By Shanel Kamara

Okay, so unlike Fune Wo Amu, what drew me to 3 – Gatsu No Lion (in English March Comes in like a Lion) immediately was the style of animation and the fact that the original source, of the anime series, is a manga by Chica Umino, the author, and creator of the award-winning Honey and Clover series.

The animation is impressive, beautiful, and subtle, no surprise considering the author of the series. What got to me was how quiet, and slow paced the show started off as. Rei, the apparent protagonist of the show, does not say anything until almost 10 minutes into the show. I was amazed, however, as to what transpired after these 10 minutes; suddenly the episode began to exude energy and vibrancy with the appearance of the free mysterious female characters. These sisters clearly shine a light upon Rei’s life; though their presence is a comfort to him, it is clear that their presence has yet to wipe out the traces of his murky and sad past. The episode seemed to get even louder with their appearance, and there was an instant change in Rei’s persona. This anime is not like other shogi themed shows.

Admittedly, as strange as it may sound, what I loved about this episode was the several plot holes or better yet the missing pieces of information that explain the protagonist’s current circumstances and behavior. Similar to the beginning chapter of a good novel or manga, or the sketch of a master drawing, episode one gives us an outline without filling us in on the finer details of the story. Before chapter 1 (of the episode) ends, we see how fragile and sensitive Rei is. This fragility, although inexplicable, possibly derives from a traumatic incident that occurred in his life earlier. I cannot wait to see how the plot unfolds and how Rei Kiriyama develops as the protagonist of the show.

Score: 5/5

March Comes In Like A Lion E.01