Gnosia
Short Synopsis: An amnesiac awakens to a real life social deduction game being played aboard a spaceship with deathly consequences.
Wooper: When I first looked into this show a few weeks ago, I thought for sure there would be more to it than Werewolf: The Animation with a reincarnation twist. That’s essentially all this episode had to offer, though, aside from moderate fanservice and fashion reminiscent of the Hunger Games’ Capitol. Protagonist Yuri awoke with no idea who he was or what was going on, so everything had to be explained to him right from the start, including the threat posed by the titular alien race and the voting system meant to catch them despite their human disguises. Details about the Gnosia, such as their unique ability to move during lightspeed travel, perfectly mirror the rules of Werewolf (in this case, the game’s night phase), making the story feel more than a little hollow. It’s only been one day-night cycle, though, and given Yuri’s Return by Death ability, this premiere functioned more like a prologue than a proper first outing, so there’s plenty of time for things to turn around. Visually, the outlandishly dressed 2D characters’ movement through their spaceship’s 3D environment isn’t perfect, but I like it in concept, since it allows the show to more freely explore its one and only setting. There are a few positives here, so even though I was let down by this episode, I’m not (cold) sleeping on Gnosia just yet.
Potential: 35%
Mario: This is essentially Werewolf as an anime outing, which is a plus for me given how much I like that game (not really good at it though). The issues I had by the end of it though: the ED pretty much spoils the fun here (so pay no attention to the ED if you haven’t seen it already), and that twist in turn reveals another strategic flaw in this Werewolf (or Gnosia) game: if there are the same number of humans and wolves remaining, the latter group will win by default. So if there are two Gnosia, wouldn’t it be too easy to put just one human to sleep?! The episode hinges so much on Yuri’s unexplained amnesia, and relies so much on his climactic decision, that he serves more as an insert character than a full-fledged one. I might sound a bit too harsh, but in truth I like the funky characters and how this episode spans out. It’s just that I’m not sure how it will play its hand in the long run.
Potential: 30%
Wandance
Short Synopsis: A high school freshman with a stutter is inspired by his classmate’s nonverbal communication through dance.
Wooper: Welcome to the Ballroom was the first show I ever blogged on Star Crossed, and I still remember criticizing it for its 3D background dancers (among other things). Eight years later, I may be the only person on the internet reviewing Wandance’s premiere with no plans to give its 3D foreground dancers the same treatment. Yes, their vacant expressions make them look awkward as hell, but given that this is the route the show decided to take even for its main characters, there isn’t much point in harping on them. Besides, there’s enough worthwhile stuff here to outweigh that awkwardness. For one thing, the background artists are punching far above their weight, not only in establishing a small town nestled at the foot of Mount Fuji, but also in creating attractive interior shots, which is typically the hard part for high school shows. The characterization so far is steady without being flashy; Kotani’s perseverance despite his stutter and bravery in standing up to his self-absorbed friends make him one of the more credibly anxious protagonists in recent memory, while Wanda’s cool beauty doesn’t overshadow her thoughtfulness. And who could hate an anime that plays an uninterrupted 56 second clip of the Scatman music video midway through its first episode (for a plot-relevant reason, no less)? Even if this show’s production doesn’t put the “dance” in Wandance, there’s something here worth giving a second look – or maybe I’ve just gone soft since 2017.
Potential: 45%
A Wild Last Boss Appeared
Short Synopsis: A gamer is transported into a video game as a bad-ass villainess.
Mario: It’s another “transported into another world” show where the protagonist is a) a villain and b) way overpowered. It’s a bad idea already, in my view, that we never get to know this person in real life before he gets sucked into this game (heck, we never get to see his full face or learn his name). The fantasy world is your typical fare, with the same races, guilds, quests and power stats as usual. The only thing I can give this show is that it knows what it is and never tries to be something else, so the protagonist likewise has a good idea of what to do next. I say that this type of show is at its most interesting in the beginning, where the protagonist has to work his way to the top of the world. If that sounds good to you, give this episode a watch to see whether it’s your thing.
Potential: 10%
The post Fall 2025 Impressions: Gnosia, Wandance, A Wild Last Boss Appeared appeared first on Star Crossed Anime.
