Suicide Squad Isekai

From the beginning, I’ve wondered if there was more to this project than just a cash grab. It feels like a Japanese and an American creative sat down over drinks a few years ago, asked each other what was trending — one said "isekai," the other said "comic book heroes" — and decided to mash them together, whether or not it made sense. Let’s start with the positives. The production values are solid, with impressive animation that, while not the pinnacle of Wit Studio’s work and occasionally leaning on some visible (and not stellar) CGI, still stands as above-average in the world of anime. The action scenes are fun, especially when the show embraces the "rule of cool" — Harley’s home run in the final episode, for instance, was a highlight. The soundtrack works well, with both the opening and ending fitting the overall vibe. The choice to have popular Vtuber Mori Calliope from Hololive perform the ending was a smart marketing move, further emphasizing the blend of Japanese and Western cultures. The show even takes time to explain concepts like "isekai" and "tsundere," which was a nice touch for those less familiar with these tropes. As for the characters, they were familiar, and Harley had some great moments that carried the show at times. This anime certainly felt like a more respectable addition to the DC universe than, say, the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League video game. Now, onto what didn’t work. The isekai world was bland, a generic fantasy setting that didn’t spark any interest or imagination. Most of the characters in this world were equally unremarkable — neither the princess nor the heroic knight left any impact, serving more as background props than fully realized characters. The isekai realm felt more like a stage backdrop than a living, breathing world. The story itself didn’t impress me either. There were a few decent twists (like the queen), but overall, nothing groundbreaking happened. The final plot twist — SPOILER "it was the Joker all along" — felt forced and seemed like a way to leave the door open for a potential sequel. And speaking of the Joker, his portrayal here was pretty mid-tier compared to his other comic, film, and TV iterations. Most of the villains were underwhelming, lacking any real tension or fear factor. The humor landed about once in every twenty attempts. In summary, the collision of these two disjointed concepts just didn’t work for me. The isekai element, in particular, felt like a missed opportunity. The series didn’t convince me that it had a purpose beyond capitalizing on current trends. That said, DC and Suicide Squad fans probably won’t be too offended by it. While it was visually appealing and had its moments, it didn’t captivate me enough to rate it higher than 6/10 or make me eager for a sequel. (08/15/2024)