There are times an anime just starts, and it wins you over. If you are someone who loves reading manga, I highly urge you to give “Draw This, Then Die” a shot. The story is simple, where it shows the protagonist Ai Yasumi in episode 1 discovering and falling in love with manga. Showing how impactful these stories can be, especially in our youth.
Where the story really stands out is with Rei Teshima who is the deuteragonist in this story, as she is Yasumi’s teacher. Her dynamic with Yasumi is outstanding because she, like Yasumi growing up, fell in love with manga. Though through her we see some of the realities. How Rei guides Yasumi is a point that is done well. The series has other notable characters in how they view manga.
Production-wise, Shin-Ei Animation is on this, and they are doing a fantastic job. The studio has come into its own with seasonal anime since the success of “The Dangers in My Heart”. Episode 1’s animation is beautifully perfect and brings the manga to life.
Where this story really stands up is the side-to-side storytelling for both Yasumi and Rei. For Yasumi we can see the joy of manga and how it can feel like a new world. At the same time with Rei you see more of the realities of the manga industry. This is where the series can really impress. How it matches the good vibes from Yasumi’s side and the horrors from Rei’s side so well. It really executes the theme of adults needing to look after the next generation. But at the same time kids can spark the joy back into the adults is another theme it executes well in parallel.
“Draw This, Then Die” isn’t a manga that had a high amount of anticipation. But don’t let this hidden gem of a series slip past you. It is shaping up to be not only one of the best that this season has to offer but also the best that this past 12 months of anime have to offer.