Review of No. 6

The last season for anime (spring 2013) was generally unappealing so I found myself turning to the list of anime from the Noitamina timeslot for a good watch. They’ve offered many greats like Honey and Clover, Paradise Kiss, Nodame Cantabile, Princess Jellyfish, Eden of the East, Kids on the Slope (all of which I will be reviewing in the future for those curious). The title appealed to me as it is set in a dystopian future divided by the haves and have-nots. Unfortunately for the haves who get to live in the seemingly perfect city No. 6 (for which the anime is named after), there is a tight grip over laws and what is allowed to be said. I think this is a great setting as we’ve encountered it many times within the past years (like the communist fear era during the Cold War) and frankly this still goes on in many countries. It’s a real fear that when it comes to powerhouses like the government, we ultimately have no control over our lives. This setting makes for a believable future and it’s great to see the characters (who only have good intentions) deal with this obstacle. For those curious, it seems to have a very similar set-up to the movie Elysium so those who are excited for that movie should check out this anime as well.

Without spoiling too much I want to go over the highlights of this anime briefly. In the first episode we are introduced to the two main protagonists Sion and Nezumi (referred to in the sub as Rat). Sion is your typical goody-two shoes boy who gets straight A’s is nice to everyone, naive but genuine and is overall a really nice good guy. Enter Nezumi. Like his name suggests he is a behind the shadows kind of guy who runs about the town without drawing too much attention to himself. He’s escaping the law when he enters Sion’s bedroom late one night. At this point Sion breaks the very strict laws by keeping Nezumi safe against the government for the night. Nezumi is dark and hesitant to trust anyone. Sion is bright and naive, allowing a total stranger into his bedroom (and this stranger broke in himself). The two play off each other very nicely. This of course gives Sion a shitstorm of problems but Nezumi returns later on to return the favor. The show continues with the two’s budding relationship in exile along with their struggle to reunite Sion with his mother and his lifelong friend Safu.



So with the plot powering ahead let’s get to the strong points of this show that make it a worthwhile watch (and with the full show completed and released you most likely will bull through it within a few days if you’re anything like me!). First, the relationship. With the first episode introducing a pretty obvious attraction between the two boys you know they’re falling in love. But as the show progresses it’s a beautiful combination with a kind of damsel in distress story that turns full circle. I don’t want to spoil too much but with as much as what I can get away with I’ll say this. It’s no yaoi fanservice relationship. The two are friends at heart and grow to love each other by ways of loving who the other person is, and at times their relationship is smothered by insecurities and walls, and on the other hand sometimes it appears like they don’t love each other at all. It’s real, and you wait for the kiss scene to finally happen because you really want to get that happy ending you’re waiting for. Not because omg it’s so hawt.

The next strong point is on the characters. They’re all believable and quirky, they make for a great cast that keeps you guessing. The characters also evolve, walls are broken down, the naive get smart, and it’s all done in a progression that, like I said, keeps you guessing.

Lastly the setting. Like I said in the beginning of this review, the city No. 6 is a relatable scenario. Places like this have existed and do exist. The fear you experience with the characters feels real because at the snap of a finger you could be placed in jail right now, without representation, and remain there for your entire life. Places like Guantanamo Bay exist, your rights are truly privileges, not God given. The mystery behind the city keeps you watching. But in this scenario there is also a lawless exile area called the West District, which makes for another believable setting. It contrasts the haves and the have-nots, and makes you question which you’d prefer. Seeing Sion and Nezumi deal with both sides of the coin makes for an enjoyable story to experience and watch.
As with many great set-ups my one gripe is the ending. I won’t spoil too much but it’s one of those ending that leaves you half satisfied. Everything delivers but the setting falls a little short of what you expect. That being said, I may be putting my own two cents rather than letting the story tellers take it where they choose to take it. Maybe if you watch No. 6 you’ll enjoy the ending. It could boil down to a matter of opinion so I won’t dwell on it any further.
So with all the high points and low points I’m going to give No. 6 an 8.0 out of 10. For those of you who like a great dystopia sci-fi story, or a great relationship story, or a great adventure story, or a great mystery, (so many people under the sun) I would definitely recommend this anime.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this review!
Christina