If I’m honest, the ongoing anime ‘The World is Dancing‘ has left me dead inside when it comes to the plot and its self-indulgent, self-obsessed, and thoroughly annoying protagonist Oniyasha.
Yes, I know the anime is supposed to be highly emotional as we learn about Oniyasha’s obsession with dance and how it affects his relationships with the people around him.
But the way it has been written has not hit me emotionally at all.
Instead, I’ve just found much of it uninteresting and bland, while Oniyasha’s “dance journey” has just left me wanting to connect emotionally but feeling adrift from the entire thing.
As for Oniyasha, it’s quite a while since I’ve disliked a protagonist that much.
After all, he’s just such a whiny, self-involved, self-entitled brat, who also likely has autism. But so annoying that I can’t understand why anyone could or would want to relate to him?
The art style of The World is Dancing anime is spectacular
But, after having said all that, at some point I will watch the entire series again as, even though I honestly cannot stand Oniyasha, The World is Dancing has to be one of the most visually stunning anime ever created, and with animation that has been spectacular.
And for those two things alone, I am still very happy I have stuck with the anime so far.
Especially in those recent scenes in the anime where Oniyasha and Zoujirou are vying for their troupe to win the Shogun’s dance competition, as the Shogun looks on and criticizes.
Those have to be some of the most beautiful anime scenes ever created.
The World is Dancing production information
The historical, performing arts-themed anime is animated by relatively new animation company Studio Cypic (formerly CygamesPictures Co., Ltd), who animated The Summer Hikaru Died and Apocalypse Hotel and they have done in a stellar job with both animation and visual design (it’s the bland and unemotional script that has let them down with this one, in my opinion).
Toshimasa Kuroyanagi (Bakuten!!) is directing, along with series composition by Sawako Kawamitsu, and Keigo Sasaki (The Seven Deadly Sins) providing the character designs.
And, while the ongoing story of Oniyasha honestly means nothing to me (which is odd, as I usually love stories about real life characters, but not in this case), if you haven’t yet watched it, I do still recommend you do due to the utterly gorgeous visuals you will be exposed to.
With two more episodes still to premiere, Episode 11 is now streaming on HIDIVE.
Meanwhile, if you are interested in the real-life Japanese actor, dancer and playwright Zeami Motokiyo (known as Oniyasha in his childhood), The Noh has an excellent article about his life.
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