Name: This World Is Confusing.
Item: Sonny Boy
Rating: 90
Author: AnimeDweeb

This World Is Confusing.

This review is spoiler-free, Tl;Dr below.

#An anime-original piece by Studio MADHOUSE, Sonny Boy looks anything but conventional.

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Having set the gold standard for action sakuga with One Punch Man S1, Creator Shingo Natsume is arguably one of the most well-trusted talents in the industry today. So here we are presented with something completely out of left field: an original series, written and directed by Natsume himself. Creative freedom is naturally to be expected, yet Sonny blows any and every expectation out of the water regardless. Photorealistic visuals are ditched entirely in exchange for the abstract. The unrefined and sometimes unidentifiable visual aesthetic feels less "Madhouse" and more reminiscent of Science SARU, no doubt due to Natsume's experience with storyboarding under the tutelage of Masaaki Yuasa. The community isn't exactly raving over the animation cuts the same way that viewers hyped up OPM back in 2015. That being said, the free-flowing animation and imagery Sonny manages to conjure up makes for brilliant eye-candy. Sound design adds to the odd ambiance, with a restraint that sneaks up on you during pivotal sequences. It's a weird yet refreshing approach to presentation, and an art style befitting of this cryptic show. Believe me, things are only gonna get a lot more strange from here on out.

#Sonny leaves both audience and cast stranded, in search of answers.

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An unexpected incident sends a Japanese high school adrift in an alternate dimension known only as "This World". No one knows how they got there, nor how to get out. "This World's" inhabitants consist only of the students stripped from the real world. There is no adult in sight. In the familiar hallways of their school campus, some people begin developing all sorts of unexplained psychic powers. Such supernatural phenomena govern "This World", as well as the many other worlds within this unknown universe. Featuring cross-dimensional space travel, mysterious pocket dimensions, spontaneous clones, physics-breaking landscapes and a chimpanzee baseball tournament; Sonny 's strangeness is imaginative and awesome to take in. Our ragtag classrooms of kids are tasked with making sense of this unfamiliar environment, all while doing all they can to make it back to the one World that matters: Home. Amidst the chaos and disarray is Nagara, the titular Sonny Boy. A withdrawn teenager with no powers, Sonny's got a long way to go in this new, unwanted life.

#Sonny 's not sophisticated just for the hell of it.

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While weird and wild, there is a certain method to Sonny 's madness. Released from the constraints of a real world, Sonny gives a fresh take on real-life concepts through vivid imagery and allegory. Allusions to Robinson Crusoe may have you believe that this is a story about basic human survival, but Sonny soon reveals itself to be more akin to a sci-fi Lord of the Flies. The portrayal of groupthink is heavily present throughout the series, as the teens latch onto beliefs and narratives in order to make sense of "This World". The introduction of random psychic powers for a chosen few also results in a discussion on class identity. Elite powers that distort space and reality are possessed by the strong and fawned over by the weak. The uncanny nature of certain abilities are seen as likely methods of returning to Earth, motivating followers to hail the strong as Messiah-like figures. Conversely, students who were blessed in their past life but not in "This World" have to cope with being valued less by peers. Finally, those who happen to be outcasts in both lives find themselves further shut-out from society. Both groupthink and class hierarchy are a few of the ways Sonny tackles the topic of social perceptions. How we see ourselves, how others see us, and how we want others to see us. The ways in which we influence others to side with us, in order to gain control in a crazy, crazy world. The stories we tell in order to quell our fears and insecurities. The ideals we cling onto, even as the rest of the world mocks our naïve beliefs. The reasons why we choose to help and hurt those around us. Sonny 's certainly a strange show, but not without rhyme nor reason. Rather, the mysteries surrounding This World are designed to take advantage of its creative setting to reflect the chaos and uncertainty of real life. Sonny is as much about This World as it is our own.

#Sonny 's episodes are packed with an astonishing amount of themes, concepts and insights.

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Instead of a huge arc, the series is made up of individual vignettes, where continuity between episodes hardly matters. Each instalment hits like cold water to the face, reigniting the disorientation Sonny has been known for since its premiere. But while we may start (and admittedly end) each episode wondering what the hell is going on, Sonny manages to impart a series of thoughtful discussions and insights with every subsequent chapter. The series doesn't shy away from thorough scrutiny of personal belief systems, science, religion and authoritarianism. Compelling themes include insecurity, manipulation, war, destiny, and regret, among other things. These broad ideas are tied together with some truly mind-bending sci-fi writing. Natsume's brilliant manipulation of space, alternate dimensions and time gives an immense sense of scale and awe to the many metaphors at play. Even if it's tough to articulate precise meaning behind Sonny 's imaginative endeavors, at least a handful of the series' spectacles are bound to leave you in awe. Watching this social commentary is made all the more fascinating thanks to the psychic society: the strong-willed optimist Nozomi, the spoiled but supportive Mizuho, the freakishly intelligent Rajdhani, the sullen superhuman that is Asakaze, and the shrewd pragmatist Hoshi; all of whom are doing their best to get by. And then we have Nagara himself, whose role is key to fully appreciating this fantastic story.

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Alright, I think I have a ton of explaining to do. Sure, I've thrown around big fancy terms like "social commentary" and whatnot. But how would you like for me to prove to you that these crazy episodes actually make sense?

#Without further ado, here is a brief, non-exhaustive, episode-by-episode analysis of Sonny :

Spoiler, click to viewclick to hide

Episode 1 is all about the ways in which people respond to crisis. We're abruptly dropped into a weird situation where a school is suspended in limbo, experiencing the shock the students must have felt when the Drift took place off-screen. Different characters and cliques all react differently to what happened, whilst we take stock of the situation through character introductions. It's crazy to see just how quickly individuals go from tampering with the fabric of reality itself to winding up with a broom in their hand as part of a cleaning roster. Great power comes with great responsibilities, and the superhuman students are quickly kept in check within a rigid social hierarchy. Discontent, envy and manipulation ensues, as factions clash over power in this new World. The show muses over how this ideal of collectivism struggles under the weight of selfish goals, as the world around these kids literally comes apart around them. Not even autocratic leaders with the sweet taste of kingship can escape the omniscient Rules, but there is a way out. Sonny seems to argue that the solution to this reality is to throw caution to the wind and run free. Embracing whimsy and pure freedom lacks logical sense, but may just be crazy enough to escape the world itself.

The school finds themselves adrift on an island in Episode 2. This World (2.0) is governed by equivalent exchange, yet inhabited by pupils who attempt to scam the system. Mizuho has the ability to conjure up objects out of thin air. It's magic, but no universe can allow the creation of something out of nothing. This World is correcting this flaw, unbeknownst to the school. Students concerned with material gain are finding their belongings vanishing in entropy and mysterious blue flames. People want their things back, but possessions aren't the only form of power our cast craves. Nagara's neutral observation about Mizuho is rounded off as truth, causing everyone to turn their backs on Mizuho. It's advantageous to control the narrative. After all, history is written by the victors, and Hoshi is a proven winner. He won back during the student elections, when he rigged the votes so that Pony would win. He bested Mizuho when she attempted to uncover the truth, and he appears to be in the people's good graces once more by standing up to an innocent villain. Things don't go according to plan though. Power attained at the expense of others isn't magic, someone else has to pay for the gains. Perhaps then the real magic lies in stepping out of your comfort zone, even if the grass isn't greener. Life for Nagara would be a whole lot easier without having to deal with dying animals. But just because selfish abandonment occurs doesn't justify future selfish acts. It's in Nagara's act of selflessness that stops the world from burning around him, adding value to this strange World.

Episode 3 draws the curtains on society's outcasts. As social beings by nature, we all need each other. Being alone spells disaster, yet seems inevitable for some. "Maybe the world would be better off without me." It's a destructive line of thinking which can never account for the limitless potential you could provide in the future. Asakase, the dude who flies around for fun, resorts to putting others down in order to compensate for his failed contributions to Rajdhani's research. Mizuho is the other side of the same coin, a magician who wants to be perceived outside of her powerful abilities. Only through reinforcing strengths and covering for individual weaknesses can we get things done. But the ability to accept help and encouragement comes from within. The light finger dude had the right idea by giving himself an A-List power ranking. Finding value in yourself is the real superpower. Also, this episode gives us the first look at a Power Holdover, a concept I feel was poorly explained within the show. Sonny describes it as "conquering" a world, although there isn't really an opponent to these strange encounters. Basically by solving God's puzzles and learning morals, the students receive McGuffins that possibly are a tangible stand-in for knowledge.

Episode 4 has monke. Hehe, monke funni.
Fr tho, the episode is all about standing for personal convictions. Baseball died because the umpire stood by the rules. Once the perfect game was achieved unethically, there was nothing else to achieve. Standing for what is right is beautiful, and gave Nagara the motivation to swing. Ace and his European (?) gf mention something really interesting about "not being appreciated in This World." This goes back to the idea of how unrealistic perceptions can let us down. Whereas Ep 3 was all about how we perceive ourselves, Ep 4 inverses it and briefly touches on how others perceive us. It must suck to be Ace, star of the baseball team in his past life, and the dude with the lamest superpower in this present one. I'd be pissed too if the only trait I had was being able to drink all liquids. The value others see in us can vary based on the circumstances we're in, and it can be painful to deal with the change in expectations. Another undesirable outcome is that of people having unrealistic expectations of you. Nagara didn't ask for his power, nor did he want others calling him a "Savior." But alas, that's life. And it's better to live (and occasionally fail) than to do nothing in fear of failure. Otherwise, we might find ourselves trapped behind the curtain…

It's tough to pin down exactly what Episode 5 is addressing here. The most likely target would be religion, since Aki Sensei calls to the authority of God. Alternatively, you could claim the episode is about politics, internet culture or even science. In short, this episode deals with belief systems, and what groups of people deem is right or wrong. These affiliations and cliques exist because none of us knows what the answers are. When the students decide to stand by Aki and against Nagara, it's because they found her argument to be more compelling. No one knows for certain if she's right, but the students certainly believe in Nagara less than they do in Aki. I can't exactly blame the students for siding against MC with the information they were given, because challenging the status quo is what creates progress, and the school has been stranded on the island far longer than they would like. Doubt and innovation can lead to brand new discoveries. Sometimes, the answers don't lie in accepting what other people think, but standing up for yourself can be scary. Nagara would rather be a scapegoat for a crime he didn't commit than risk causing a greater divide among the students.

Episode 6 is all about destiny. The film reels and video editing give a brand new hope for the students. Not everyone is on-board; Hoshi still feels bound by his spiritual connection with God. Oh yeah, and God's just the principal. Nothing important, it's just the way it is. Anyways, the cinema quantum-reality displacement device (a term I just made up) gives our cast the tools to create their own story. The film reel rolling like a spool of thread can be likened to Greek mythology, namely the Sisters of Fate. And that iconography hints at the conclusion of this episode. The school board a 6-sided Ark, and set off for a literal roll of the dice. Unfortunately, fate worked against them, and Nagara lost out on the 50/50. For context, Nagara is revealed to have created This World through his power, and Mizuho was in part responsible for the duplication of her entire school. This is what God refers to when he mentions that they're copies, and this theory is proven at the end of Episode 10, when it is revealed that copies Mizuho orders with her power are immortal. To top it all off, Nozomi stops seeing the Light. Heartwrenching stuff.

Episode 7 deals with submission and the resistance to change. After being captured by a coalition of other permutations of the school throughout time, Nagara finds himself in the Tower of Babel. Like its namesake in the Bible, Babel represents the hubris of man as a fruitless attempt to reach God, and is made even more pointless since the tower is building down towards the ground. It's clearly a false ideal world, and one that Nagara sees through instantly. But the people of Babel have lost all hope, submitting to even the slightest semblance of purpose in life. Change is the answer, which sees Nagara turn the world on his head and leave scot-free.

(Hi, props for reading this far. As much as I'd like to keep going, my goofy ass has a paper to work on as soon as I'm done with this review. I think my point has already been made, so I'll do one more breakdown and call it there.)

A highlight of the series, Episode 8 is a story about regret. It is unclear whether Yamabiko had a power similar to Nagara's and projected a whole new World for Kodama's crew to find, or if Kodama was a figment of his imagination. Either conclusion is grim. The codependency developed between Yamabiko and Kodama takes over his life, to the point where he manifests a dog, which is a statement both derogatory for humans and a sign of subservient companionship. However, refusing to make his own decisions caused the death of the entire town. His battle with regret was one that lasted several thousands of years, which particularly stung for me. War was introduced in this episode, and was shown as an outcast who was never accepted nor understood for who he was. He reappears in Ep 10, no longer flaunting his KDA badges.

Why keep these details hidden? Simply put, I don't think they're essential to Sonny 's core message. Plus, I kinda bit off more than I could chew as a demonstration. I'm more than sure that I've missed out on at least a couple of esoteric insights. Even the stuff that I did "decipher" are guesses at best; I'm pretty sure I got a ton of the sci-fi plot devices wrong. The show's design leaves itself open to interpretation, and I've seen amazing fan theories for the details Sonny refuses to say out loud. But even though dissecting Sonny 's indirect storytelling is a major source of enjoyment for me, the same can't be said for viewers who prefer a more passive engagement with their Japanese cartoons. Thankfully, I believe that audiences don't need to work too hard in order to appreciate this series, because none of what I've mentioned within the tags really matters much in the grand scheme of things. The way these metaphors are presented will confuse any viewer, but your understanding of these ideas will not largely determine whether or not you enjoy the show. If anything, there's a case to be made for the lack of explanation actually enhancing how certain scenes play out, such as the jaw-dropping mid-season finale in Ep 6. Plus, there are plenty of individual scenes carried by brilliant execution alone, thanks to an all-round solid OST and unique visual direction. Most importantly, in contrast with the vague modern allegory discussed thus far, the heart of this show is out in the open, and poignantly so. Let's talk more about the Sonny Boy himself.

#Sonny follows Nagara's uplifting journey of self-acceptance.

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Set to the backdrop of existential dread and socio-political unrest, Nagara's coming-of-age tale brings much-needed relatability and optimism to the series. In this manner, Sonny avoids turning into a nihilist counter-culture dystopia, and instead blossoms into a story of a teen finding his place in the world. Nagara enters This World alone and in low spirits. The peak of his youth sees him lying on the floor, as time quietly passes by. Sonny's never understood the world beyond his ceiling view, and his youth has grinded to an uneventful halt. But Sonny's gonna meet friends, and slowly open up to their kindness. Sonny's gonna accept that even in a world with great thinkers and superhuman idols, he has value. Sonny's gonna believe the positive affirmation of his worth by those around him. Sonny's gonna understand that he has responsibilities - things that only he can achieve, and things he should no longer run away from. Sonny's gonna grow. Sonny's gonna grow up real fast, and learn all kinds of things. He's gonna travel the world (or should I say "universe"), and meet all kinds of communities. Sonny's gonna observe what it's like to live bound by submission, manipulation, isolation, rhetoric, envy, vengeance, and regret. Sonny's gonna reject those convenient ways of life, and find meaning elsewhere. He's gonna change his habits of running away, seize the moment and move forward. He's gonna repay the kindness he received whenever his friends start to lose hope. Sonny's gonna hold his treasured memories tight to his chest, even amidst grief and setbacks in life. Finally, Sonny's gonna take all that he's learned and run. And maybe, just maybe, Sonny's gonna change this world.

#Sonny 's barrier to entry is about as sky-high as its ambitions.

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I don't want to be mistaken for a gatekeeper here; if anything, this review is my attempt at begging readers to give Sonny a fair shot. But this written description of my time with Sonny doesn't really matter as much as whether or not you can make a personal connection with this series. People not resonating with Sonny seems to be a common case, given the number of times I've seen community comments along the lines of "I don't get it" or "Should I pick the show back up?" And I absolutely agree that Sonny is confusing, sometimes to its own detriment. The series frequently jumps back and forth between backstories, without any clear indication that any flashback has occurred. Unknown stretches of time elapse between episodes or even entire scenes, which certainly caused plenty of head-scratching for weekly viewers. Further frustrating is Sonny 's abject refusal to explain details that it deems is unimportant. Stuff can be so surreal to the point of leaving behind only a single reaction: "Huh? " The pseudo-science exposited in certain occasions are bound by the language barrier, justifying the fear of details getting lost in translation. And phrases that do make it in can appear cryptic and vague. All this added guesswork demands that audiences stay on their toes, while they may already be struggling to keep up with several of the series' esoteric metaphors. Even if Sonny 's confusion is intentional, that doesn't make it significantly less annoying. There is merit to shows that make stakes easily understood or take the time to explain what's going on, because at least it can consistently be appreciated on some level. Because this series doesn't lend itself to casual viewing, all bets are off. I simply can't guarantee that you will appreciate Sonny to the extent that fans and myself have. Furthermore, the recent letdown of Wonder Egg Priority's conclusion probably had a part in dooming the reception of a similarly-esoteric anime-original, even if the two shows don't share many similarities aside from this comparison. Look, all I'm asking is that you give the series a chance, while knowing that there is some hidden subtext worth exploring. Probably the most disheartening reaction I've seen towards this intellectual bundle of joy is that of people disregarding Sonny as some Lord of the Flies ripoff devoid of substance, failing to recognize how this series manages to turn a somber dystopian premise into an optimistic allegory for growth and self-acceptance. I respect viewers who wish nothing more than easygoing entertainment from their anime, but Sonny is well-worth the extra effort. There is an order to Sonny 's compelling chaos, and I urge anyone interested to take up the challenge and step out of their comfort zone. Out of all the anime in 2021, no single show rewards attention, reflection, discourse or creative interpretations as much as Sonny.

At the end of the day, I can't attest to fully understanding this show. But Sonny taught me that it's OK to not know everything. The series' subject matter is dense and difficult to parse through. Yet Sonny eludes explanation and ignites imagination, all while somehow making perfect sense. Evocative animation, powerful climaxes and an uplifting story culminate for a unique experience fit for the visual medium. It was... fun.

I don't understand Sonny Boy. But I sure as hell am gonna keep trying to.

#Tl;Dr:

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At the core of quite possibly the strangest show this year, lies a coming-of-age tale. Sonny Boy revolves around finding purpose in an unfamiliar world. Social commentary marks Sonny 's attempts at trying to understand the world our characters inhabit. Confusion within the series is rarely cynical, since Sonny keeps its head high through telling the story of Nagara's growth into manhood. Shingo Natsume's direction and script make the project truly his own, resulting in some of the most brilliantly executed moments of anime this year. The complex manner in which its ideas are communicated can be daunting to reckon with. But with the animation medium being pushed to its absolute limits, viewers might find that giving this experimental series a chance may prove worthwhile. 9/10~

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Castaways, we are castaways... Thanks so much for getting lost with me through this pretentious wall of text. I only hope the journey was well worth it in the end. Before I use my "Escape", you know I gotta plug! If you happen to like my verbose rants, feel free to check out my other reviews for seasons past and present. I also frequently post writeups under my list updates, so definitely take a peek if you'd like to see me mald over anime as they hit the airwaves. Peace~