Let’s face it,Fire Forcehas a reputation for gratuitous fan service, and it’s not doing it any favors. While it’s far from uncommon in anime,Fire Forcemanages to not only showcase some particularly cheeky moments, but actually make some of them plot-relevant. Plenty of fans, whether they enjoy the scenes or not, will insist thatthe story is good enoughthat those parts aren’t worth worrying about. The problem is, there are countless who avoid the series entirely, due to not being fans of lewd material, or even assuming that the series objectifies its female characters. Others might not even have such hangups, but simply don’t want to risk someone coming in at the wrong moment during a watch and getting the wrong idea.
The premise ofFire Forceseems pretty straightforward on the surface. Humans began spontaneously combusting after an event called the Great Cataclysm, which happened 250 years ago. Since then, some humans haveevolved to have fire resistance and powers. Those individuals make up the Special Fire Force, which puts the combusted humans, known as infernals, to rest. The protagonist of the story is Shinra Kusakabe, a rookie Fire Force soldier assigned to the infamously understaffed Company 8. His drive to disprove the damning rumors circulating aroundhis involvement in his family’s deathshas him determined to become a hero. His second priority being uncovering the truth about the event that changed the course of his entire life. As Company 8 recruits members as well as allies, the truth about the Imperial Tokyo Empire and its Holy Sol Temple slowly comes to light.
Fire Force is More Than Meets the Eye
The Flame of Intrigue That Continues to Grow
These simple themes grow and shift as the story continues, adding layers and nuance to what could easily beassumed to be a typical shōnen brawlerby those not in the know. After a handful of episodes that could make or break the experience for most viewers, the plot opens up to one of political intrigue, twisted evangelicalism, and betrayal that greatly overshadows the potty-humor and immature gags.
Old Age… Suicide… Illness…
The cause of death that scares most people in this day and age… is death by fire.
-Akitaru Obi
At its heart, this story is a mystery. Fire Force is a prime example of not judging a show based on hearsay. Anyone who’s put in the time to watch or read will gush over how good it really is. The bulging muscles and strategically burned clothing are merely set dressing for a compelling and intricate plot. It’s just a shame that so many will miss out on this tale, due to the fan service taking up so much of the conversation surrounding this series.
Do The Pros Outweigh the Cons?
For those debating whether to giveFire Forcea chance, the answer is an emphatic yes. Admittedly, there are more than a few scenes that will raise a brow, putting both the male and female cast on display, but they’re assuredly worth getting through. This show has so much more to offer than a few flashes of skin. The characters are interesting and likable, the world has been crafted beautifully, and the plot only continues to grow deeper and more enthralling.
Even the antagonists are well-written, making it difficult not to empathize with them. As the story builds upon itself, viewers can’t help but creep to the edges of their seats, wondering what will happen next.Fans ofSoul Eater,Atsushi Ohkubo’s previous work, will be familiar with this compelling style of storytelling.
Time to Make Your Own Assessment
Don’t Knock it ‘Til You Try It
Shinra and the supporting cast grow and matureas the story unfolds. Alliances are made and broken. The rich lore of the world is expanded upon with every new piece of information that surfaces.Fire Forceis so much more than the salacious spectacle some would say it is. While it would be a lie to pretend that dirty jokes and questionable “accidents” don’t run rampant throughout the series, they aren’t what defines the experience.
Ultimately, it’s up to each viewer to decide whether the story and characters warrant sitting through what are admittedly some pretty cinge-worthy scenes, but in this author’s opinion, it’s entirely worth it. At least, with the show’s gorgeous animation by David Production, the perverted scenes will look nice.
