Sonny Boy as a show is an exercise in how to create a masterful illusion. Underneath the teenage drama, superpowers, and talking animals, there is nothing but an empty void disguised by bright colors, special effects, and endless number of distractions to keep the audience from realizing that there is nothing to Sonny Boy but vague thematic messages about life and entering adulthood. One could say the entire show is reflection of itself because everything in the show could be used describe the show itself. Let me explain what I mean. You have characters talking about how they are hollow shells in which they need to escape. A black void that surrounds them and exists within them which again is a good way to describe the lack of substance in the series as a whole. The miniature stories, themes, and messages in the series are both infinite and only exist in the minds of the viewer much like the worlds being continuously spawned in the story. It can be whatever you want it to be if you choose to believe it so.

Sonny Boy doesn't hold your hand or explain anything about how the worlds are structured or anything works. It's the exact opposite of stories that spend five minutes explaining everything to you in long exposition dumps but that's not a good thing just an equal but opposite problem. Scenes are skipped, little information or explanation is given, most of the time zero explanation for events are given, and things just happen without cause. You're supposed to figure it out yourself. (I guess that's another metaphor for adulthood). Its like a teacher giving you the material and expecting you to figure it out on your own with no assistance then groans if you don't understand. Instead of trying to explain they point at the material and screams how it's "right there" and it's our fault for not understanding it. Then just walks away. That's not how you tell a story, make an anime, and a pretty pathetic way of looking at life.

I read comments on MAL that do explain the general overall themes and symbolism of the show and they make sense but the entire thing was made very niche audience and I'm not sure if that was intentional or if it matters. The entire thing felt like an exercise in pointless if someone still has to spoon feed you the answers. It basically sacrificed basic story telling, deep narrative plot, meaningful character development, and even the overarching mystery itself to shovel symbolism and abstract themes down your throat in the most surreal methods possible. There was no substance just flash and colors without anything holding it together. A show made for sole purpose of showing off. That is the one thing it succeeded at.

The little plot that exists within the series is simple: Get back home. Even that is lost as the show goes on as characters are introduced only to be forgotten or lost. Conflicts introduced are cut and go nowhere. Settings shift continuously with little to know explanation to their significance or purpose. Plot points are added as quickly as they are taken away leaving nothing left that resembles a coherent story. Its a failure as a story but succeeds at show.

Visually its well done with a variety of well drawn backgrounds, characters, and assets in each scene. But the over reliance on special effects, visual set pieces, abstract images is again why I find this series to be exceedingly frustrating. It's all an illusion to cover the fact that any perceived depth or dense storytelling exists solely in the mind of the audience. One could say this is a masterful stroke of art. A show that could have an infinite number of meanings, themes, messages, and everyone get something different out of it. I'm sure an infinite number of arguments could spawn from watching it. But that's all it is, abstract storytelling with nothing substantial behind it.

The most insulting part of the show were the characters. The little growth the main characters, Nagara, Mizuho, Nozomi had was both limited and basic. SO much so that the entire adventure seemed pointless and over the top to accomplish as little as it did. The rest of the cast were easy forgotten and deserted as the scope of the series slowly focused on the main group while the rest who at the beginning seemed important and like they would effect the plot in some substantial way, were simply cut out and lost. There were so many moments where characters were set up to be important to the conflict or the story only to wander off or completely shift in their personalities. Some were left behind, others didn't change at all, and most made me question their inclusion in the first place. (Another metaphor for life perhaps that some people will grow while others stay the same and we all drift apart and forget each other).

The entire thing is frustrating because it embodies everything that is wrong with type of storytelling. On one side you have those standing around breaking down why everything was so great and wonderful and put together while simultaneously remarking how it could have been better. Then the other side of people who can't even enjoy any part of it because it barely even tried to accommodate them. If you have to dangle a shiny object in the form of a talking dog and cats to keep people's interest then you messed up.

Like I said it was an exercise in pointless because if people don't understand what you're trying to tell them or get them to engage with your work then you screwed up. If you wanted to watch a show that is nothing but kaleidoscope of bright lights, strong visuals, and micro themes then this is a perfect show. If you just want to watch a show that makes you feel smart for sitting through all 12 episodes then this is a good show. But if you want a show where narrative story telling and character is what matters then you're better off watching something else.