Shangri-La is the latest work from the Studio Gonzo. It’s currently being streamed on Crunchyroll where you can watch the first episode free.The show opens up with the main character, Kuniko Hojo, being released from a juvenile detention center. All the prisoners are cheering as she‘s being released, but its uncertain as to why. She’s greeted outside by a group of friends and taken back to the city, but not before ruining the prison’s respected flag with a boomerang. Nothing much goes on in town. It’s mostly “welcome backs” and fleeting moments with what will likely be reoccurring characters. Aside from Kuniko’s story, there’s a confusing political struggle going on in the background. Something about taxing cities based on the amount of carbon dioxide they deplete. Not much is revealed regarding this issue. It’s clear that it will play a major role in the plot because when Kuniko’s friend accidentally releases too much carbon dioxide, the military shows up and opens fire on the town. A battle takes place, but the end of the episode resolves nothing.
Gonzo shows are well known for starting out strong, and this is no exception. Unfortunately, they often turn sour midway and spiral out of control by the end. While the carbon dioxide plot is hard to grasp, it‘s definitely original. It’s also worth mentioning that this series looks beautiful, especially when they’re in the city.
If you’re still unsure about whether you should be following Shangri-La this season, consider this: there are not one, but two transsexual characters in this anime, and one of them fights with a whip that can cut through steel. They also use homosexuality as a special attack in battle.
