Animation

For the majority of the series, a simple style with limited movement is employed, which at times can go down to the level of a motion comic. This is fine for the more comedy and character-based dynamic of the show, but is lacking when used in what should be an action scene. One standout was the good use of color in the night scenes, which is unfortunately contrasted with oversaturated daytime action. The thicker lineart, which is intended to give off an American comic feel, is unique but sometimes makes art feel stilted. The ways characters interact with the cityscape are fun, with good use of height and the various alleyways throughout their neighborhood.

The largest standout was the art used in the climax. Here there is quick creative camerawork combined with fluid movement to make a unique visual spectacle. I understand the budgetary considerations but it is a shame that the whole series couldn’t have been done in that style.

Plot

Vigilantes has a simple plot that serves the show's needs without going much further.

The grounded plot of vigilantes compared to the main series serves to allow for deeper worldbuilding in theory, but it struggles at times from its simplicity. While the small-time plots support a fun week-to-week watch, they are often thin in thematic content. This isn’t to say that they are horrible to watch, but their ability to make the viewer think is hit or miss. In an ideal world, this could be a draw for the series instead of something good enough to be undistracting, but ultimately only serves to provide a backdrop.

Vigilantes lightly touches on issues of using policing through the hero metaphor and the ways vigilante justice can be harmful. However, it isn’t deeply invested in these ideas beyond a surface level. This is probably most glaring when there is a significant question raised about the dangers of vigilante violence that is rapidly sidelined after its introduction.

Characters

Like the rest of the show, the characters are simple but effective, sometimes leaving you wanting.

The powers of the main group being mobility-based is a good choice and serves the human level of the story well. They also have good chemistry, and combined with strong designs, you get a feel for their interactions from episode 1. This can sometimes be a hindrance as repetition of jokes and slow development of some relationships can cause characters to feel surface level. However, there are moments where characters are given serious dilemmas that help to flesh out their characters and show change, though I wish there were more.

In particular, though Pop is one of my favorite characters in the duo, I found the tsundere bit to become grating over time. Visually, I like a lot of the designs, but a lot of the villain transformations feel cheesy and underdeveloped, which is a shame. In particular, Pop and Hachisuka stand out as unique to me, and I love the theming of the latter’s outfit.

Treatment of women

If you’ve watched Boku No Hero, then the way Vigilantes handles women will not be much of a shock to you. There are consistent upskirt shots of highschooler pop and a uncomfortable scene where everyone commentates on her butt. Despite this type of behavior being extremely common in anime, it’s still uncomfortable, it’s still creepy, and it still shouldn’t be here. Though, besides this, the fan service feels toned down compared to BNH, and there is a very cool career woman character in Makoto, which I liked.

Conclusions

Boku No Hero Vigilantes is an effective action comedy, and existing fans of the series will find it a fun mix-up. Despite the lack of higher aspirations and largely simple animation, I found my time with it enjoyable, and I’ll probably tune in for season 2. However, it’s not something I could find myself recommending to everyone, and despite being fine across the board, there is nothing I found spectacular. 7/10