Re:CREATORS has a great high concept – who wouldn't want to watch our favourite characters from fiction face off against one another? Its action set-pieces are well produced and visually stunning, with some economical yet highly effective splashes of humour and meta-commentary, and followers of anime more seasoned than I will undoubtedly enjoy its genre-savvy shout-outs.1

But Re:CREATORS is more than mere fantasy escapism, and its depth is where it shines. Its characters are engaging and authentic,2 delightfully flawed and multi-dimensional. Through their growth and development, Re:CREATORS explores the nature of fiction and its ‘gods’, and the relationship between creator, creation and consumer. It explores the state of the animation industry, and the struggles of content creators in coming to terms with impostor syndrome, cancel culture, self-doubt and the desire to create something meaningful. And it also isn't afraid to explore more universal themes, including self-determination, guilt, morality and the nature of ‘good’ and ‘evil’.3

Re:CREATORS does suffer from the occasional bout of clunky pacing, and if a fast-paced action extravaganza is what you're after, Re:CREATORS may not be for you. But the themes and characters of Re:CREATORS are where it shines, and these it executed with perfection.

Footnotes

  1. As is, the Neon Genesis Evangelion references were plenty enjoyable enough for me! 

  2. As a small aside, I'm happy to see government and industry being involved without being portrayed as incompetent. 

  3. I am pleased to call Re:CREATORS a shining example of the ‘mixed-alignment party’, and conversely, ‘obliviously evil’ and the ‘face–heel turn’, done right.