I often advise friends to watch anime in theaters, and the premiere of Re:Zero-Starting Life in Another World-Season 3 is a slow but strong entry to the list of reasons why. The 90-minute first episode is the length of a theatrical release, so it seems fitting that Crunchyroll would host a few special screenings. One was in New York City, which I attended, and the other was in Austin and took place on September 30th.
Fans attending the New York screening got to enjoy the anime at one of Regal's RPXs (Regal Premium Experiences), which feature large screens, high-quality immersive sound, and seats that don't strain your body. it feels like being crumpled up for an hour and a half and there's plenty of room for many people. Fans also have the opportunity to take photos in front of the Re:Zero backdrop as if they were stars walking down the red carpet. For many people who showed up in cosplay (Emilia's cosplay seemed to be the most popular choice), this meant they got the chance to do a little photo shoot before seeing the movie.
A Happy Cast
One thing Re:Zero does exceptionally well (both in general and in this episode) is use emotional contrast to highlight opposite ends of the emotional spectrum. The moments when Subaru experiences death after death seem as powerful as they are because it contrasts so much with the lighter aspects of Re:Zero. On the contrary, the happy moments feel brighter, while also leaving the audience with a constant sense of dread as they wonder what horror is about to happen. Without spoiling the finer details, this first episode leans more towards a lighter reintroduction of characters we already know. We spend a lot of time in conversation and fleshing out the world-building of the series (especially since it contains the royal pageant, which can easily be forgotten with all the wildness of Season 2) .
Perhaps most notable are the many adorable interactions between Beatrice and Subaru as they enjoy the game, the fruit of a much more positive and friendly relationship following the events of Part 2 and their signing of the partnership. copper. This episode also has a lot of singing, which is greatly enhanced by the theater's speakers and really shows off how good the singing is.
Beautiful settings… With a Twist
The majority of the episode takes place in two types of settings: a large city with many seemingly Venetian influences and a specific location within that city with some obvious Japanese influences. Both are quite beautiful and detailed, and carefully set the scene for much of the episode. I think if viewers were expecting a lot of action in this first episode they might find it a bit disappointing. However, if they were instead open to experiencing what actually happened on screen, I think even the “need more punches and kicks right now” crowd would be very satisfied. The city of Pristella is a wonder and the water in particular is handled very well, with movement, flow and light reflection all handled skillfully. Of course, seeing this on a large screen will help convey the scale of things, but I'm sure it will look great on a laptop screen too.
However, nothing in Re:Zero comes along that doesn't leave you on the edge of your seat. The last part of the episode did just that and there was an audible groan as the premiere ended right away with a stellar performance. Overall, I thought the episode was a solid start to the season. If you asked me to rate the episode as I sat through the first half, I'd probably give it a 6 out of 10. As the second half ends, the episode easily enters 8-plus territory.
The anime aired on October 2 in Japan with a Crunchyroll simulcast.
©Tappei Nagatsuki,KADOKAWA/Re:ZERO3 PARTNERS
