Sabikui Bisco (2022)

“Mushrooms are life. They’re the very will to live itself.”— What sounds like a love confession to mushrooms takes on a different meaning in “Sabikui Bisco”.

Set in world where Tokio got annihilated by a disaster, the Mushroom Keeper, Bisco Akaboshi, has made it his mission to plant mushrooms because that is how he can rid the world of rust. Although this is well-intentioned and he wants to save the people, they think he is an evil criminal—the “Man-Eating Mushroom”. By chance, he meets the doctor Milo Nekoyanagi, who later on becomes his partner. Together, they embark on a journey to save Bisco’s master Jabi and Milo’s sister Pawoo.

The first and biggest bonus point gets “Sabikui Bisco” for its worldbuilding, which is probably the best in a long time. It gives of a very exotic vibe and feels refreshingly new—or does anyone know an anime with flying snail-aircrafts, hippo-cannons and a crab as a “vehicle”? No? Me neither. On top of that, the “villains” are pink bunnies … but they still give off a malicious feeling! With all the mushrooms and stuff it kinda reminds me of “Dorohedoro”. It just gives off a similar vibe—maybe art-wise too?

Speaking of the bad guys, the main villain of the story, governor Kurokawa, is well-written. One can see that immediately because so many people hate him—I’m one of them btw. (The hatred reminds me a little of Floch from “Attack on Titan”, because Floch is also the “hate character” of his show.) Though, as I mentioned once before, that’s just how you know that an author has done his job well. Because it’s only when you really hate a character that it means he’s written “properly”. Tsuda Kenjirou, the voice actor of Kurokawa, fits the character perfectly, too!

Not only the antagonist, but also the main characters are top-notch. Bisco is a (hot) mushroom keeper—and probably the husbando of the season, maybe a little bit behind Gojo. Despite his hot-blooded character, which is very reminiscent of characters like Bakugou or Kurokiba, he manages to be super cool. (Funny, because instead of Bakugou he looks more like Kisihima.) You can also see immediately how good Milo and Bisco are for each other: they give each other strength, encourage each other if needed and are, all in all, an “unbeatable duo”. Milo experiences the greatest character development, if we want to call it that, of the show—Is it love’s fault? All jokes aside, Milo changes from being this whiny little panda-babyboy to an almost as cool hero as Bisco is.

Maybe I’m a little biased—SHE KISSED BISCO!—, but the only character I found a little “weak-written” was Pawoo, the sister of Milo. She just could have been so much more! She literally spent the first half of the show just fixing her bike. Sure, she can fight and all, but that’s really all there is to it. She could have used a little more depth. But … at least she has an E-cup, right? Luckily, she also had her (brief) moment when she knocked off the mask of the giant mecha-thingy.

That brings us to the next topic: the Tetsujin. (= the mecha-thingy) That would also be the second similarity to “Attack on Titan”. This titanic roboter, who roars rather annoyingly, as I have to say. The first thing I thought to myself was: This thing reminds me of the Colossal Titan. I think this is funny, because the Titan and the Tetsujin have another thing in common: they both get called God of Death/Destruction.

Plotwise, I also have to say that a lot was “foreseeable”. For example, that Bisco was not dead, of course. I mean, he has plot armor! Though, the way he did come back was ... wow. (Literally wow, like ... he was half-naked *heart eyes*) Also, the end is … very much Shounen-like. Just as one would imagine. However, a happy end for everyone is not bad at all!

I can’t say much about the animation. It’s fits the post-apocalyptic world vibe perfectly. Also, the soundtrack is pretty good and both, the opening and ending, are one my favorites of the season. (I’m too lazy to “analyze” that more than that right now, sorry!)

All in all, I’d like to recommend “Sabikui Bisco” to … everyone who likes mushrooms! Just kidding. Anyone who is a fan of “eccentric” stuff with good world building will certainly have a lot of fun with Bisco. Filled with fun and humor in between, Bisco also manages to be serious at the right moments. I’ll gladly give Bisco this season’s silver medal—of course, right after Marin and Gojo, who make an slightly more unbeatable team than Milo and Bisco. Have fun!