Spoiler-free review

This anime was pretty refreshing for me, as I struggled to find something enjoyable and short. Something that I could binge watch in a day. Since 2020, it feels like most shows follow a formula that’s overused to the point where it is very boring to watch them (isekai with overpowered MCs, boring high school romcoms, etc.), so when I found this one, I was genuinely relieved to have something a little different. I’m not particularly into idol animes, or idols in general, but this one worked surprisingly well for me. A nice way to kill the time.

The story begins with Kongming, an ancient Chinese strategist, on his deathbed. Kongming, known as Zhuge Liang, was famous for his clever war strategies. His last wish was to be reborn into a peaceful world without any wars or conflict. To his surprise, after giving his final breath, he finds himself in a modern world next to a vending machine, facing a drunk man. The strange scene, including the festival-like atmosphere with people wearing costumes and masks, leads him to believe he's ended up in hell. However, his situation soon takes a turn when he is led by two strangers (who believed the real Kongming was cosplaying as Kongming) to a small building where the female protagonist, Tsukimi Eiko, is singing. Taken aback by her incredible voice, Kongming begins to ~~hallucinate~~ dream of his past lord standing infront of him. Moved by her performance and voice, Kongming decides to take action, believing she’s the key to achieving greatness in this new world and help people on the edge. He becomes Eiko’s manager/tactician, using his war strategies to manipulate the crowd, creating a fan base.

This is pretty much the gist of this series: an ancient strategist in the modern world helping an unpopular singer rise to fame. Sounds like an odd mix, but it works. Kongming uses his war strategies in a completely different context: the entertainment industry. The show focuses on how his strategies help Eiko get noticed, but there are also side characters introduced, such as Kabe, the rapper, or the owner of the small building where Eiko performs. Though I feel some of the supporting characters, while fun, don't get much depth. But what'd you expect from a 12 episodes long anime?

One thing that did disappoint me, however, was Kongming not having enough screen time, especially toward the end of the series. Even though he is technically the protagonist, as the story moves forward, the focus seems to shift away from him at times. This left me feeling a bit disconnected from the character whose clever strategies are at the heart of the show.

Given that the anime is only 12 episodes long, it's not surprising that character development isn't the main focus. With such a limited runtime, the characters are more or less set up for the audience to enjoy the ride rather than explore deep growth. For what it is, though, the development we do get is adequate. It’s not groundbreaking, but it serves its purpose in the context of the story.

What really stood out for me, however, were the opening theme and the songs. It’s almost as if a big part of the budget for the series was poured into the OP, and honestly, I’m not complaining. The visuals, animation, and overall production value are great. The songs themselves, particularly “DREAMER,” “Be Crazy For Me,” and “UNDERWORLD,” are catchy and have a lasting impact. I personally listen to them every day now.

Here's the OP:

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All in all, I gave this anime a solid 8 out of 10. Would I rewatch it? Most likely not, as there isn't enough emotional depth or complexity to make it a standout for multiple viewings. Did I enjoy it? Yes, I did. It offered a fun and unique experience in an otherwise saturated anime landscape. If you find yourself getting tired of the usual, mass-produced anime series, this one might be worth a shot. It’s short, engaging, and a nice break from the typical themes that dominate the genre.