Hamatora The Animation (NAZ) – Genre: Action, Mystery, Supernatural
Episode 01 – “Egg of Columbus”
My most anticipated series of Winter 2014, if not just for the fact that I had no idea what to expect. Oh yeah, it also has an uncanny resemblance to Durarara!!, my favorite anime series (for the most part), indicated by the modern city setting and the boisterous soundtrack. The music similarities make sense because it shares the same composer as both Durarara!! and Baccano!, Makoto Yoshimori. I love all of his work for these two series because it adds so much personality to the already eccentric world, and it’s great to see (or rather hear) more of his stuff.
So while we’ve established that Hamatora is very similar to Durarara!!, I have to make it clear that the two are very different entities. In fact, I might say that it feels a little more closely related to K, just because everyone seems to have supernatural powers. In Hamatora, the characters are known as Minimum holders and can access powers after fulfilling some sort of requirement beforehand.
One guy chews gum to unlock his gravity-defying lifting ability while another guy, named Birthday (CV: Jun Fukuyama), puts a taser in his mouth to become Mikoto Misaka. In the case of the main character, Nice (CV: Ryota Ohsaka), putting on his headphones allows him the ability to move at the speed of sound. It’s like a crossover between The World Ends With You and Sonic.
I’m really liking the mystery aspect of the series so far, as it’s reminiscent of the episodic style of UN-GO. In the first episode, it combined several seemingly unrelated cases into one interlocked ordeal between Minimum holders and an old guy’s porn stash. But seriously, why did the guy need all of that when he was paying college girls for sex? And why was everyone else trying to get a hold of the locker combination? Doesn’t everyone know that magazines are yesterday’s technology?
Interested to see where Hamatora takes us in future weeks. There’s a large, multi-colored cast to work with, and unlike Durarara!!, the series wants to focus on solving mysteries rather than unraveling an internal one involving all of the characters. Also, I want to see more of Hajime. Surely she does more than just eat all day.
Give Hamatora The Animation a shot if you like a hint of mystery, psychedelic animation, and awesome music.
“There are many things in this world that no one should ever know.” ~ Master
B.W.
Mahou Tofu 
Hello! I’m a new follower of your blog and an aspiring anime/manga blogger. I checked out your blog and I really like the style of writing I see. You have multiple pictures in your impressions, and you give small plot summaries with your opinions at the end. It’s a bit similar to how I structure my first impressions and perhaps future reviews, but I tend to summarize a lot more because I like to mesh my thoughts in with events that occur in the episode.
Anywho, just wanted to greet you. Keep up the good work :)
Glad you like what you see! I’ve been taking a synopsis and comparison approach to these first impressions, but as the series goes on, I think I’ll return to discussing more of the events in each episode.
Haha I’m just amused at how weird the characters’ names are getting. Seriously? Someone called ‘Birthday’? And ‘Nice’? (Nice seems kinda cool though)
I’d love to see an episode dedicated to Birthday’s name choice.
I know. Nice and Birthday.
The only normal one is Hajime. Even though have a feeling there is more than meets the eye.
I think this series is pretty bold by pick college girl issue for it’s first episode. However, it cannot deny that it attract audience’s attention and what kind genres will be surface in later episodes.
Yeah, I’m wondering what kind of issues and mysteries they’ve left for the future.
I have to say the story reminds me of Darker Than Black (the story plot involves renumerations to use your powers) and Un-Go (the mystery). The animation of Persona 4 and or Gatchaman Crowds.
Like you was not sure how it would be like bu so far happy with it. Has interesting cool characters and the animation is pretty imaginative. Heck, it even has comedy. Really good, I think.
Like Chromenova said. Your review is pretty amazing! Glad you don’t over do it with images with your anime reviews.