"It all began as a fighting tournament to seek out for the best fighter among all high school students in Korea. Mori Jin, a Taekwondo specialist and a high school student, soon learns that there is something much greater beneath the stage of the tournament."
The Summary of this anime was something I would not necessarily start watching an anime for, with the title itself ("THE GOD OF HIGH SCHOOL") feeling "pretentious" to me, although I admit quite liking THE CROWS (first two live-action Japanese films anyway), and have fleeting flashbacks of STREET FIGHTERS, TEKKEN, MORTAL KOMBAT etc
But I was in a mood that particular day (I have to say, thanks to my viewing of A Whisker Away and Japan Sinks), and check out THREE anime titles online, also because they were relatively "new", with only 2 episodes since "aired", and I wanted to start from, well, the START! And I have been hooked since!
Let's take a closer look at the show itself, shall we?
THE GOD OF HIGH SCHOOL anime from CrunchyRoll Originals is based on South Korean web manhwa written and illustrated by Yongje Park, known as "The God of High School" (Korean: 갓 오브 하이 스쿨; RR: Gat Obeu Hai Seukul). The first episode of the anime premiered on July 6, 2020. Scroll daw tp view said episode(s), while the video featured direct above is the WEBTOON from 2016 (*Which is probably showing SPOILER SCENES for folks unfamiliar with the prior media...).
"It has been serialized in Naver's webtoon platform Naver Webtoon since April 8, 2011, with the individual chapters collected and published by Imageframe under their Root label into one volume as of April 2020. The God of High School received official English translations by LINE Webtoon in 2014. It has received a mobile game and an original video animation short attached to the aforementioned game's original soundtrack." (Wiki)
Animation is by MAPPA, with production management by Sola Entertainment. The anime is directed by Sunghoo Park, with scripts by Kiyoko Yoshimura. Character design is handled by Manabu Akita, with music composed by Arisa Okehazama.
At this point of the post, I'll want to GIVE IT UP to MAPPA for the exceptional visuals I have been witnessing! The "urban anime" style presented is not just visually satisfying, the hyper-anime style seen in manga/manhwa is visualised with aplomb too. And the fight scenes are a sight!
From the behind-the-scenes video above (go rewatch it if you have not), motion capture was used on actual casted martial artists, and the result shows. I have to say this though: If/Once the animation style deteriorates, I'll be out, regardless the story, thanks LOL
Thank the Anime-Gawds that the artwork seemed "animated" and not overtly "computer renders" (everything I am reminded of BERSERKER, and I shudder FFS).
This series is essentially a Tournament Fight-styled device, which frames the various characters that both take part in the tournaments, and as well the characters who run the exact same tournament(s). The actual "purpose" of the tournament itself, is something I look forward to be revealed in subsequent episodes (which I am sure is already stated in the Wiki-reports online, of course).
We are introduced to the three principal fighters: Jin Mori, Han-Daewi, and (Yu) Yoo Mira, and we follow them on their journey and see the tournament through their eyes and fists (and swords).
We are introduced to each individual character and their motivations (not so much Jin Mori's tho), as well as thus far have a (very little) taste of the management. Because the beginning arc is located in "Seoul, South Korea", the design and geographic representation is very obvious, and frankly quite fun to see, especially as I am delving in way too many K-Dramas lately myself LOL
Without reading the source or webtoon (of which they are unto their 5th Season already), the tale revolves around gods and demons assuming mortals and manifesting their power. As well fighting alongside are humans who are capable of powerful fighting abilities.
Thanks to godofhighschool.fandom.com, we know that members of the Gods and Demons that are portrayed include Odin, Zeus, Shiva, Satan, Buddha, Nine-Tails Guardian, Monkey King, Oxen King, Dragons, Minotaurs ... and more, but you get the gist. Fabled lores from many lands and cultures in our world, all of whom are involved in the eventual "RagnarÖk" - which is a prophecy foretelling a great war between the gods, devils and men. All these mentioned thus far are not necessarily based on the anime, of which currently Episode #6 is aired (at time of this posting).
*SPOILER*: I figured out who "Jin Mori" was, and this entry on Wiki helped cement my suspicions (Yes, he is the embodiment of Sun Wu Kong, the Monkey King).
The first arc took 5 episodes to complete, with Episode #6 literally starts to introduce the new characters for the following arc. Featured here are all 5 episodes, and you can watch the rest here on Muse Asia's YouTube channel (Dedicated Playlist, with English Subs), legitimately and for free!
"Muse Communication has announced that they have licensed the series for streaming in the Southeast Asia region. It will be available in the following 14 regions: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Bhutan.[29] Muse Asia also released the series on iQIYI platform in Southeast Asian countries. On August 11, 2020, Crunchyroll announced that the series would receive an English dub." (Wiki)
I'll end this blogpost with both the opening (above) and ending (below) theme for THE GOD OF HIGH SCHOOL, with "Contradiction feat. Tyler Carter" by KSUKE, and "WIN." by CIX (respectively), also featured HERE on TUNES-TALK with the original MV & Full Audio!
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