the Woods, is faithful to the series. It is framed with intermittent scenes of interviews of some of the characters looking back at the events. These interviews take place just before the climax so that the climax plays out in the present. Obviously, the film leaves out some elements but also provides a few more details in the epilogue to give a more complete conclusion than the series.
● As it is a mystery, to discuss anything more may spoil it. Suffice to state that Odd Taxi is certainly an oddly captivating, intriguing and well-produced anime.
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