Shine On! Bakumatsu Bad Boys
Synopsis
Following a ruthless attack from an imperialist criminal gang known as the Masked Demons, Shinsengumi's Eighth Division—the law-enforcing squad in Kyoto that remains faithful to the shogunate—is nearly annihilated, with its sole survivor, Heisuke Toudou, critically injured. Urged to rebuild the Shinsengumi by the local feudal lord, Katamori Matsudaira, Toudou decides to offer eight convicts the chance to redeem themselves: they must abandon their old names and become substitutes for the eight Shinsengumi captains. All accept but one, who ends up immediately executed by the former assassin Sakuya. However, Toudou has a hard time transforming the seven reformed criminals into loyal servants. Due to his lack of discipline, the impulsive and vengeful Ichibanboshi, whose family perished at the hands of the Masked Demons, threatens the success of Toudou's strategy. As Toudou pledges to protect the shogunate against imperialists and foreign invaders, other factions, such as Kogorou Katsura's group, start to put their plans in motion with only one goal in mind—to seize power at the dusk of the Edo period. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Audience reception is mixed, with some finding the anime entertaining due to its vibrant art style, unique character designs, and enjoyable character dynamics. However, many critics point out the weak plot, inconsistent animation, and lack of character development. The show is considered to have wasted potential, ultimately being a passable but not particularly special watch.
Strengths
- Colorful and vibrant art style
- Unique character designs
- Enjoyable character dynamics and interactions
- Good use of interesting character combos
Weaknesses
- Weak plot and over-arching narrative
- Barely any character development
- Inconsistent animation quality and reuse of slides
- Tacky and uninteresting flashbacks
- Unexplained supernatural occurrences making the terrorist's plan less interesting