400 Boys

Robert Valley never disappoints with his unique, striking art style, though I'm not sure if this episode was a complete hit like the Zima Blue, which is already very high bar to climb over, and ICE, which had a very heartwarming story along with great character development, not to mention the visuals.

400 Boys doesn't bother explaining what's going on, you're dropped in the middle of it with nobody holding your hand, which, in my opinion, hurts the narrative a bit. One thing I love about LD&R is the amazing stories they tell, whether they be grounded in reality or absolutely bonkers. There might be no point in trying to find any symbolism or any story, which might be refreshing for some, but it left me wanting more. Unlike Zima Blue and ICE, the characters are a bit lacking, you don't know much about them until you see them die in the final battle.

Overall, it's, for me, the weakest of, but still an amazing experience.

In the ruins of a post-apocalyptic city, several rival gangs band together to fight, well, I'm not sure what. But they're big and destructive.

Robert Valley definitely has a preferred style. Zima Blue was amazingly striking, kind of like how Peter Chung's work came out of nowhere to grab me in the 90s. All those weird angular shapes and dark shadows everywhere. It's so stylistic that you can see a short sample and immediately identify the team behind it.

400 Boys drops you into a story that makes little sense. It's basically like if a demented writer recalled the crazy dream he had after watching The Warriors and Attack the Block, and an equally demented team of artists worked as hard as they could to make it into an episode of LD&R.

I have to wonder if more worldbuilding would have spoiled the weirdness. The character designs were interesting, and I liked how each character seemed to have a scene where they shined. There's a bit of dialogue to set things up and establish who you're watching, so you're never completely lost.

The meat of the episode, though, is the climactic fight. It's a pretty brutal fight, full of stylistic violence. If you're into violent, stylistic weirdness, I think you'll like it. If you're looking for something more traditional, where everything makes logical sense, it might be a pass.

Do you have to know the back story behind everything before you can enjoy it? I don't understand the universe; I don't understand the human race; I don't even understand myself; yet I am KICKING ASS and having a BLAST! That's the backstory of this episode. Shockingly stylish. Brilliant. This episode stands out in a stand out series. Don't try to understand; just enjoy; just feel; tune in to the vibes; see the sights; hear the music; revel in the chaos; let the philosophy inspire you beyond any scientific detail. You don't have to know everything; you don't have to understand everything; just know that nothing ever ends.

400 boys is visually good, good graphics and animation but storywise it is pretty poor. A few more minutes of backstory or character setup might have helped, but as it stands, it's hard to stay invested. This feels like an idea that needed more time on the drawing board before being released. I was hoping for something more engaging and original. A group of rough youths with some abilities taking on a bunch of monster babies is not the strongest story. I think this is an entry that should have never left the shop floor and shelved until it was rewritten to be more compelling and creative. I was hoping for a stronger and better episode.

Despite its somewhat negative reception, I found 400 Boys strong. It is visually compelling at all times (a bit like Zima Blue), and what it lacks in narrative investment it makes up for in gorgeous animation, with some nice perspectival changes throughout. It has its place in the anthology series and takes seriously the art of the battle scene.

If you want detailed character exposition, look elsewhere. These characters blend into one another with direct encouragement from the story, which focuses on various competing factions (not individuals) inhabiting a hostile apocalyptic setting. The hard edges, breakneck movements, and sustained fight sequence are plenty enough.