Sabikui Bisco is a fantasy/adventure anime produced by Oz. After a huge explosion devastates Tokyo, red dust covers the land. This dust consumes buildings and anything else in its wake. Exposure to the dust can also cause people to get a disease called Rusting, which spreads a rust-colored sore over the patient’s body till it eventually kills them. To make matters worse, terrorists called Mushroom Keepers assail society with weapons whose projectiles cause giant mushrooms to sprout wherever they strike. These mushrooms are also said to cause Rusting. Amidst all the despair and chaos of this struggling world, a doctor strives to find a cure for Rusting so that he might save his sister and the rest of humanity in Sabikui Bisco Episode 1.
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This premiere episode does a good job of introducing viewers to the various characters, concepts, and places that make up the show’s world. From the overall state of the world to the motivations of the episode’s key character, Doctor Milo Nekoyanagi, Sabikui Bisco Episode 1 manages to deliver a lot of information to the viewer as smoothly as one could ask. But even as it explains a lot, it also brings mysteries that help entice the viewer to want to keep watching the story unfold.
The bulk of this episode’s narrative is delivered from the point of view of Doctor Nekoyanagi. From the character’s first introduction, we see a kind, generous healer who is doing all he can to help treat the many who are suffering but too poor to receive proper treatment. Nekoyanagi brings a bright ray of positivity to the show’s grimmer world. His willingness to help all showcases the best of what people can be. But even the good doctor seems to have more to him than meets the eye.
Sabikui Bisco Episode 1‘s introduction to its world is broken up in the final stretch of the episode by a terrorist attack that sees what appear to be a couple of rival factions battling each other and leaving giant mushrooms in their wake. These mushrooms rip through buildings and streets, causing chaos for the innocent inhabitants caught in the middle.
The visual presentation of Sabikui Bisco Episode 1‘s world does a solid job of creating a striking setting. The contrasts between the red-tinged deserts of rust and the neon-lit streets of the Imahama Prefecture create a great visual contrast that keeps the show looking vibrant and fresh as the story moves from place to place.
The brief action within this episode is also brought to life well. The many explosions and the eruption of giant mushrooms that follow them are animated smoothly and land with plenty of impact. This helps the viewer feel the panic and terror of the populace living through the attack.
Taking it all together, Sabikui Bisco Episode 1 manages to both introduce viewers to its world, while also entertaining them with likable characters, creative places, and a hint of the action the show will bring. I’m officially intrigued by the show’s world and premise, and look forward to learning more about what’s in store for Doctor Nekoyanagi and company.
Sabikui Bisco Episode 1 is streaming on Funimation and Crunchyroll.
rating 9/10
