(CR) Hikari no Ou (The Fire Hunter) Seasons 1 & 2

[Stark700]

Rieko Hinata's fantasy novel series "Hikari no Ou" is receiving an anime adaptation as a WOWOW original, animation production: Signal.​MD.

Some more info on plot and premise

The novel series' story is set in a world in the chaotic aftermath of humanity's Last War. A great forest, infested with flameling creatures and other fallen beasts, covers the world, and pockets of humanity live in small protected communities. Due to a special weapon used in the Last War, human beings spontaneously burst into flame even when merely getting close to a small source of fire. The only safe energy source for humanity lies within the bodies of flamelings, and the duty to hunt them falls to the sickle-wielding firecatchers who brave the depths of the great forest. Among the firecatchers, they whisper tales of one who would be "Firecatcher Lord," an individual who will be able to harvest the fire of the thousand-year comet, the "Wandering Spark" that has flown in the sky since it was sent up before the Last War, but is now returning to earth.

The story begins with Touko, a young girl from a paper-making town who finds herself in the forbidden forest, assailed by flamelings, when a flamecatcher rushes to protect her. In another place, a young capital-born boy named Kōshi shelters his younger sister after losing his mother to factory poison.

Source

https://www.wowow.co.jp/info/info.ph...d=7106&which=0
https://twitter.com/AIR_News01/statu...18940701040640

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/new...novels/.165988

[Stark700]

Staff announced

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/new...-oshii/.182047

[Frontier]

Originally Posted by Stark700

Staff announced

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/new...-oshii/.182047

Wow, Mamoro Oshii...

[Guardian Enzo]

And Nishimura Junji, too. Very intriguing.

[Stark700]

Airs January 2023

https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-ne...ditional-staff

[pinoscotto]

teaser:
https://twitter.com/HikarinoOuAnime/...60433739075584

[Last Sinner]

Is Oshii finally getting serious again? If so, count me in...

[Blaat]

Not only did it take me multiple times to not read the title as Hikaru no Go and thinking "there is going to be a new Hikaru no Go anime?!" but I just realised the title says Hikari not Hikaru. I really need to work on my reading comprehension.

Anyway interesting first episode, animation wise it's not as strong as other Oshii's work but he makes up for interesting shots and visuals. As for the setting looks like yet another post-apocalyptic setting and in this one humans were genetically changed to combust when they're close to fire? Leading to a world where there's no fire. It's going to be interesting to find out how every thing works without fire but it looks like they have a bunch of "it's technically not fire" solutions considering they can still cook food.

[Dop]

I was really taken by this one. Impressed me more with its first episode than any other show this season. I really want to know more about this world, how it became the way it is and the way things are the way they are as we certainly saw a difference between the village way of life and the city way of life.

[Kanon]

I went in blind, knowing only that Oshii was involved. I was not disappointed.

The series has interesting visual and the premise is very intriguing. Before the narrator corrected my mistake, I definitely thought this was a story set in the past. I didn't realize Touko never spoke a word until she actually did speak. Was surprised that Misaki Kuno is not voicing a loli character (albeit she's still young).

Really loved that the Aunt actually cares dearly about her. When her cousin's hostility toward Touko was made clear, I thought she was in one of those situations where she was reluctantly taken it by her Aunt after her parents died, which is surprisingly common in anime. But nope, it's just the cousin being a bitch.

Not sure how the guy's story will interweave with Touko's. Definitely interested in any case.

[Guardian Enzo]

Originally Posted by Blaat

Not only did it take me multiple times to not read the title as Hikaru no Go and thinking "there is going to be a new Hikaru no Go anime?!" but I just realised the title says Hikari not Hikaru. I really need to work on my reading comprehension.

Anyway interesting first episode, animation wise it's not as strong as other Oshii's work but he makes up for interesting shots and visuals. As for the setting looks like yet another post-apocalyptic setting and in this one humans were genetically changed to combust when they're close to fire? Leading to a world where there's no fire. It's going to be interesting to find out how every thing works without fire but it looks like they have a bunch of "it's technically not fire" solutions considering they can still cook food.

Oshii has nothing to do with the visuals - he's only writing (which is interesting in itself).

Obviously, pretty special. So Moribito-like, especially with the incomparable Kawai Kenji providing the music.

[Ragashingo]

The setup is interesting. I take it the yellow-ish "blood" from the forest monsters is the stuff they use for heat and light? A world where both darkness and fire are gravely dangerous. That's pretty cool! And yeah, I wonder how the boy from the city connects in.

On the other hand, I didn't really like the narrator popping up so frequently to tell us things. It definitely had a "tell, don't show" feel to it in some parts. I hope it grows out of that. But, sure... I'll give it another episode to try and get a feel as to where it's going...

[grecefar]

This was interesting, seems like this will be some journey to the capital.

I did like the style of art and animation, let's see about the story.

[frubam]

Very much enjoyed the premiere =03. The setting and backstory was intriguing, and the seriousness of every scene just pours though the murky-drawn environments. There wasn't much going on in terms of events, but I could feel the severity of the situation; like a tension that never stops throughout the episode.

I'm sure the aunt is a minor character in the grand scheme of things, but I like how determined she was to prepare Touko to go off on her journey. I thought she was going to be one of those people that "got forced to take a girl in" and was using the opportunity to get rid of her. After all, why would you send your loved one on a dangerous solo journey? But by the end, its very clear; she cares about Touko quite a lot. I was particularly impressed by the negotiations she had with(I assume) her husband. There was a determination in her eyes that really moved me. The animation did a good job reflecting that visually, while the voice had a stern, forceful tone that reflected her drive to see her niece be in the best position she can be in to succeed. Really made the scene stand out. Then the 1-1 with Touko afterwards really hit home at how much she cares about her.

Will definitely keep with this series to see where it goes =03.

Originally Posted by Ragashingo

On the other hand, I didn't really like the narrator popping up so frequently to tell us things. It definitely had a "tell, don't show" feel to it in some parts. I hope it grows out of that. But, sure... I'll give it another episode to try and get a feel as to where it's going...

I didn't mind it the first time. I was very impressed when the narrator stated that "there is no ancient tale" or whatever; as if the story will "show, not tell" us all that is needed, but for the 2nd introduced cast(the older brother/younger sister) the narration felt a bit intrusive. However, I'm not sure I'd prefer a random shift to a new set of characters with no detail given the unfamiliar setting. It sort of sets the stage and I think that's fine initially, but after their(and future chars) initial introduction, I also hope its not relied upon too much. It reminds me of the over-narrated segments in the Chimera arc of HxH, but I don't think it'll be at that level.

[Alchemist007]

Too early to say really but I feel shades of Moribito, Mushishi, and Last Exile. Nice ED too.

[Alchemist007]

The art during that combat, woof. To add another reference to the list, Kemonozume.

[grecefar]

lol that fight sucked.

I thought the train had a compromise to bring her to the capital and they just couldn't throw her away at the first chance. I mean like bringing the the things of the dead fire hunter was really important or something.

[Kanon]

Talk about unfair. The only reason Touko got out of the train was because that one girl took off and she was worried about her, yet she's the one getting yelled at and punished.

I guess they'll smooth things over next week because there's really no other way for her to go to the capital.

[Guardian Enzo]

Wow, stills in the second episode already, woof. Baraou no Souretsu vibes.

[Blaat]

Yeah animation production problems in the second episode is never a good sign.

One scene I couldn't figure out was when the MC pulled out a rock out of her bag, was that a nice gesture from the step-sister or did the stepsister replace the blue gem with that rock.