Gatchaman Crowds Insight
Synopsis
One day, a huge UFO spins over Japan and crashes into a rural farmland outside Nagaoka, disrupting Tsubasa Misudachi's ordinary life. As the Gatchaman, the legendary defenders of Tachikawa City, supervise the ordeal, a peaceful alien creature emerges from the spacecraft. In the ensuing chaos, Tsubasa is given a special high-tech notebook, or NOTE, from Gatchaman founder J.J. Robinson, signaling Tsubasa's sudden recruitment into their group. Under the tutelage of fellow hero Hajime Ichinose, Tsubasa slowly begins to adjust to life as a defender of justice. Meanwhile, the CROWDS technology, which enables users to manifest their consciousness' into a physical form, is spreading amongst the public, as well as being endorsed by Prime Minister Sugayama. However, a mysterious organization known as VAPE has gained notoriety by using unique red CROWDS to wreak havoc, shifting public opinion against the CROWDS technology. The Gatchaman, along with new recruit Tsubasa, must put a stop to their destructive activities before it's too late. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Audience reception is mixed, with praise for the visuals, music, and thought-provoking themes, balanced by criticism regarding the slow start, repetitive themes, and unlikeable new character. The series is seen as tackling relevant societal issues, but struggles to execute them effectively compared to the first season. While some appreciate the unique perspective on heroism, others find the plot confusing and the characters underwhelming, leading to a somewhat polarized viewing experience.
Strengths
- Amazing animation and art style, especially the CG NOTE forms.
- Catchy and incredible music, including the OP.
- Exploration of relevant societal issues like democracy and mob mentality.
- Thought-provoking themes and ideas.
- The series offers a unique perspective on heroes and their responsibilities.
Weaknesses
- Story feels slow and contrived in the initial episodes.
- Recycling themes from the first season without adding much new.
- Lack of urgency and compelling answers to the raised issues.
- The plot is sometimes confusing and hard to follow.
- Some viewers found the new character Tsubasa irritating and superficial.
- Fails to live up to the first season.