Drifting Dragons

Basically whaling.... Yep, it's a show about killing flying whales that don't appear to be harming anyone "Dragons", harvesting, eating them and selling them for profit. Okay there is more to it than that but it's kinda hard to get past that if I'm honest, they're not heroes, they're "whalers" killing harmless creatures for profit. Whats next, animal traffickers for wet markets? If you can get past it the series does get a a little better, the show has it's moments I guess but most of the characters are unlikable from the start for me. I know whaling is a thing in Japan but toput out a series out that resembles this act in any way is distasteful and will be divisive. I'm surprised Netflix would want this show, they must be desperate for content.

This is the first time I write a review. A few days ago, this show has a 6.X rate here (now 7.X) and I am very curious as I have watched ep1 when it aired all 12eps. I don't think it will be that low so I go to watch more. I eventually finished up the whole show, which doesn't always happens. After finished this show, I think people may have two main problems to be disappointed. First: this is a CGI show, it cannot give us detailed facial expressions with this quality, and the expressions are rather rough especially in close cut for their eyes. Andof coz it is in 12 like the other JP 2D/3D animes. (I didn't do any research on this but I believe it is due to the file size or format limitation of airing on TV, or even just the conventions, even Beastar is in 12) Second: they are killing dragons which reminds people of whaling. They also aviod to address the problem that killing dragons is not a health way to the make human society works. They treat this as a food show with yummy dragon dishes almost every ep, it may make you feel uneasy about all this. Okay, so what do I think? Story: 8 As I mentioned above, "whaling" is a serious problem for this show, but I do think they are not showing this just to disgust you, they show all the yummy dragon dishes just make me think what human are actually eating, because I don't know how dragon meat tastes like, this is just we human messing with the Earth itself, just using dragons as a way to get us the audiences to have a weird feeling, so not a big problem in my opinion. The setting of this world is unbelievably detailed, the whole system of hunters, use of dragon's meat, oil and organs, and also how they fly etc is amazing and real. The different kinds of dragons are also well written and intriguing. However, I think they can tell us more about the world, the character and the history of the world, I am pretty surprise they managed to make me finish the whole show without telling me enough of these. Art: 6 This is a CGI show, and it is not gonna be the best for me as a 2D art lover. The 3D feeling works quite well for the dragons and some scenes but when it comes to character development it always lower the impact, especially when we need great facial expressions. (I must admit the quality is good, so if you don't have a thing for 2D art you won't have problem with this show) Sound: 9 OP: amazingly fitting the feeling of the show ED: normal for me OST: stellar level, in ep1 the beginning I am in love with it, the isekai fantasy and adventure feeling is almost perfect Character: 8 Mika, Takita, Vanabelle are very likeable. I don't need to tell you the details, you just need to know there are a bunch of characters as they work on a ship, but you can easily find everyone unique and they work tgt around the main characters effectively. (Some side characters like Ula and Nanami are also likeable) But, you will be going through this show without knowing the background story of the main character, I must say this is a weird thing as I don't feel off about it when I am watching. Enjoyment: 8 I enjoy the story, the world, the setting and the music, I don't really enjoy is the yummy dragon dishes they are showing but it is not a dislike from me, just don't really enjoy. Also, I find that they don't have railing on the airship is kind of odd, but they don't really explain anything and the enjoyment comes from auidence's own understanding of the show, weird enough. Overall: 8 Well, I must say I will probably hold the ep1 watched status forever if I don't see the 6.X rate here. It is hard to tell you to watch it til the end, but you can certainly give this a shot and even if you don't feel like watching the whole show, you may want to pick it up suddenly like me. This is not going to be a show for everyone but I hope you will not be brothered by the two main problems I mentioned above too much if you are watching it. LIEat

Drifting Dragons can be summed up in two words: Dreadfully Dull. I think watching paint dry would have been a better expenditure of my time. Story really is more of a slice of life about whalers on a ship if those whalers caught funky looking sky whales..er which I guess really is what this story is about. Art is fair to mediocre at best as it's that typical CGI crap that Netflix is so famous for producing. Color Palettes looked washed out with characters really not that pleasing to look at, symmetry or overall design wise. Sound exists but nothing to write home about unlessyou like musical scores that can be heard in pretty much any factory turned out anime. Oh and the dragons, can anyone say "Godzilla"? I mean come on, let's make an attempt NOT to rip off one of the most arguably, albeit sometimes campiest franchises out there. Characters are plain, boring or over exaggerated in their personalities. Quite frankly, couldn't connect or care about a single one. Personally hoped they'd get eaten by the "Dragons", ahem, I digress... ...Overall I'd have to not recommend this title for the fear of getting my eye dotted by the people that had to sit through this dreadfully dull mess due to my recommendation. This show scores a big WHALE (Get it..huh? Huh?) of a thumbs down.

Kuutei Dragons definitely isn't something that will be for everyone, but I ended up really loving it! I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it, at first, because of the animation style. They chose the same animation style as is used on shows like RWBY, which is a show that took a while for me to get into, specifically because of the animation style. Other actual anime that have been done this way, are not ones I've been able to stick with. However, Kuutei Dragons only took a couple of episodes to suck me in, and align me with a character I could identify with, whichis something that is necessary for me. I can't really find it in myself to stick with any form of fiction, where I don't have at least one character I identify strongly with. This story, gave me a few, with Vannie be the strongest connection. I have not read the manga, and very much intend to do so, now! The story gives us a fairly easygoing plot line, of just following a specific group of people, carry out their lives. As someone who spends most of my life on the ocean(I'm a marine biologist), the "cabin life" storyline, really appealed to me. I also loved that they made it part "cooking anime", to a degree. Though, none of us can replicate the recipes, since they all use "dragon meat". But I'm going to try with other red meats! I also appreciated the clear and present "humanity", displayed by the characters. Especially within the last few episodes. I did in fact, cry during a "certain part" of the finale. And I don't honestly cry all the easy. All in all, it's a show that's at least worth giving a try, even if you're not sure about it. I started out thinking I'd drop it by episode 3, and now it's one that I'll recommend to anyone! -Sheik