"Robihachi" review: A moving story of the adventures of robots and humans

"Robihachi": A tale of adventure and friendship in the depths of space

■Overview of the work

"Robihachi" is a 12-episode anime series that aired from April 8 to June 24, 2019. It was written by Umatani Taiga, directed by Takamatsu Shinji, and animated by Studio Comet. It aired on AT-X and BS11 every Monday from 11:30pm for 30 minutes. The original anime series follows the adventures of the main characters Robbie and Hatch in the future, set in the year GC0051.

■ Story

In the year GC0051, humanity has acquired faster-than-light travel technology and has formed a planetary federation with several other species. Robbie Yage, who lives in Yaoyacho, NEO TOKYO, is a man in his late twenties who is not bad looking. He was a self-proclaimed freelance reporter, but he had a string of bad luck, including being terminated from his contract due to a mistake at work, being dumped by his girlfriend, and nearly dying in a traffic accident. He was chased by debt collectors, and one day, when his bag was stolen by a thief, he was saved by a young man. The young man called himself Hatch Kita, and Robbie treated him to a meal as a thank you. The two have completely opposite personalities, with Hatch saying, "I hate crooked things," and Robbie saying, "I'm happy as long as I can live comfortably." The next day, Robbie is chased by Hatch, who appears as a debt collector, but he gets out of a desperate situation and takes off into the sky in a spaceship. After shaking off Yang and the others, Robbie decides to go on a journey to the legendary planet "Isekandar" to get rid of bad luck. Then Hatch suddenly appears, and the two of them set off on an adventure to reach "Isekandar" using interstellar warp.

■Explanation

"Robihachi" is a work with the theme that something awaits at the edge of the universe. The story begins with the encounter between the main characters Robby and Hatch, and depicts how the two of them face various challenges as they travel through space, deepening their friendship. While the series is rich in comedic elements and entertains viewers, it also contains deep themes. It is a work that moves viewers by depicting the warmth and growth of human relationships while conveying a sense of the vastness and unknown possibilities of the universe.

■Cast

• Robbie Yage/Kazuya Nakai
• Hatch Kita/Keisuke Kawamoto
• JPS-19 (Ikku) / Daisuke Sakaguchi
• Yang/Tomokazu Sugita
• Aro/Subaru Kimura
• Graphics/Tokudome Shinnosuke

■ Main staff

• Original story by Taiga Umatani
• Director: Shinji Takamatsu
• Series Composition: Hiroko Kanesugi
• Character design: Yuko Yahiro
• Concept design: Shin Misawa
• Animation Production: Studio Comet

■ Main Characters

• Robbie Yaji is a useless man in his 30s. He's not bad looking or has a bad personality, but he's a disappointing old man. He's a playboy, but he's surprisingly well-educated. He comes from a wealthy family, but he didn't get along with his parents, who liked to make money, so he ran away to NEOTOKYO in his teens. He tries all sorts of things to get rich quick, but he gets scammed and has a lot of bad luck, and he ends up being chased by debt collectors. He has a weakness for beautiful women.
• Hatch Kita
  18 years old. A cool, brilliant guy with excellent academics and high physical abilities. He came to NEOTOKYO hoping to find something interesting. However, the world is full of predictable things and is not fun at all. For now, he is working part-time as a debt collector, but he hopes that one day something unpredictable will happen to him.
• JPS-19 (Ick)
  A support robot in Robbie's house. Its official name is JPS-19, but it is commonly known as Iku. Despite its cute appearance, it has a sharp tongue. Is it making fun of Robbie? Or rather, it's ridiculous.
• Yang The president of the financial company Yang's Finance. Although it sounds nice to call him a president, he is actually the boss of a loan shark business. He has a unique sense of beauty and fashion. For some reason, he has an intense obsession with Robbie, who lent him money, and chases him around. His favorite food is milky strawberry candy.
• Aro
  An employee of Yang's Finance. Although it sounds nice to call him an employee, he is just one of the underlings. His blonde pompadour hair is his charm point. He is devoted to Yang and respects him. "I'll go through fire and water for Yang-san's sake!"
• Gura Another employee of Yang's Finance. Or rather, he's the second minion. His pink afro hair is his charm point. He's a fool and a bit of a scatterbrain. He ends up repeating Aro's words. Aro: "Yang, that's bad!" Gura: "That's bad!"

■Subtitle

• #01/Journey to the Star (2019/04/08)
• #02/The truth from the octopus (2019/04/15)
• #03/Pluto's Planetary Grudge (2019/04/22)
• #04／Merman on the end of a pole (2019/04/29)
• #05/Even Hell's Decision is in the Hand of Don (2019/05/06)
• #06/Eel Caught by Surprise (2019/05/13)
• #07/A Dream Land Just Ahead (2019/05/20)
• #08/Mecha-ru wins (2019/05/27)
• #09/My husband's favorite knee-high licker (2019/06/03)
• #10/Partner Fights: Not Even a Dog Will Eat It (2019/06/10)
• #11/Listen to the paradise, Isekandar (2019/06/17)
• #12/Dreams of the Moon, Dreams of the Earth (2019/06/24)

■ Theme songs and music

• OP
  ・Genius Playlist ・Period: 1-12
  ・Lyrics by Masato Nakayama ・Composition by Masato Nakayama ・Arrangement by Masato Nakayama ・Vocals by Hatchi (Keisuke Kawamoto) feat. Robby (Kazuya Nakai)
  ・Used in the endings of #01 and #12
• ED
  ・Dancing to Night ~The Shortest Warp Route to You~
  ・Period: 2-11
  Lyrics: yamazo
  ・Composer: yamazo
  ・Arrangement: yamazo
  ・Song: Allo (Kimura Subaru) & Gras (Tokudome Shinnosuke) feat. Yang (Sugita Tomokazu)
• IN
  ・Galaxy Journey Hizakriger!
  ・Period/1-4, 8, 9, 12
  Lyrics by Shinji Takamatsu, Music by Kosuke Okui, Arrangement by Kosuke Okui, Vocals by Akira Kushida

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Robihachi" has attracted many viewers with its unique worldview and appealing characters. The contrast between Robbie and Hatch is particularly interesting, and it is moving to see how the two grow while influencing each other. It is also worth watching as an adventure story set in space, and each episode's encounters with different planets and races are refreshing. It is also rich in comedic elements, with plenty of scenes to make viewers laugh. It has also been praised for dealing with deep themes. For example, there are many elements that viewers can relate to in their own lives, such as Robbie's misfortunes in life and the gap between Hatch's ideals and reality.

■Production background and staff's commitment

The original story for "Robihachi" was written by Umatani Taiga and directed by Takamatsu Shinji. Takamatsu Shinji is a veteran director known for his past work on such titles as "The King of Braves GaoGaiGar" and "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED," and he used his experience to work on this series. The series was composed by Kanasugi Hiroko, character design by Yahiro Yuko, concept design by Misawa Shin, and animation was produced by Studio Comet. The staff put a lot of effort into visually expressing the vastness of the universe and its unknown possibilities. The character design and background art in particular were well-thought-out, and the visual beauty enhances the appeal of the work. Music also plays an important role, with the theme song and insert songs adding to the atmosphere of the story.

■ Viewer reactions and ratings

"Robihachi" was highly praised by viewers. The characters of Robbie and Hatch were particularly well received, with their relationship and growth described as moving. Each episode's story was also praised for being interesting, with an excellent balance of humor and emotion. It was also praised for being a worthwhile adventure story set in space, with the power to draw viewers in. On the other hand, some viewers felt that the story was a little rushed in order to conclude it in the short broadcast period of 12 episodes. However, looking at the whole picture, it can be said that it was a work that satisfied many viewers.

■ Recommendation points

"Robihachi" is a story of adventure and friendship that unfolds at the edge of space. The following points are especially recommended:

• The characters of Robbie and Hutch: The contrast between the two is interesting, and it's moving to see how they grow while influencing each other.
• Comedy elements: Each episode is packed with funny scenes to keep the audience entertained.
• Deep themes: There are many elements that viewers can relate to in their own lives, such as Robbie's misfortune in life and the gap between Hutch's ideals and reality.
• The vastness of the universe and its unknown possibilities: Each story brings with it new encounters with different planets and races, and the visual beauty is also appealing.
• Music: The theme song and insert songs enhance the atmosphere of the story and draw the viewer in.

■Comparison with related works

"Robihachi" is sometimes compared to other works in that it is an adventure story set in space. For example, comparisons can be made with other space-based works such as "Galaxy Express 999" and "Space Battleship Yamato." These works also depict the vastness of space and its unknown possibilities, making them moving stories for viewers. However, "Robihachi" is different in that it has a stronger comedic element and focuses on the relationships and growth of the characters. Also, some viewers felt that the story was somewhat rushed in order to conclude it in the short broadcast period of 12 episodes, but overall it can be said that it was a work that satisfied many viewers.

■ Summary

"RobiHachi" is a story of adventure and friendship that takes place at the edge of space. The characters of Robbie and Hatch have been well received, and the relationship and growth between the two has been described as moving. Each episode has also been praised for its interesting storyline, with an excellent balance of humor and emotion. It is also considered to be a worthwhile adventure story set in space, with the power to draw viewers in. Overall, it can be said that the series satisfied many viewers. Recommended points include the characters of Robbie and Hatch, comedic elements, deep themes, the vastness of space and its unknown possibilities, and music. Compared to related works, "RobiHachi" is a work with its own unique appeal, and is a story that moves viewers.