[FIRST IMPRESSION] Mob Psycho 100

Plot:

Reigen Arataka claims himself to be the next big thing in the world of psychics; which (considering he has no supernatural ability) is a bit of a bold claim. He runs an exorcism agency in Seasoning City, where he hires a middle schooler named Kageyama Shigeo for 300 yen an hour. Kageyama, also known as Mob, possesses real extrasensory perception so Reigen uses him to defeat spirits whilst pretending to act as his mentor. The duo ‘team up’ to help their clients but there’s one big problem… it’s only a matter of time before Mob explodes.

 

Impression:

Yes, I know I’m way behind the curve on this one. 

Mob Psycho 100 is the next series from popular mangaka, ONE, who also created One Punch Man. In the first episode alone, I can already see the similarities. There’s an underestimated main character, with a student-master dynamic at the very centre of the plot. The student takes things seriously, but the master is a bit of a goofball.

ONE’s trademark art style shines through in both anime, but in Mob Psycho 100 it’s more ‘experimental’.  There’s more variation in the actual visuals of the show, with some parts looking more like sketches, and some parts looking as though they were painted instead of digitally coloured. It’s an anime that’s not afraid of seeming mismatched because it makes it work. It’s also an anime that’s not afraid of seeming ugly at times, favouring expressive faces over pretty ones.

I like that the opening scene was a glimpse into the future, and the countdown to Mob’s explosion creates tension for the audience, especially because it seemed to be going way too fast for a first episode. I have a feeling that Reigen’s deception will carry on until the end, but I may be proved wrong.

So far, the amount of hype around this series surpasses my actual enjoyment of it, but it is still episode one so I’ll wait and see if that changes.

 

Similar to:

One Punch Man – see above

Ao no Exorcist – A young exorcist in training lives a double life.