Hey there!
Now that IWGP has finished airing I'll be making a short review as I think I've seen what this show has to offer,but also the downsides that will turn people away,and I have to say I've been loving every single minute of Ikebukuro West Gate Park.
To start I'd like to sway people that think this is going to be a gang war type anime and if they are looking for something like that they'll likely not get the point of this show.I'd like to consider myself somewhat of a seasoned delinquent manga reader as it is one of my favorite genres,it has a lot more to offer than just fights and the emotional side of it is often overlooked,not to mention the potential for comedy that is often utilized really well,sometimes even so much so that the whole series is based on that comedy element.This isnt the case here but the show handles many of these aspects really well in its episodic nature.
So whats IWGP about?
IWGP is an anime that takes a bit of an unusual approach to storytelling as we are shifted into this world that Makoto the main character is living in each week for a new fresh tale rather than an unraveling plot that the entire story is centered around.
Makoto is in many ways a problem solver,a troubleshooter for just about anyone in Ikebukuro,but specially for one of the main gangs there called the G Boys because of his close connection with the gangs boss.This type of approach can offer a wide variety of topics to explore but will also limit the story's overall progression and people left looking for something more will often not find their time well spent with this series.In turn if we look at the other side of the spectrum and take the series for what it is I think you'll find that the world and characters are endearing and that the stories being told here can be short and sweet as intended.
How is that not boring if there is no real plot?
This is where the show makes it or breaks it for many people,the tales of Makoto in Ikebukuro take a very ''problem of the week formula'',with new things happening each episode and usually ending within that same episode.The beauty of Ikebukuro West Gate Park is not in this structure but it is in the tales that it tells,the stories feel very real and grounded and show you what the darker side of life can be like,the topics on display here are very dark but down to earth,from drugs,suicide,dealing with loss,family etc..This is the main strength of this show and its one of those where you can sit back and enjoy it for what it is.
Whats the production quality like?
There isnt much to say on this front from me as I am no expert in this field but this is a show done by the same studio that did Yesterday Wo Uttate in the spring season although you might know them a bit more as the studio behind Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, and you can see a very similar animation style here to those two animes.The sound quality feels very nice and the voice actors are all great I didnt notice any drop in quality and they have stayed pretty consistent on this front,the anime is very stylish and vibrant but can also take a pretty dark color palette to suit its story.
___Final Verdict_ __
I'll just say a few quick final words as the anime has compelled me enough to write my very first review on this platform.
The show feels like a really nice breath of fresh air and its one of the many surprises that has kept my interest in seasonal anime this year going.
As far as I am aware there is no english translations of the manga but the story adapted here in the anime has little to do with the original manga and the art style has been changed and modernized,and I quite like it.
If anything I said here has peaked your interest I highly encourage you to give this anime a spin!