Overview
- The title “ZENSHU,”meaning “fix them all,”encapsulates the concept of redoing and remastering, paralleling the protagonist’s personal growth.
- The anime showcases Natsuko, an ambitious director navigating her first love alongside a new project, leading to an unexpected isekai journey.
- Created by the renowned studio MAPPA and helmed by director Mitsue Yamazaki, the series delves into themes like burnout, enthusiasm, and revitalization within the animation field.
Quick Access
The eagerly awaited Winter 2025 anime season features the original series “ZENSHU,”brought to life by MAPPA, notable for its work on acclaimed titles like Attack on Titan: The Final Season, JUJUTSU KAISEN, and CHAINSAW MAN. This story centers on a prodigious animator grappling with the pressure following her successful directorial debut, and the buzz around the teaser trailers has heightened viewers’ anticipation. The anime officially debuted on January 5.
At first glance, “ZENSHU”might not resonate with non-Japanese speakers, but its meaning and connection to the narrative offer intriguing layers worth exploring.
What Is ZENSHU About?
Not Just Another Isekai
This series follows Natsuko Hirose, who became an animator right after high school and quickly ascended to the role of director on a major animation project. Following the massive success of her first anime, which earned both local and international acclaim, expectations were high for her next project: a romantic comedy titled “HATSUKOI: First Love.”Fans anticipated another landmark piece of animation.
However, Natsuko faced severe challenges as she struggled to create storyboards for “HATSUKOI.”Unfamiliar with the emotions tied to first love, she found herself overwhelmed. Tragically, after collapsing from exhaustion during lunch, Natsuko died, only to awaken in a world reminiscent of another anime she contributed to, “A Tale of Perishing.”Will this new journey in a bleak setting reignite her passion for animation and storytelling?
“ZENSHU”is a unique concept developed by Mitsue Yamazaki, also famed for her direction of Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun, and scripted by Kimiko Ueno, known for her work on Delicious in Dungeon, under MAPPA’s guidance. The character design stems from the collaborative efforts of Kayoko Ishikawa and Yoshiteru Tsujino, while Akio Shimada oversees art direction, Kenta Fujita manages photography, and Yukari Hashimoto composes the music. Notable voice actors include:
- Akio Suyama/Derick Snow as QJ
- Anna Nagase/Madeleine Morris as Natsuko Hirose
- Kazuki Ura/Ryan Negron as Luke Braveheart
- Minori Suzuki/Alexis Tipton as Memerun
- Rie Kugimiya/Luci Christian as Unio
Why The Title Fits
“ZENSHU” is an Apt Title for an Isekai
The significance behind the title “ZENSHU”unfolds early in the first episode when Natsuko reflects on her animation career while struggling with the storyboard for “HATSUKOI.”During her creative process, a colleague presents the progress of their current project, leading Natsuko to declare, “zenshu,”indicating the need for a complete overhaul.
This term, written in Japanese as 全修, comprises the kanji “zen,”meaning “all,”and “shū,”which connects to “shūri,”referring to “repair,”or even “shūshi,”which translates to “Master’s Degree.”This context suggests a deeper meaning of “remastering.”The implication is that “Zenshū”translates to “fix them [the animation cels] all,”underscoring Natsuko’s conviction that the entire project had to be redone.
Remarkably, shortly after this revelation, Natsuko’s overwork leads to her demise, and she finds herself stepping into the narrative of “A Tale of Perishing,”where she begins to alter the storyline—essentially embarking on a journey of “redoing.”The trend of isekai narratives where characters are drawn into the worlds of familiar media is gaining traction, as seen in titles like Dragon Ball: Reincarnated As Yamcha and My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!. In this way, “ZENSHU”symbolizes not merely a revision of a story but a renaissance for a weary artist reconnecting with her passion.
For those interested, “ZENSHU”streams on Crunchyroll, with new episodes airing every Sunday.
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