For some, anime is an acquired taste. The same is true of Chinese history, and to a lesser extent J-Pop and rap music. The odds that a person would like all of these things at once is undoubtedly low, but even if you don’t, this season has a show that may prove interesting. Half history lesson and half musical showcase, Ya Boy Kongming is much like the ideas it takes inspiration from: you wouldn’t expect it to work nearly as well as it does.
Taking the popular genre of ‘isekai’ and running it in reverse, the story follows Zhuge Kongming, a real-world Chinese strategist who is warped almost 2000 years into the future via a mysterious wish for a more peaceful world. After landing in the middle of downtown Tokyo, he has a chance encounter with aspiring musician Eiko, a young girl with dreams of inspiring others the way her idols inspired her. Having been enchanted by her performance, Kongming decides to aid her in her journey toward musical conquest, and in the process spread peace and goodwill across the globe.
As far as premises go, things don’t get much weirder than this. The unexpected combination of Chinese history and modern music sets a comedic tone that carries through the entire show, and this dichotomy is a large part of why it works so well. Eiko may spend an episode preparing for her next performance, but rest assured that Kongming is just around the corner, crafting the perfect strategy to ensure her success. Kongming’s calm and serene nature clashes hard against the hyper-competitive landscape of the music industry, making it all the more interesting when he begins reverting back to the cold, calculating strategist that orchestrated the death of thousands of people.
The plot is constantly balancing between its passions for history and music, and when it is able to successfully mix the two, its quality is undeniable. Even as the final credits rolled, I was still impressed by just how fresh this concept really is.
The animation and sound design on display are both solidly done, never once falling into the pit of mediocrity that niche shows often do. Everything is stylized nicely with good use of color and lighting (especially when depicting the city of Tokyo), and the level of character detail will shift to best depict the tone of a given scene. Important moments are given all the budget they need to shine, but won’t be afraid to simplify if it helps sell a comedic line better.
I was continually impressed with the level of polish when it came to smaller details within each episode. Each of the voice actors fits their character well, and when alternates are needed for singing or rapping, the difference is hardly noticeable. The editing is also surprisingly innovative, often reusing assets for things like transitions or title cards in a way that doesn’t feel cheap or immersion-breaking.
However, there are a few points where things aren’t quite as refined. The use of CGI for crowds is jarring when compared to the rest of the experience, and while the soundtrack is high quality, the amount of produced songs was noticeably low for a show focused on music. While it does its best to work around its limitations, there was clearly a budget constraint during production that prevented the creators from fully realizing some aspects of the show. It isn’t a heavy detriment to its quality, but I couldn’t shake the feeling while watching that if given more resources, the end product could have been much greater.
There were also some pacing issues during the middle portion of the season, mostly due to the way in which the central characters are developed. While Kongming and Eiko are strong as leads, the other members of the cast are somewhat lacking in terms of character design and immediate appeal. They do grow on you over time, but while that is happening, the show is noticeably less enjoyable.
Verdict
Originally, I hadn’t planned to watch, much less review Ya Boy Kongming. With such a silly premise and a mix of genres I don’t normally enjoy, I figured it would be a fun, if undercooked experience at best. But with its excellent music, charming storylines, and impressive production value, I couldn’t be more wrong.
You don’t need to love either of its inspirations to enjoy what’s being done here. Despite its unusual premise, this is a clear hidden gem among 2022’s anime lineup, packed with ambition that begs for more seasons to realize its full potential. If you’ve grown tired of the usual anime fare or are just looking for something wholly unique, this historical music comedy is worth its weight in gold.
