Suicide Squad Isekai is not DC’s first foray into the isekai genre, which involves characters being transported to a fantasy world full of magic and monsters.
In 2018, DC released Batman Ninja, an animated film that sent Batman and his allies and enemies to feudal Japan, where they had to face off against giant robots, ninjas, and samurai. The film was praised for its stunning visuals and creative character designs, but it was also criticized for its convoluted plot, inconsistent tone, and lack of depth.
Here’s why Suicide Squad Isekai will likely not disappoint fans like Batman Ninja did, and what we can expect from this new anime adventure.
Where Batman Ninja went wrong
- Batman Ninja‘s story does not live up to its visual spectacle. The film’s plot is a mess of time travel, magic, science fiction, and historical fiction, with little explanation or logic.
- The film’s tone is also wildly inconsistent. It shifts from serious to comedic to absurd without warning or reason. One moment, Batman is fighting Joker in a dramatic sword duel; the next moment, he is riding a giant bat made of smaller bats. The film does not seem to know what it wants to be or say.
Batman Ninja is not a bad film per se. It is an entertaining and original take on The Dark Knight that showcases the talents and vision of its Japanese creators. However, it is also a film that fails to deliver on its potential or satisfy its fans who expected more from this crossover. It is a film that sacrifices substance for style and coherence for spectacle.
Why Suicide Squad Isekai has the potential to be better than Batman Ninja
- While Batman Ninja was an interesting concept that combined Batman with feudal Japan, it was also a convoluted and inconsistent story that relied too much on spectacle and style over substance and coherence.
- Suicide Squad Isekai, on the other hand, has a simpler and more focused premise that fits well with the isekai genre. The idea of sending a team of villains to another world full of magic and monsters is not new, but it is still intriguing and exciting for fans who want to see their favorite characters in new situations.
Another advantage of Suicide Squad Isekai is its creative team. The anime will be directed by Eri Osada, who was the chief animation director for Jujutsu Kaisen, one of the most popular and acclaimed anime of 2020.
The animation will be handled by WIT Studio, which is known for its work on Attack on Titan, Vinland Saga, and Great Pretender. The script will be written by Tappei Nagatsuki and Eiji Umehara, who are experienced in the isekai genre, having written Re: Zero – Starting Life in Another World.
The series also has express permission from DC to have the characters use magic, which opens up a lot of possibilities for creative action scenes and character interactions. The series will also feature original characters and designs that are inspired by Japanese folklore and mythology.
What to expect from it?
Of course, Suicide Squad Isekai is not without its challenges and risks. The series will have to balance the tone and style of the DC characters with the conventions and tropes of the isekai genre, which can be tricky to pull off without alienating or confusing fans of either side.
The series will also have to avoid falling into the pitfalls of some isekai anime, such as over-reliance on clichés, fanservice, or exposition. However, if the ending goes smoothly, the series has some advantages and opportunities that could make it a better anime than Batman Ninja.
Conclusion
Suicide Squad Isekai is a bold and ambitious project that aims to bring a new twist to the DC characters and the isekai genre. It has a lot of potentials to be a fun and exciting series that showcases the talents and vision of its Japanese creators. It also has a lot of challenges and risks to overcome, such as balancing the tone and style of the DC and isekai elements, avoiding the pitfalls of some isekai anime, and dealing with the expectations and comparisons to other DC adaptations.
Whether it succeeds or fails, Suicide Squad Isekai is sure to be a unique and memorable addition to the DC universe.