Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Shinryaku! Ikamusume

Shinryaku! Ikamusume: B++

Another practically brand new series, Shinryaku! Ikamusume (Literally, "Invasion! Squid Girl", or, if I were translating it into english, just "Squid Girl Invades!" probably) is a bizarre comedy about an anthropomorphic squid girl who comes to the surface world to subjugate it.

While her "squid powers" are actually quite impressive, her lack of attention span and invasion plan leave her a little confused as to the details of the surface world, and she winds up working at a beachside restaurant as a waitress, befriending the three siblings that run it, and coming to appreciate the surface world that she is one day going to conquer.

It's much better than it sounds.  It's also even more surreal than it sounds.  While Ika-chan ("ika" is squid, and her given name is "Ikamusume" or "Squid Girl", it's not a nickname) insists that she is a squid, she doesn't need to stay wet, can use her human body well enough (though not as well as her tentacle hair) and breathes air, it is pointed out by the other characters that she doesn't make sense when comparing her to real squid, but it's not really explored.

Wacky, off-the-wall and surprisingly light on fan service for a series that takes place almost entirely on a beach, it's definitely not something to miss if you're into weird Japanese screwball comedy anime.

No comments: