Kemono Michi: Rise Up
Synopsis
Professional wrestler Genzou Shibata sports the body of a mountain, but beneath his hulking appearance is a man with an extreme affection for animals. Facing off his opponents in the ring as the legendary "Animal Mask," Genzou wins the hearts of crowds everywhere with his iconic tiger persona. During the bout for the title of World Champion against his greatest rival, the Macadamian Ogre, Genzou is suddenly summoned to a fantasy world by a princess. With her kingdom being threatened by a monster infestation, she pleads the wrestler for assistance—to which he answers by knocking her out with a German suplex! Escaping the castle and finding himself stranded in a mysterious land, Genzou decides to begin his career as a beast hunter to capture and befriend creatures far and wide. Joined by the wolf-girl Shigure, the dragon-girl Hanako, and the vampire Carmilla Vanstein, the professional wrestler pursues all kinds of dangerous requests for the sake of fulfilling his dream as a pet shop owner. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Audience opinions are divided, with some finding the show hilarious and a unique isekai parody, while others criticize its repetitive humor, shallow characters, and poor adaptation of the manga. The show's initial comedic charm wears off for many viewers as the series progresses. Despite its flaws, some appreciate the show's lightheartedness and wrestling-inspired action.
Strengths
- Unique and humorous premise of a wrestler in an isekai world.
- Well-executed physical comedy and running gags.
- Enjoyable and entertaining characters with distinct obsessions.
- Catchy opening and good background music.
- Good fight scene animation.
Weaknesses
- Repetitive jokes that become tiresome over time.
- Lack of character development and depth.
- Anime-original content is often considered garbage compared to the manga.
- Inconsistent details and plot holes.
- Relies heavily on comedy to compensate for weaker story elements.