Tsumo! 8000/12000 points! The spinoff to the Riichi Mahjong anime, 咲-Saki-, has arrived. Saki is a show known for two great qualities: cute girls playing Mahjong and the yuri undertones within the series. With how the times have changed now, we now have a currently airing show of a Saki series in high definition. Considering how anime has evolved to providing high resolution episodes now, has this spinoff evolved the standards of an animated Saki series? Thankfully, Saki fans will be glad to know that the series is going in strong with its lovable girls playing Mahjong and yuri themes. Like the usual first impressions, I will be covering the first two episodes of the show.
Loli Nodoka? Magnificent!
Plot: A couple of friends since childhood who play Mahjong are separated with time due to various circumstances. After a time lapse, one of our heroines sees their old friend that moved away on TV, winning a Mahjong tournament no less! The sight of her old friend she lovingly used to play Mahjong with winning ignites flames of passion she once had for Mahjong and immediately decides to revive the Mahjong club at their future high school. Thus begins the journey of our heroines who will compete fiercely to make it to the finals of the inter-high tournament.
Characters: The Saki universe is known for its huge cast of lovable characters with interesting quirks and qualities. With this side story introduced, there is even more appealing characters for viewers to love. One particular character that will stand out to viewers is Matsumi Yuu. She is the older sister of Matsumi Kuro and is very sensitive to cold weather, which makes her dress up interestingly strange outfits even in the summer.
While the cast is abundant in females, the characters are designed quite well to distinguish them from each other and spark interest in a viewer’s attention. A main aspect of what makes the cast unique is how they are brought to life through the voice acting of the seiyuus. Having respectable seiyuus like Hanazawa Kana, Yuuki Aoi, and Touyama Nao assuming the roles bring fantastic personality to the characters.
Art and Animation: A lot of wonderful art is featured in Saki Achiga-hen Episode of A Side. There are many beautiful backgrounds throughout the episodes and the animation is smooth and does not have any glaring errors. The characters transition well from the manga to anime and look fantastic.
Music: Featuring tracks from the first season of Saki brings back the relaxing and lively soundtrack Saki has. However, the new adaptation features new tracks as well which are great additions to the well composed musical score of Saki. The opening and ending songs sound good and fit the show nicely.
Overall: Such a satisfying spinoff has been delivered to Saki fans. The show is presented in such way that makes it appealing to those who are not even into Mahjong. If you are looking for an adorable and relaxing show to watch, be sure to check out Saki Achiga-hen Episode of Side-A.
Personal Statement: Oh god, this is a gift from the gods. This anime is so yuri.
