" How far can I go? Across the Sea? Beyond the Sky? Or Even to the Other Side of the moon?" Appare Sorano, Reflecting on his potential journeys, Appare-Ranman!
Something Niche.Blogspot.com Presents...
So, You're an Anime Fan, Huh?!
So, you're an anime fan, huh? Well, didja ever watch Appare-Ranman?
Welcome back to Something Niche, Young and Young-at-Heart explorers! With the Halloween season now firmly behind us (for now), we here at Something Niche will be starting another new series as the everyone in the world enjoys their leftover fun-size Milky Ways! One where we ask you a very important question: So, You're an Anime Fan, Huh?!
Indeed, while most of you certainly know by now that I have a large appreciation for the strangest in Western popular culture and folklore, so too has the Eastern world captured my attention and imagination in recent times. Particularly with the world of Japanese animated tv programs, otherwise known as anime! I've spent a good chunk of my life around anime, with the likes of Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! being some of my first obsessions during my formative years. And my initial curiosity has evolved into a full-fledged appreciation and attachment to the cartoons of The Land of The Rising Sun during my adult life! These shows often provide stories that have often been imitated, but never truly replicated by the Western world, and during the digital age, have gone from being a niche curiosity to an ever-growing cultural touchstone that rivals even Hollywood itself!
However, even as anime has become a large-scale popular culture trend (for better or worse), there are still plenty of titles within this medium that remain undiscovered treasures for the most high-end of thrill-seekers to discover. These titles may either be obscure titles that not even those who liked anime before it was cool have had the privilege of seeing, or those that were big in the early anime circles of the 90s and 2000s, but have started to fall of the radar as newer shows like Demon Slayer get franchised to hell and back; even if they have just as much, if not ever more potential to become timeless cultural touchstones.
The first show that we will discuss on this new program focusing on anime is rather recent compared to a lot of the other shows you will discover on our journey going forward, only making its debut in 2020.
That show is Appare-Ranman, a steampunk show focusing on a group of misfits from all across the world competing in a cross-country race across the United States in a series of outrageous, retro-futuristic contraptions, all while tending with the menace of a terrorist group. And while the series isn't the most complex watching experience plot-wise, it's still a fun, stylish romp with a colorful cast of characters and beautiful art direction.
So, prepare to start your engines, otakus! Because here is our look at Appare-Ranman!
Here In My Car, I Feel Safest of All
First off, what exactly is this show about? Well, Appare-Ranman takes place in alternate turn-of-the-century world where automobiles have started to come into the public consciousness a couple of years early. Several automotive companies have set up the Trans-America Wild Race, a cross-country derby from Los Angeles to New York City, as a way to showcase these new advancements in technology, set to replace the railway as the main mode of transportation.
Our main protagonist is a young man named Appare Sorano (pictured above, to the far left, and voiced in Japanese by Natsuki Hanae and Lee George in the English dub), a youth of Meiji-era Japan who's taken a liking to writer Jules Verne; one that has grown into a fascination with engineering and mechanicals. Appare wishes to travel through the great beyond (Like any impressionable young lad with a passion) and has found friendship in middle-aged Kendo instructor Kosame Isshiki (pictured above to the far right and voiced in Japanese by Seiichiro Yamashita and in the English dub by Ivan Jasso). They both live in peace, but one day, the duo finds themselves the victim of an unfortunate predicament.
Appare and Kosame find themselves as the accidental stowaways of an American cargo ship bound for Los Angeles. One they reach the reach the USA, the duo finds that they have become stranded in this new land, short of the cash they need for a ticket back to the Land of the Rising Sun. Soon afterwards, they become aware of the aforementioned Trans-America Wild Race, and the giant cash prize that awaits the winner. Desperate to find their way home, Appare and a reluctant Kosame decide to join the race, entering in a makeshift steam-powered car built by Appare himself.
Along the way, the duo forms an alliance with a ragtag group of misfit fellow competitors. Chief among them are the Chinese laundromat worker turned badass beauty Jing Xianleng (pictured above to the center left, and voiced by modern-day veteran Sora Amamiya in the original Japanese version and rising star Suzie Yeung in the English dub), who wants to be a female competitor in a male-dominated profession, young Native American boy Hototo (pictured above to the center right, and voiced in Japanese by Aoi Yuki and by Emi Lo in English), who is seeking vengeance for the slaughter of his family, and Al Lyon (pictured above, to the center, and voiced by Soma Saito in Japanese and by Brandon McInnis in English), the French son of one of the race's three main automobile manufacturers, who enters to prove his worth to his father. The group also comes across a conspiracy to cause havoc across the country, enacted by a gang of mercenaries led by Gil the Butcher, who plan to blow up the railways and hold the race organizers for ransom.
Fueling Up
Although a lot of the most popular anime series started life on the printed page as a manga (Japanese comic book) or light novel (a short novel with Manga illustrations on some pages), Appare-Ranman is a 100% purely original teleplay-based story. It was produced by Kadokawa, one of Japan's most important film and television studios, in collaboration with the animation company P.A. Works. The project was conceived and headed by one Masakuza Hashimoto, a veteran of the industry who has most notably done work on several film adaptations of the popular Crayon Shin-Chan franchise. When he started conceiving the series, however, it would seem that Hashimoto-San had something a little different in mind.
"There were two ideas that I had when I was first submitting the pitch." Hashimoto explains "The first was a story about crossing the American continent, and the other was about making it about a sport. At first, I wanted to make it about golf, where the characters would go around America playing it. But during the various discussions we had about what elements to put into the anime, we decided that just making it about golf was lacking a certain punch."
After feeling that the rather serene nature of golf wasn't the right type of sport to put into a show like this, Hashimoto ultimately decided to switch the focus of the anime towards racing, inspired by his childhood love for auto racing. Hashimoto also noted that this particular sport gave room for more intense emotions giving its grittiness. He further explained that he chose to set the series in a steampunk world because, in his words, "I didn't want the anime to get caught up with realism. It's not a historical story, and the historical setting is merely a backdrop for a story where the characters could shine."
When designing the quirky vehicles, Hashimoto took inspiration from an equally unlikely source. "At my friends university," he explained, "there's a club that made vehicles and raced them, so I was able to talk to people who knew exactly how to make engines and other parts of the vehicle in precise detail. It was very invigorating; it made me wonder if I could make a car myself. It was the first time I understood the appeal."
During production, Hashimoto-San also took heavy inspiration from his own crew when designing the cast. Although the series still had a primarily Japanese crew, it did get a few helpers from abroad. One of the show's main producers was Chinese, something that certainly influenced the design of Jing Xianleng. The composer of the show's score even comes from right here in America! His name is Evan Call, and he's immigrated to Japan, where he's since worked on the scores for several other titles, most notably the critical darlings that are Violet Evergarden and Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.
Appare-Ranman was first unveiled by PA Works in the October of 2019 via a trailer that was posted on YouTube. After a few months of anticipation, the show started its metaphorical engine the following April and ran for only a brief 12-episode run (actually typical of a lot of anime) until September of that year. In its native Japan, it aired on several networks, including TV Aichi, Tokyo MX, and Sun TV, amongst others. The series was also simulcast on anime streaming site Crunchyroll around the same time, with episodes streaming professionally subtitled at the same time worldwide. The show's English dub, produced by Funimation, followed afterwards on September 18th.
While the series seems to have had a seamless production cycle, its premiere coincided with an unfortunate worldwide event that put almost everything to a halt. The COVID-19 pandemic hit multiple nations, including Japan and America, during the Spring of 2020, and many different projects worldwide were delayed for a multitude of reasons brought on by the pandemic. Although the first three episodes of the series were released as planned, the rest of the series ended up being among the multitude of projects that were held back by issues caused by the COVID lockdowns. The rest of the series eventually aired through the Summer and Early Fall.
Reviews for the series online ranged from mixed to favorable. Many of those who saw the series had pretty much the same praises. The character designs and premise were listed as being top notch, and the characters were seen as memorable and having a powerful dynamic. Two characters who were considered standouts were the characters of Dylan and TJ, two veteran racers who are depicted as having had a complex history with each other. Some even pointed out a subtext of neurodivergence, as Appare's characterization drew parallels with real-life neurodivergent individuals.
However, the series had its fair share of criticisms as well. These ranged from the story relying too much on established anime tropes to pacing problems to rather generic motivations for the villains. A few were even critical of Hototo's design, which drew minor comparisons to real-life Native American stereotypes (ones that I don't think were intended, but still).
While the series has never received a continuation in any form at the moment (likely because the series did end pretty conclusively), the story was later adapted into a manga the following year; a reverse of the usual situation of anime adaptations!
A Well-Oiled Machine
But with all of that out of the way, you're probably wondering about how I personally feel about this show by now. Well, personally, I still think that this show is truly a real hidden gem amongst the medium, despite its flaws.
I honestly feel that Appare-Ranman is a show that is unique, well-designed, and a lot of fun to watch. Every member of the cast is surprisingly likable, and they each get their own chance to shine in one way or another (More on my favorites later). The race sequences are also very fun and high-octane, and the show can even switch its gears for several on-foot races and even Western-style duels against Gil's gang.
However, the real star of this series, without a doubt, has to be the designs of the cars. Every character has a vehicle that is unique to them, with colors and designs matching their individual personalities. And they are all designed to match with the show's steampunk-inspired aesthetic, giving off the same retro futuristic charm and whimsy that works like Code Name S.T.E.A.M. caught my heart with!
Speaking of those character designs though, I should probably add in that these character designs are certainly something else entirely. Every character has that distinct look that only Japan could come up with, with bright colors and hilarious outfits peppering the backgrounds and foregrounds alike. All of these elements come together to create a beautiful world that seems ripe for exploration.
Admittedly, I will admit that the narrative of the series isn't the most narratively complex or original, but not every single good piece of pop culture necessarily has to be. Sometimes, you just need to forget about the stressors in life and just escape somewhere to have fun! Plus, a lot of the characters are interesting in their own right, with their own little arcs and moments of humor sprinkled in throughout the show's run. There's even one plot twist involving two supporting antagonists that definitely left me for a curve (No spoilers here)!
And speaking of those characters, why don't we get to an important segment of this show moving forward, where I shine the spotlight on my two personal favorites; one male and one female.
Rose McGowan Award for Leading Lady
Jing Xianlieng
First, to follow the old "ladies first" rule of being a gentleman, I will be handing out my personal Rose McGowan Award for Leading Lady. This award goes to a female cast member of the show I am reviewing who stood out to me the most, be they the funniest, most badass, or overall best written in the series, though not necessarily the prettiest (though that does give some bonus points!).
Our inaugural winner for this award is Jing Xianleng, pictured above. Jing here is the main heroine to Appare's main hero, and she certainly lives up to her title.
The daughter to a pair of Chinese immigrants, Jing escapes here mundane life as a laundromat worker by studying the martial arts of her ancestral homeland (like you do). Wanting to prove her self-worth, she enters the Trans-America Wild Race as its sole female racer, borrowing a vehicle from a few acquaintances. Along with much of the rest of the roster, she forms an alliance with Appare and Kosume in order to help them earn their ticket back home and help them combat Gil's gang.
Jing Xianleng often uses here martial arts skills to get the group out of a pinch, and ends up being the focus of some of the most fun fights scenes in the series, and her rag-to-riches story-while somewhat formulaic-is still something that can a lot can find comfort and inspiration in. And as an added bonus, her cute design allows her to look nice while doing it!
It's almost a shame she never started a romance with Appare; they would've made a cute couple!
Kosame Isshiki
On the opposite end of the gender spectrum, we have the Bruce Cambell Award for Best Bro. This award will go out to the male cast member of any given anime who I'd gladly enjoy a nice hangout session with, be they the coolest, funniest, or most well-written brother in the bunch.
Our inaugural winner for this award will be Kosame Isshiki, the main secondary protagonist and best friend to Appare Sorano.
A middle-aged Kendo instructor who befriends Appare, he winds up becoming his reluctant sidekick during the Trans-America Wild Race after winding up on the same America-bound cargo ship as him. Desperate to make it back home, he stressfully attempts to look for a job in this new strange land before reluctantly agreeing to part in the race under Appare's suggestion.
While Hototo and Al were also very close to obtaining this title, Kosame ended up edging them out in terms of character growth. Of all of the main cast members, he's the one who ultimately changes the most during the anime's brief run, starting off as something of a coward bounded by past traumas who ultimately finds the strength to take up his sword again. He even takes a bullet for the group during a later episode (thankfully, he survives).
As a man who's always found himself as the "always a bridesmaid, never a bride" type of person, Kosame is definitely a character I can somewhat see myself in. I'd gladly share a game of Smash Bros with him any day of the year!
Live to Ride
So, in the end, while Appare-Ranman may not be the most intellectual watch out there, it's still a unique hidden gem with fun action, memorable characters, and a satisfying sense of steampunk style.
It's alternate history setting paves the way for a distinct environment that provides a great backdrop for an amusing auto-racing tale, and it provides a sense of style that can only be found in shows and films of the steampunk genre.
It flawlessly combines the tech of today with the aesthetics and available resources of yesteryear, and in doing so, it creates a world with fun visuals and inventive madness.
The whole cast manages to be entertaining in their own ways, and their unique designs makes them stand out from the crowd in fascinating ways.
But above all else, it's a show about never giving up, and finding new friends and allies to support you and learn about. It's shows and movies like these that keep me sane during these trying times.
While the series ultimately received a satisfying enough conclusion, it would still be amazing if the people who worked on this project were to revisit this world one day, as it provides a lot of fun set pieces in order to create unique entertainment experiences. Even if there's never a true follow up, I would like to revisit at least some of the characters as they continue their racing careers, particularly Jing, and maybe get involved in new, strange misadventures along the way while fighting against new threats. The studio could even turn spin off the show into other mediums, like a Twisted Metal-esque video game, or even a toy line of RC cars! I'd buy that for a dollar!
But what about you? Have you seen Appare-Ranman? What are your personal thoughts about it? Are you interested in it after hearing me gush about it for a few minutes? Would you like to see new stories from its world? What ideas would you have for a potential follow-up? Share your thoughts in the comments down below. And remember to keep your eyes on the road and your hand and feet in the vehicle at all times!
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