FIF#264-Red River

Yuri Suzuki just confessed her feelings to the love her life when suddenly she is snatched and pulled through time.  Now she’s stranded in Hattsua, the capital of the Hittite Empire in Anatolia, thousands of years in the past, with no way to return home.  Suddenly the target of a maniacal Queen seeking to end an empire through dark, mystical means, Yuri’s only hope for survival lies in the hands of the handsome Prince Kail.  Little does Yuri know, she has a greater destiny waiting for one, one that will impact and change the history of Hattsua forever.

 
Today’s First Impression is a suggestion from a friend while hanging out at Otakon.  Red River may have a simple name but it’s premise is anything but.  Actually this is a pretty unique title that involves time travel rather than usual Isekai tropes and a few other touches to make it stand out.  What I find most curious about Red River from the premiere is its timing.  This doesn’t feel like an Anime thriving in the new age of endless Isekai’s and visual splendor.  Rather it feels like something you would have seen almost 20-25 years ago when the Manga was still ongoing.  Is this all most fascinating than the first episode itself?  Well, yes but Red River’s debut isnt bad by any stretch.
 
The very beginning of a sudden whirlwind romance between Yuri and her long time crush might seem pretty dull and generic.  Once she’s pulled through that puddle, things really get interesting.  I keep using this word a lot but the best way to sum up Red River is: unique.  For one, time travel, don’t see enough of that these days I think and to the Middle East no less.  I also like that not only can Yuri not understand what the Hittite people are saying but they purposefully leave off the subtitles until she can do so, that was neat.  Then there’s the villainess’ main plot.  It’s straight out of Game of Thrones, leaning on dark blood magic to wipe out competitors to the throne, that made me giggle. If I did have one gripe, it’s that Red River is maybe taking things a bit too seriously.  Yes the experience of being jolted back to the distant past isnt a thrill ride but maybe I’m just too used to sarcastic protagonists making light of it compared to Yuri’s screaming.
 
Ok, time to talk about the timing of this shows arrival.  Something about watching Red River felt less like a modern day Manga adaptation and more like one from the aforementioned 90s/2000s ballpark.  Even the animation feels a little psudeo new Millenium retro (had to clarify since if I said “Retro” you might think 70s or 80s).  Red River feels late to the party by a couple of decades when it might have thrived much more in the era of shows like Escaflowne, Fushigi Yugi or Inuyasha.  And yes, those are all Isekai examples (though Inuyasha is more time travel by comparison).  Heck, Inuyasha was still going on when its Anime got started.  Why was Red River not optioned back then but suddenly is now?  It’s more of a mystery to me than the actual ones in the Anime like can Yuri get back home and why is she the critical element for a blood sacrifice?
 
While Red River’s opening is a strong one and invokes a bygone era of Manga adapted Anime projects like Fullmetal Alchemist and Inuyasha, I may take my friends advice and give the Manga itself a try, maybe casually peaking in on the Anime to see what happens.  I do like the setup and the questions it raises and the breath of fresh air in changing the past setting from Ancient Japan to the Middle East.  Still, Red River feels a little out of place in the new age of Anime.  Will it make its own mark or maybe make viewers long for those good old Anime days of old?  Guess we’ll see.  Hopefully the Manga is a bit better.