Sasami-san@Ganbaranai

Although the current anime season is around the half way mark, hadn’t shared my thoughts yet on “Sasami-san@ganbaranai”, partly because wanted to watch more episodes of it first, as I was initially somewhat lost at what to think of this show.

Based on the plot synopsis had read online, had expected this adaptation of the light novel series “ささみさん@がんばらない“ written by Akira to be a harem comedy. But this show is most definitely not some slapstick harem series about a shut-in girl stalking her brother and his interactions with a trio of sisters.

While there is lots of comedy and the cast is comprised of oddball characters with weird quirks, it is really more a fantasy action series, all about the supernatural centered on a myriad of Japanese mythology deities.

With plenty of action and some silly comedy, all with studio Shaft’s typical alternative styled animation work, one would almost forget that at times this show does get serious and dramatic, with the strife of the various deities and Sasami’s fate at the hands of the Tsukuyomi family.

One of the series’ greatest delights for me personally is the voice work of Asumi Kana and Saito Chiwa as Sasami and Tsurugi, respectively.

In the typical style she used for Aika S Granzchesta from “Aria” and Lucchini in “Strike Witches”, Saito Chiwa voices the feisty Tsurugi and often laughs using ‘にししし’. That onomatopoeia for laughter also being one of Asuma Kana’s trademarks when she voiced Miya in “Amagami SS” or Nyaruko in “Haiyore! Nyaruko-san”.

Studio Shaft managed to remain rather close to the original light novel art by Hidari, especially in terms of character design style and color palette. As expected from studio Shaft, “Sasami-san@ganbaranai” is a showcase of alternative visual styling and animation scene rendering which has become this studio’s main selling point.

As said above, lead character Sasami is voiced by Asumi Kana, she not only tackled roles like Miya in “Amagami SS” and Nyaruko in “Haiyore! Nyaruko-san” but also Yukikaze in “Dog Days”, Kaoru in “Tamayura ~hitotose~”, Poplar in “Working!!” and Hinata in this season’s “Yama no Susume”.

Loli bodied deity Tsurugi is voiced by Saito Chiwa who voiced characters like style Aika in “Aria”, Lucchini in “Strike Witches”, Senjougahara in “Bakemonogatari”, Kimi in “Kyoukai Senjuo no Horizon” and Homura in “Puella Magi Madoka Magica”.

Hanazawa Kana voices stern Kagami, she previously voiced Kanade in “Angel Beats!”, Mikan in “To Love RU”, Aoi in “Asobi ni Iku yo!”, Ichiko in “Binbougami ga!” and Kobato in this season’s “Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai NEXT”.

Energetic Tama is voiced by Nonakai Ai, she voiced Fuuko in “Clannad”, Kyouko in “Puella Magi Madoka Magica”, Yukino in “RD Sennou Chousashitsu“ and Maya in “Toradora!”.

Kamiomi is voiced by Ohtsuka Houchu, his voice is simply a perfect fit for Sasami’s perverted older brother whose face is always hidden.

While had some trouble originally trying to label this show and wondered what to make of it, have been enjoying “Sasami-san@ganbaranai” and do recommend it for those looking for an entertaining supernatural fantasy action & comedy show.