Navigation Placeholder

Amagi Brilliant Park...

The subject matter in Amagi Brilliant Park is a bit unusual, so, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect...
When new transfer student Isuzu asks Seiya Kanie out on a date at gunpoint, he knows something odd is going on. Especially since she wants to go to Amagi Brilliant Park, where the rides are either dangerous or mind-numbingly dull and the only costumed performers who aren't rude or apathetic are the ones who didn't show up for work.

So when Isuzu asks Seiya to take over as the park's new manager, he knows she's crazy. (Well, crazy-er, given the gunpoint thing.) But when Seiya learns that Amagi Brilliant Park is a REAL Magic Kingdom, that the costumed performers aren't wearing costumes, that they live off the energy created by attendees, and that unless they can attract 250,000 attendees in three months, they'll lose their jobs and homes... he goes a little crazy himself.

But, even with the aid of scantily clad fairies, giant mice and sniper-trained sheep, can anyone rescue a park that's sunk so low that its own bus doesn't stop there anymore? The race is on to get the turnstiles turning and save AMAGI BRILLIANT PARK!
The opening sequence in Amagi Brilliant Park where, our hero, Seiya Kanie, is invited at gunpoint on a date to a rundown amusement park is just astonishing. That opening scene just grabbed my attention and didn’t let go.

And, as if that initial scene wasn’t shocking enough, when Seiya Kanie delivers his manifesto to the cast of Amagi Brilliant Park, he is brutally honest with his low opinion of the cast, but, still manages to inspire hope that he can turn things around. Seiya Kanie’s speech was amazing – I had to watch and re-watch his speech at least a dozen times. He was snarky, condescending and demonstrated a quick wit. I usually prefer to read my anime, but, in this instance, I compared the English dub of Seiya Kanie’s speech to the original Japanese version and I found that, in my humble opinion, the English dub was not as powerful and impactful as the original Japanese version.

Amagi Brilliant Park delves into a lot of the day-to-day issues that come with managing an amusement park like keeping the park clean, raising money and, of course, increasing attendance. But, interjected in the more mundane aspects of the task at hand are dealing with fairy tale specific problems like keeping the cast members' true nature a secret from the public and dealing with the occasional pirate invasion or dragon run amok. The cast members are portrayed more as working professionals than as zany fairy tale characters.

There is some violence in Amagi Brilliant Park -- mostly at the expense of Seiya and other cast members, but, there is only a tiny amount of red ink. While, there are some female cast members in skimpy costumes and a little bit of fan service, there are, of course, no naughty bits to speak of. Overall. Amagi Brilliant Park is not for everyone, but, I thoroughly enjoyed the series and saw it, in its entirety, in one sitting. I would give Amagi Brilliant Park a 4 out of 5.