Tokyo 24 Ku “RGB” Review
Tokyo 24 Ku “RGB” is the first episode of the original anime series. Coming from studio CloverWorks (yes, the Wonder Egg Priority studio.) This is yet another original anime they’ve taken on and to be honest, it seems to have a lot of promise. If the studio are lucky and don’t find themselves in production hell again.
The special 40+ minute first episode tells the story of Ran, Shuuta and Kouki, three friends who experience a disaster and are given a chance to become heroes and stop something similar happening. All whilst the government pull shady stuff that consistently puts people in danger.
Plot
The three friends Shuu, Ran and Kouki are witness to an awful fire that rips through their school. Killing Kou’s sister Asumi. A year later and the “friends” very rarely ever meet but they do that day for a memorial service to remember the victims of the fire. Each have their own lives now, except for Shuu who’s still obsessed with the guilt he feels for not being quick enough to save Asumi.
Suddenly the three get a random call from Asumi, or someone pretending to be her. Asumi tells them the future. That the new fully automated train is going to derail if the tracks are switched but their friend will also be stuck on the tracks where the train will kill only her and the dog she chased. So will they save the one friend. Or save the majority on the train, sacrificing her?
They opt for neither and go on a team hunt to save her. Except suddenly their bodies are all light as air and they can move in ways a normal human can’t. Kou uses his power as the son of the powerful company that made the train to ensure he doesn’t switch the rails. Ran uses his graffiti and unmatched hacking skills to hack a drone and spray paint under the carriage to force the breaks to engage. Shu uses his extraordinary speed and strength to get to Mari on the tracks. However his heroic save of her is seen by a SARG officer (basically the police but corrupt as all hell.)
The episode ends with the three going to Asumi’s grave and paying respects. But the day ends with them all going their own way again. No-one but Shuu willing to believe that anything supernatural went on.
Review
You know I actually really like this show. As slow as it was, it picked up. The premise is interesting as there’s a lot of unanswered questions at the moment. Like Kou’s dad seems really dodgy but he may just be a typical politician. Why are SARG obsessed with control? Who’s on top here? And what will they make of the super powered teens? More importantly when will the others come to accept something beyond reason is going on?
Handled with care this show could be really good and do well. Maybe even be a highlight of Winter 2022. But it’s no secret that CloverWorks have a bad reputation to put it lightly. And there’s already signs that things aren’t going great via recent tweets by someone working on the project.
I really hope CW can pull this one off, it has a lot of potential and I’d hate to have another Wonder Egg situation happen.
