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Shangri-La Frontieris out of the box in many aspects, especially with its MC Sunraku. The series made waves in 2023 with its premiere and gained traction for the most part. Its gameplay along with its isekai premise adds to its charm.
But that is not all considering the creators’ unique approach to the conception of its protagonist. From his mannerisms to his exaggerated expressions, the series may have set another benchmark in the shonen genre. And there’s more to it.
Both artists revealed their process of characterization along with their influences. From plot and characters to designs and worldbuilding, they shed light on the series’ development as a whole. But that is not the end of it all.
Interestingly, there is an amalgamation of gameplay, camaraderie, and individualism within the characters. It is anything but a run-of-the-mill shonen series in its conceptualization.
Shangri-La Frontier’squirky protagonist Sunraku
Written by Katarina,Shangri-La Frontieris an amalgamation of isekai, adventure, fantasy, and gameplay elements. The series stands out in most aspects including worldbuilding, plot, and especially, characters.
One of the striking features of the series is its bird-headed hero. To put it simply, the hero wears the bird mask which sets him apart from most shonen heroes. Rather, it adds edginess along with quirkiness to his character. But there’s more to it.
The story is set in a futuristic world where VR games are all the rage. Amidst the hype and hustle, Rakuro sets out tofind a trash gamewhere he is introduced to a VR game Shangri-La Frontier. He eventually deems it god-tier after exploring it.
To say the least, it indeed turned out to be a game changer, pun intended. On a serious note, though, his character harbored a sense of familiarity. His quirks and persona are deviant from shonen tropes in every aspect. And while he makes up for an interesting character, his conception is rather riveting.
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In an interview withAnime News Network, Katarina opened up about their conception of the character. They quoted:
So, you know how there’s a sense of achievement that follows after you beat a really tough game? That can be said about any game, but mostly, it’s about well-designed games that are meant to be difficult. When we’re talking about trash games, they’re difficult because of an unexpected reason. I wanted to have this character who enjoys this unexpectedness, along with that difficult challenge. That’s how I came up with the character of Sunraku.
The unpredictability, challenge, and thrill of it are what make the series interesting in every aspect. Compared to most isekai anime, Katarina’s series is a fresh take on the genre altogether. But above all, its wholesomeness lies in its gameplay aspect.
Gameplay, Banter, and the in-betweens
One of the key elements ofShangri-La Frontieris its enthralling gameplay. The battles and the fights are visually stunning in more ways than one. Studio C2C takes it up a notch with its animation and graphics which add to its charm.
Overall, though, the anime has an upper hand over the manga in several aspects. The fight sequences aren’t to-and-fro but rather challenging and engaging. This holds especially true for Sunraku’sfight with Wethermon.
Along with gameplay, the anime underlines camaraderie through its playful banter. This aspect was greatly influenced by Hollywood movies as the creator quoted:
So their interactions were kind of inspired by Hollywood movies and the banter you see from the characters. Instead of, you know, saying hello to each other, they’ll say something like “What’s wrong with your face?” but you know that it’s based on friendship. The characters also know each other’s boundaries, so they know just how to hit the other back, either with their words or their fists physically. That’s the kind of relationship I wanted the three of them to have.
Besides the character interactions, the blend of fantasy, gameplay, and isekai makes it a perfect anime for both Otakus and gamers.
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Other than that, the series caters to a wide range of audiences through its visuals and storytelling. Its relatable and familiar characters serve as a hook throughout the series.
Shangri-La Frontieris available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
Himanshi Jeswani
Anime Writer
Articles Published :993
Himanshi Jeswani is an anime writer at Fandomwire, with her work spanning over 900 articles. Her articles cover shojo, shonen, seinen, and all things beyond. Her interests, however, aren’t limited to simply anime. She has a penchant for exploring different genres of manga, be it horror, yanki, music, and food. She brings out her specialization and expertise in the performing arts through her articles. As a writer, she strives to bridge the gap between the viewers and the medium itself. To her, anime is a revolutionary medium that is capable of creating communities and stories after all.
