What They Say:
The original HackaDoll app delivers a customized feed of news for each user. The user answers some simple questions when launching the app for the first time, and then the app will filter the news that caters to the user’s personal interests — boys love (BL), cosplay, anime, manga, games, light novels, voice cast members, and more. With daily use, the app automatically analyzes and learns which news articles the user reads and recommends to further personalize the feed.
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
I’ve still been feeling somewhat surprised at my general kind of enjoyment over the first episode of Hackadoll, a series that by rights should just crater for a whole host of reasons. But as we’ve seen before, Japan can make seemingly anything cute and workable on some level. Hackadoll is not a show that will take the world by storm, but it is the ideal kind of show for the Ultra Super Anime Time block where it can work its seven or so minute run time to just be silly and fun. It’s not like you expect something world changing from a show based on a new curation app after all. Right? And if you do, you probably need to curate your shows better anyway.
With this episode, the girls prove how much of a help that can be in the real world when a music producer finds himself quadruple booked and needs talent fast. Of course, they’re not going to go and find talent but rather be the talent themselves – with no resume to offer. It’s the kind of event where you know it’s implausible but you have to laugh at the pushiness of the girls as they ensure they get the position and end up getting ta least a bit of a trial period with it since the event itself is a few days off. This opens us up to the usual montages, sacrifices and accomplishments that of course are all over the map. It’s cute, silly and utterly empty when you get down to it. And it’s hard to fault it for that because it’s just going for something without any meaning. And it does it well.
In Summary:
Hackadoll gives us a little more time with the trio getting out into the world proper where they get to hook up with an idol agency to get some work, experience and a shot at fame and popularity. The show continues to have some pretty nice animation and designs to it that lets it stand out more than it might otherwise, though it’s still a short-form series. With the seven minute run time it’s able to pace itself a lot better and you get some decent moments and minor characterization as well. The story itself is about as empty/familiar as you’d expect and there’s absolutely nothing new here or even anything related to their app origin side that plays into it. It’s easy to be dismissive of it yet it’s also somehow has some charms that makes me enjoy it.
Grade: B-
Streamed By: Crunchyroll
Review Equipment:
Sony KDL70R550A 70″ LED 1080P HDTV, Apple TV via HDMI set to 1080p, Onkyo TX-SR605 Receiver and Panasonic SB-TP20S Multi-Channel Speaker System With 100-Watt Subwoofer.
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