A Nazi-Crushing Spectacle
I marked this review as having no spoilers because I don't talk about plot points or characters directly, but I do bring attention to some elements of the show that I feel may lose their punch if someone knows what to look for. Keep an eye out for Nazis on your first watch through then come back if you're still interested in this review. <3
It takes willful ignorance to overlook the fascist undertones used in this story. Oni are deemed so inferior to Momotaro they are referred to in subhuman/ostracizing ways such as "it" and "monsters", experiments are run on them, the long term goal of the Momotaro is to eradicate every last one to "prevent them from going berserk", children are not spared from any of the mentioned injustices, hospitals that are willing to roll the dice and help Oni during this time are targeted and eventually rid of by the Momotaro, and all throughout these and the other examples I may have missed or forgotten from my first watch through, the Momotaro are framed as good guys/are "supposed" to be the good guys to everyone except the audience, who's supposed to see through them because of the missing exposure to propaganda the characters have likely experienced. The blood as their main weapons is no coincidence or stylistic choice either. Inferior genes or traits unaligned with a "superior race" are represented through blood, a determinant also used in the past. Phenomenal symbolism and codes protest.
There's also rhetoric used to oppose and stand tall against fascists if you're a minority they target. When Mei is contemplating death/suicide after seeing her parent get ripped away from her life, Shiki says "Don't you dare die. If you die, it means you, your mom and dad all lost. B Fight Despair./b" purposing the same idea that has motivated victims in the past, that existing is protesting. It speaks to me as an FTM in America's... current politics.
But damn, does there need to be THAT much fan service? It was comedic in the watch party I viewed this show in, but on a solo watch through I feel like it'd just make me uncomfortable. The characters could stand to be a little more interesting too, but that's not really the shows top priority. Maybe once this arc/battle is over we'll get more personal, since what we're seeing is their reactions to a battlefield and reactions to years of fascist propaganda as well as new, dangerous contact recently made with them.
Overall I can't wait to see how this show develops. I hope it doesn't shy away from its message.
It takes willful ignorance to overlook the fascist undertones used in this story. Oni are deemed so inferior to Momotaro they are referred to in subhuman/ostracizing ways such as "it" and "monsters", experiments are run on them, the long term goal of the Momotaro is to eradicate every last one to "prevent them from going berserk", children are not spared from any of the mentioned injustices, hospitals that are willing to roll the dice and help Oni during this time are targeted and eventually rid of by the Momotaro, and all throughout these and the other examples I may have missed or forgotten from my first watch through, the Momotaro are framed as good guys/are "supposed" to be the good guys to everyone except the audience, who's supposed to see through them because of the missing exposure to propaganda the characters have likely experienced. The blood as their main weapons is no coincidence or stylistic choice either. Inferior genes or traits unaligned with a "superior race" are represented through blood, a determinant also used in the past. Phenomenal symbolism and codes protest.
There's also rhetoric used to oppose and stand tall against fascists if you're a minority they target. When Mei is contemplating death/suicide after seeing her parent get ripped away from her life, Shiki says "Don't you dare die. If you die, it means you, your mom and dad all lost. B Fight Despair./b" purposing the same idea that has motivated victims in the past, that existing is protesting. It speaks to me as an FTM in America's... current politics.
But damn, does there need to be THAT much fan service? It was comedic in the watch party I viewed this show in, but on a solo watch through I feel like it'd just make me uncomfortable. The characters could stand to be a little more interesting too, but that's not really the shows top priority. Maybe once this arc/battle is over we'll get more personal, since what we're seeing is their reactions to a battlefield and reactions to years of fascist propaganda as well as new, dangerous contact recently made with them.
Overall I can't wait to see how this show develops. I hope it doesn't shy away from its message.
- eggnogginreborn
- 1 sep 2025