In the middle of the 21st century, powerful individuals with superhuman strength appeared all across the world. These people who wore flashy clothes and performed incredible feats in the name of peace became known as heroes—symbolic figures of the nation they came from. In Japan, 14-year-old middle school student Teru Momijiyama is widely known by her secret identity as Japan's hero, Shy.
As a young, timid girl, Shy is a fairly new hero with a lot to learn. She struggles with self-confidence and questions if she is worthy of the hero title. Even though she is unsure of herself, Shy works hard to save people and do the right thing. As new, powerful threats reveal themselves, Shy must cooperate with heroes around the world all while learning what it means to be a hero.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Comentários
Marinate1016
It really breaks my heart that Shy flew so under the radar. Cute, socially awkward girl who has to overcome adversity and become a superhero while balancing her normal life? Sign me up. While it may lack the flair of bigger shonen titles, it makes up for it with a great cast and interesting world. I had a blast watching this one and will miss it on Mondays. Being a teenager is hard. Being a teenaged superhero is even harder. What makes Shy so good to me is how it handles Shy’s struggles of being a young super hero with the country’s hopes and dreams ridingon her, and her personal development as Teru. At the beginning of the show, we’re introduced to a really timid girl who struggles to connect with other people at school. When she puts the mask on and becomes Shy, she’s much more confident and assertive. It’s as if that physical mask shields her from the judgement of the world and allows her to temporarily forget the awkward little girl inside of her.
Over the course of the show, we see those two sides of her gradually merge into one thanks to the friends she makes in her line of work. Whether it’s the hot drunk Russian Onee-san who guides her in her super hero activities or her friend at school, she’s pushed forward by people who want to see her grow and evolve. It’s a really sweet and personal story as opposed to the flashy lights and bright beams of usual battle shonen.
That’s not to say there isn’t any action. There’s an overarching plot involving a villain who is quite mysterious and interesting. Also, the second half of the show has quite a few really well done fight scenes that were actually surprising considering how character driven the first half is. Particularly episodes 9 and 10 which serve as the emotional climax of the season.
But the series’ general lack of action isn’t a detriment to me. Instead, I enjoyed the focus on a hero’s growth and journey rather than generic action scenes and power ups. When watching Shy, I’m often reminded of the late great Stan Lee’s quote about Spider-Man. “Anyone can wear the mask”. While we might not all have superpowers. We can all be heroes in our day to day lives. Aspiring for greater heights and pushing ourselves to be better. The impact that Shy has as both a superhero and regular girl on those around her just really resonated with me and made me fall in love with this story. Is it going to be great for those looking for a lot of action? No. It’s definitely aimed at people who are ok with character drama, emotional string pulling and some good old coming of age issues, and it excels at that.
Shy is a really fun show that I think is one of the best superhero stories in the medium and I am very glad I got to watch this one. Onto the manga for sure.
Shy gets 8, out of 10.
defensordeboruto
I am simply in love with this anime, and I won't be able to wait for the next season; I'll have to switch to the manga. It was one of the biggest surprises I had this season; it managed to captivate me from the first episode. The characters are incredible, the main character is fantastic, and in the first season, we witness a tremendous character development on her part. Shy addresses matters of the heart, love, and dreams in a MUCH deeper way than "Boku no Hero" (mostly because BHA's proposal is not that), and ends up standing out, becoming a superhero story that is completely UNIQUE. I wholeheartedlyrecommend this anime, and as I mentioned earlier, I'll switch to the manga as soon as possible; perhaps in a few days or weeks, you'll find my review there too, lol.
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Pt/Br
Estou simplesmente apaixonado por esse anime e não vou conseguir esperar a próxima temporada, vou ter que migrar para o mangá.
Foi uma das maiores surpresas que tive nessa temporada, conseguiu me conquistar desde o primeiro episódio
As personagens são incríveis, a MC é fantástica, e já na primeira temporada acompanhamos uma evolução de personagem gigantesca por parte dela.
Shy aborda sobre coração, amor e sonhos de uma forma MUITO mais profunda que "Boku no Hero" (até porque a proposta de BHA não é essa) e acaba se destacando e se tornando uma história de super-herói totalmente ÚNICA.
Recomendo totalmente esse anime, e como disse anteriormente, vou migrar para o mangá o mais rápido possível, quem sabem em alguns dias ou semanas vocês encontram minha review por la também lol
cynfest456
I believe My Hero Academia and One Punch Man have set the bar exceptionally high in the Shonen "SUperHero" Genre. Firstly, this story is not like those two big names. It deviates from the typical narrative of striving to become the best hero or pursuing heroism for the sake of enjoyment. Instead, it revolves around more grounded themes and what they mean for the protagonist. While the premise may seem generic, the story becomes quite enjoyable when approached without comparing it to the major successful works in the genre. Listen, Introducing a female protagonist in a superhero genre poses unique challenges, as we are accustomed tomale protagonists dominating such narratives. But, the series manages to deliver a decent narrative.
This season obviously serves as a foundation for a much larger story, and I look forward to witnessing its further development. if not, they wouldn't have given it a 2nd season.
But If you're a fan of spectacular fighting, I recommend checking out My Hero Academia and One Punch Man. However, if you're seeking a more grounded story, I suggest giving "Shy" a chance.
Bojidar_Kolev
"Shy, a magical girl disguised as a superhero show!? Shy takes a different approach to the superhero genre. It has an almost opposite approach to the point where it feels more like a magical girl show than a traditional superhero series, and that's where it shines. Having a lead character with a unique background and personality adds depth to the show. This diversity in character representation contributes to a more emotional and relatable storytelling experience. It's refreshing to see different perspectives and approaches to dealing with challenges, which enhances the overall richness of the narrative. In a genre where representation can be limited, the show's commitment todiverse characters is commendable and brings a fresh perspective to the storytelling landscape.
In my personal experience as a kid who grew up shy, insecure, and from a super poor family in the Balkans, I relate to Shy and Spirit's backstory; it connected with me in a way and showed me a way to deal with those feelings.
Overall, I related to the characters and enjoyed the story. It delivers a different message compared to other superhero shows I've seen. The story is well-presented, and given that it's only the first season, I hope for more development in the next.
Also the hero art of @kumaekake was amazing.
Stark700
My first impressions on Shy? The premise screams on repeat with recent trend of superhero anime. Although Shy has yet to achieve a mainstream level of stardom, it has a premise attached that reflect on that recent trend. Most people would point fingers at My Hero Academia for setting the standard in recent years. When we look at Shy, we need to ask ourselves if this is really just another copy-paste superhero show or one that truly made an identity of itself. Before we even jump into the main story and characters, it's noticable that the season consists of just 12 episodes. With the manga runningat over 100+ chapters, it raised a question mark how the anime can stay faithful. And indeed, Shy's adaptation does skip over some material although stays honest with the majority of its premise. This is also the first and only adaptation by the original creator, so it really put them on the map. I'm not going to resummarize the synopsis because it speaks for itself. What we should know about is Shy, the title character. Yes, you can guess it without a bat of an eye. She is nicknamed "Shy" because of how shy and timid she is. Representing Japan as a superhero, the show follows her adventures in a futuristic dystopia that managed to evade World War III.
Shy's real name is Teru Momijiyama but her nickname stands out more due to the role she's in. Representing Japan is a huge responsibility and given her kind hearted nature, she does what's possible to help the helpless. I'm not going to sugarcoat it but some of her early missions and feats are rather underwhelming. It seems other superheroes clearly overshadows her role such as Russia's Spirit or Switzerland's Lady Black. Why? It's because they are much more confident in their abilities. Shy's biggest flaw is herself and although the season attempts to change that, it doesn't fare too well. In fact, this season represents the start of her career in what is essentially being a superhero. Shy knows her own limitations but does try to improve herself. The main problem is her own shyness that holds her back. Luckily, she does have support of her friends but it's ultimately up to herself to improve.
Among Shy's characteristics, it's easy to say that she is friendly and helpful towards others. After an incident involving a characer named Ike, the duo quickly forms a friendship that involves the two bonding outside of school. However, Shy quickly how tough it's to be a hero when when she faces Stardust, the representative from the United Kingdom. Despite being able to ultimately pass her training test, Shy has a long way to go to truly embrace her role. The anime tackle on her character insecurities to make it feel as realistic as possible. While I do praise the author's way of showing the vulnerabilities of her character, it will take much more to convince an audience how much she needs to improve.
Despite Shy being the main focus of the show, this season also establishes Pepesha/Spirit as a breakout star. Journeying into the colder climates of Russia, we learn much more about her past and connection to the mysterious character Tzveta. Although expanding only a few episodes, her character arc is one if not the most emotional part of the season. It's here we discover Pepesha's origins including where she came from and the tough environment she grew up in. Pepesha's story also draws the line that the lives of the superheroes we know in the present may be filled with pride and fame, it also has its darker secrets. Unfortunately, this season only scratches the surface and we don't get to learn about the majority of the superheroes. With just 12 episodes, this really shouldn't come as a surprise either.
Studio 8bit has an rather interesting track record to say the least. By interesting, I mean that they have a variety of shows produced over the years with various genres. Shy represents a mixture of action, drama, and superhero elements so the studio did have some experience with similar genres. They adapt the manga in a style that stays consistent throughout the show although didn't put much effort beyond that. Really, the real standout parts are perhaps the character expressions. They didn't put extra effort into the action chereography and some of the animation looked like as if it's on auto-pilot. Similarly, the voice acting and music can be said to be rather average. Shy's personality does remain honest throughout the show that matches her character personality, while the theme songs has a somewhat catchy superhero tone.
I don't think it's an open secret that creative minds in the anime and manga industry have attempted superhero themes into their work these recent years. While it didn't explode into the industry in a similar pattern as isekai, it definitely marked a spot that didn't go unnoticed. For Shy, it didnt exactly hit the sweet spot even with some of its more emotional tones. Truth is, this show could've extended much more than what see see on the television screen. Luckily, this show did get a season 2 announcement. However, the manga is where you can get real juicy details.
MarlsMarsBars
Shy is… interesting. This show instantly had me hooked since it takes a somewhat different approach to the superhero genre of entertainment and actually focuses on how the struggles of the heroes directly impact the lives of those around them, especially the ones they’re trying to save. The main theme surrounding this anime is focused on one’s heart: how one either closes it off, opens their heart to others in order to form a connection, or how it is exploited by others. The devices that the superheroes use harness their hearts in order to transform into their alter egos as well as use their superpowers. The villains’ main goal is to reveal the deepest and darkest of each person’s heart and exploit them to create a more “fun” world. The ideas and thematic ideas in Shy are very interesting and somewhat vibrant in an oversaturated superhero sub-genre, especially in 2023 when we have millions of superhero content. The characters have quite a bit of depth to them, mainly Teru, aka Shy, and Pepesha, aka Spirits. The relationships that these characters have are not only fully fleshed out, but also further add to the main narratives of the season. I kinda prefer this form of storytelling in stories like these, since characters like Teru and Pepesha in other movies and shows only show them being badasses without building who they really are and why they fight to protect and save innocent people. This show is definitely focused more on characterization over action, which is both a good thing, but it comes with its downsides. First off, the animation straight up sucks. The fight scenes are very lazy and have a hard time keeping me engaged in the more intense moments in the anime. Secondly, there are some scenes, and even episodes in general, that don’t really add much to either the story, characters, or setting. There are moments where either the heroes or villains are just dicking around and these scenes add nothing to the overall show. Don’t get me wrong, I like some slice of life in my stories, but they need to contribute to something. Although there are a lot of great ideas in this show, I feel like the overall execution could have been just a little bit better.
Goeli
SHY has some nnnnnice character design and quite ddddecent animation bbbbut the dialogue in SHY is so boring. Teru the main character is a very sssshy girl and is just not interesting at all. She is not very confident so cccconstantly doubts herself, she gives off pick me girl energy. If reading this annoyed you, this is exaclty how Teru talks, she constantly stutters and is always surprised because of her lack of confidence. The villain group are way more interesting because they actually seem to have a background story and more personality in their left toe than the MC. I give this a Mixed Feelingsbecause I know it has an interesting premise but it just doesn't help that the dialogue is insanely cheesy and boring.
Justykanna
Add to the pile of "anime that I have a hard time evaluating" because it has a lot of good stuff in there, but there are a handful of little things that sort of get in the way. Still, there are a lot of things that set this apart from other series in its genre. Story & Characters: Shy takes place in a fairly distance future in which super heroes are in each country and it's their job to help humanity feel safe - whether it's saving people from natural disasters, or fighting the next big baddie that comes to town. Teru Momijiyama isa fourteen year old, and goes by the code name Shy. She's not particularly special, but her obvious trait is that she has devastating anxiety around literally any human being - thus the name, Shy.
Evaluating her is such a hard thing to do because that personality kind of defines how everyone in her world sees her. She has an exceptionally hard time talking to people and an even harder time getting people in Japan to accept her as their hero. For context, each country has one hero, so when trouble arises that requires more than one hero, another country's assigned hero needs to assist. Shy's first act of duty is at an amusement park where a rollercoaster has frozen while it's upside down, fifty feet in the air. One of the occupants, Iko Koishikawa, insists that she is saved last, as she wants to see the others on the ride, including her brother, Daigo, saved first. Why does this, but not without some minor consequences to Iko, as she gets a minor injury from the ride.
First, I have to say, I really like how this series sets you up. We have this hero, who wants to help everyone that she can, and right away, she's faced with this situation where she feels like she has failed not just the person in front of her, but the whole country. A running theme in this series is about what you feel with your heart and they incorporate this into the series very well. For a fourteen year old, she takes what she does VERY seriously and for the story to basically tell us that she needs solve her first big obstacle from an accident is excellent. It made this arc extremely compelling, and sets you up with basically everything you need for the rest of the series.
Iko's arc basically becomes central to Teru's first step in character development, and boy, for a non-hero, I love what Iko brings to the table. The greatest thing is that I'm not even sure why I love her so much. It might be that I love the "best friends" approach that a lot of action series has, but that's not entirely her purpose in the series, especially the first arc. After being saved, something mysterious occurs to her, and Iko does everything to tell Teru that she's an inconvenience. What makes this even better is that now, Teru is faced with this situation where someone, whom she just met, is telling her something about themselves that she keeps telling herself. I really wish the series played off of that more than it did, but this situation is basically telling both Teru and Iko to not beat themselves up so much, especially in situations that you can't help.
Stimga is likely the big baddie that is the key player opposite to the heroes that form in this series the series doesn't really do much to introduce who he really is, aside from some brief conversation. Stigma doesn't really say anything to give himself away, but this early in a series where it looks like he could be the main villain is usually okay. Tzveta shows up later in the series in the final arc of the season and her story feels, while solid, somewhat confusing after the initial episode ten story. Still, episode ten is what makes her, as well as Pepesha. Pepesha is the Russian hero, capable of forming clouds (steam?) with her hands and use them as her weapon. She's your typical happy-go-lucky character, but they certainly try and break her in the final arc. The resolution was probably stretched out a little more than I would have liked, as it feels like they went back and form with no real purpose a few times. It stalls what was a decently paced series.
The second arc introduces other heroes, such as Uni-Lord, who oversees all the heroes, the China hero, Li Ming Ming, the Britain hero, David Wonder Jones and the Swiss hero, Piltz Dunant. As a group, they look out for each other, but they do feel unique enough that they didn't really bother me. They weren't really involved in the plot too much except for David, who saw some screen time in the second arc. The arc itself was fine, but again, felt like it went on for longer than it needed to. Finally, Shrimpy is Shy's floating companion who is in the shape of a shrimp. He doesn't do much aside remedial tasks, but having him there gives someone else that Shy is comfortable with and for that, is probably a net positive.
I didn't really know what to expect in a story about heroes, but they had some really strong plot-related ideas that hit really well for me. This series gets very emotional at times, the biggest of which was in that aforementioned episode ten. Teru's far from the best written protagonist and having a weak lead has buried some series before. Still, there's enough here that I feel like she can continue to grow. (Story: 8/10, Characters: 7/10)
Art: While fine, I couldn't say I was the biggest fan of the series animation. It was fine, but definitely not better than My Hero Academia, whose visuals are also not exceptional. 8bit is the studio that handled this series, and my guess is that this series doesn't get the attention that other bigger names that this studio produces, does. These might include That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Blue Lock, Yuru Camp and The Irregular at Magic High School. (6/10)
Sound: Shy gives off a very comicy vibe with it's OST, one that I'm not surprised at. I wasn't the biggest fan of either theme song, but probably match up here just fine. Voice work is equally fine, with one exception. Bryn Apprill (Iko) was easily my favourite of the voice cast here. She goes through so many emotional ups and downs, and my guess is this was one of her better works that I've heard her have. Natalie Hoover (Pepesha) is also worthy of praise here. With Aaron Campbell (David), I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a nature British accent and at least to my untrained ear, it sounded pretty solid. I was just kind of fine with everyone else. Marisa Duran (Stigma) takes a crack at an evil little boy and I think I'll be more comfortable with hearing it more as we go along here. (7/10)
Overall: Shy really surprised me because the stories that it told were done really well. It takes time - maybe a bit too much at times - to tell characters' stories, and try and make audiences care about them. Still, if they can bring this level to the, currently running, sequel, then I think that series will have the same type of success, as long as they mix it up a little, and continue to have Shy and friends grow. This series plays off as a Shounen about superheroes, and anyone interested should feel comfortable with this series. (8/10)
KANLen09
SHY - One way not to be a hero...or is it? Honestly, I'm quite shocked that mangaka Bukimi Miki's superhero series isn't as well received as I thought it would be. Of course, you have the closest semblance to it, being of Kohei Horikoshi's Boku no Hero Academia a.k.a My Hero Academia, and while that is a juggernaut of a series under Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump, the former being published under Akita Shoten's Weekly Shonen Champion, with the LN now still ongoing with 22 volumes strong since August 2019, it may be one of the many HeroAca rip-offs (which mentioning this feels ingenious at best), butI think that Shy has much more potential than we have giving it the benefit of the doubt, apart from being just an inspirational superhero imitation that deserves its own special attention.
As mentioned, you can compare Shy to HeroAca, but only in the slightest of terms, as the mangaka himself opted for a rather down-to-earth story (as compared to HeroAca's rather frenetic and fast-paced setting), penning about the likely circumstances if he was the hero in the story while taking cues from similar films from both Marvel and DC Comics. That story won Akita Shoten's Next Champion Grand Prize award in 2016, which was then serialised 2 years later, and tells of a rather meek and shy hero, whom of which shares the likes of a superhero-esque world with HeroAca and its main protagonist of Midoriya Izuku's early stages. But that's where the similarities end.
The main premise of Shy being of heroes protecting and restoring peace in the world from preventing a possible fictional World War 3, its heroes may be done with their own heroic duties, but that doesn't excuse them from being ordinary citizens and watching over the people around them. By the order of their gathering HQ in Space, led by their leader Unilord, each hero is assigned to the country or nation that they have to attend to, to look after the common folk and solve its domestic issues, dealing with the issues of the "heart", either protected by the heroes or manipulated by the villains. Every hero is equipped with a pair of Heart-Shift Bracelets that allow them to not just transform their appearances, but also sync their heart with the bracelets, becoming the source of power and abilities by storing "Heart Power" for use when seen fit. The stronger one's conviction and determination is, the more powerful one can become.
This then brings us to the young eponymous hero, 14-year-old Teru Momijiyama, of the hero name "Shy" and the hero representative for Japan. Rather than going for what HeroAca is known for with its world of naturally born people with superpowers, Shy does this by only bestowing powers to the selected few as a sort of superpowered figurehead, which is what lands Teru as a hero in the first place. Think of it as more of the Hetalia: Axis Power inspiration than HeroAca, that as much as the typical high school student that Teru is, it has less to do with her hero activities than it does with her everyday life. But make no mistake that Teru is still a hero in her second form, and other than being aided by her "Shrimpy" robot figurehead, N. Villo, she is still regarded as her country's hero, despite not being outgoing. However, that Shy name moniker of hers gets rocked by linked events: First, the typical rescue mission of high schoolers getting stuck upside down on a roller coaster, which can give away anytime, makes for a much more disastrous matter, in which Teru's own ineptitude as a hero, caused to some extent by her bashful disposition, leads to a tangible loss of human life as one girl nearly died in a comatose state, and her recovery is almost a God-given miracle at hindsight. Secondly, the same exact once-bedridden girl, whom Teru is then simultaneously blamed for the mishap, is then invited by an evil entity benefiting from the rouse of the matter by diving deep into the deepest depths of their hearts and combining with his, making for one powerful anti-hero resistance through the corruption of her heart by wearing a special type of ring that is connected back to their leader as a result of the rings being made from parts of his heart. Teru manages to save her from harm, and apart from having saved her brother before her, she appreciates everything that she does by transferring to her school and becoming her confidante alongside the heroes that Teru would meet in the series. That girl is the same-aged Iko Koishikawa.
Having known about the evil entity, which the heroes dubbed "Stigma," he looks like a young boy who is rather abstract and childish to the point of refusing to mature, wanting to create an adult-free world, one of only children. He is the evil entity's group leader, named Amarariruku, who corrupts people's hearts with the rings given to ordinary but selected people close to the heroes' hearts. As OTAQUEST's Jacob Parker-Dalton quotes it, "Stigma is decidedly darker as they prey upon the darkest parts of the human heart, converting victims into the kind of corrupted monsters that you'd see on a Saturday morning episode of Sailor Moon." and also "decisively more sinister as their identity and motives remain shrouded in mystery." Like the example of the hero with whom Teru spends the most time: Pepesha Andreanova. The Russian hero who likes vodka (as do many Russians), her upbringing is but a bed of roses with the close semblance to the real-life former Soviet Union colony with only her and her late mother Lenya, which Stigma imbues another child looking like her, looking to break the bond between the single mother and daughter from their harsh growing-up days spent in an orphanage and having the same fondness for alcohol. Pepesha stands out the most, aside from other heroes seen in this show (at least for this first season), due to her overprotectiveness towards the shyly meek and kind-hearted hero herself. And if you're thinking that this is all Shy has to offer, you're dead wrong, as many other countries' heroes get a cameo for now, and they too will be expanded in Season 2 coming soon.
Despite the anime having been worked on at studio 8bit, which has churned out rather impressive shows as of late like Blue Lock, the director's position given to studio Lerche director Masaomi Ando, I think, is a near-perfect match. Masaomi Ando is quite diverse in his directorial craft, despite having a staff team of a mix of 8bit, Lerche, and freelance stuff who can accommodate the show's production to angles and views that look as good as they are, even if the show does feel a bit undercooked at best.
The music, I think, fits the show quite surprisingly well. From the OP, MindaRyn's "Shiny Girl" has got the right amount of energy for a superhero anime, and apart from suiting someone like Teru, it has got the most mid-2000s Seishun (youthful) Disney-ish coming-of-age anthem; to the ED of both Teru and Pepesha's VAs Shino Shimoji and Nao Touyama, which despite being a rather simplistic song, I quite like its easygoing groove that's easy to get a bop out of.
As Steven Blackburn of Screen Rant pits the series, calling it an "underrated" manga and complimenting how the story "expertly delves into the insecurities of both the hero and civilian in original ways that other publishers, including DC and Marvel, have yet to accomplish," I would like to think of the same values regarding Shy, but as it stands, it's still the "Journey of Beginnings" for Teru, and I am more eager to see her improvement as a capable hero in the long term.
A rather subtle start for now, but as minority as the praise that it gets from me and not the community in general, I'll stick to my ground to say that this show, like its manga counterpart, is very underrated. The 3-episode rule is as much a recommendation that I'll give if you want something rather different than the similarities of HeroAca.
AudibleSilence
Oh boy, this was such a shame. This was one of the few new anime that aired in Fall that I actually seen videos hyping it up, however the show itself is just meh. Let's go over the plot briefly, after world war 3 the whole world somehow unites in peace, and now there's heroes all across the globe that represent their countries, and we follow Shy, who is Japan's hero. Real name Teru, Shy is a middle school girl who's socially awkward but is still a good hero despite that. We get introduced to I think 6 heroes all together across the season. Japan's hero obviously,Russia's hero, Switzerland's hero, Britain's hero, China's hero, and briefly shows German's hero. However, really only 2 of them matter, or get focus put on them I should say. Japan and Russia's hero. Near the end of the season too it felt like Russia's hero becomes more of an MC than the actual MC, which is probably not a great thing for a show to do.
The show itself is also just kind of boring, when it goes into fights and saving people it's good. good art, good animation. However when it's just interactions, it just doesn't feel engaging and just plain boring. Obviously, this is just my opinion so it's different for a lot of other people.
All in all, it's a meh show with good art and animation and a fun vibe that sadly doesn't linger. And the biggest offense this show has done is give Switzerland's hero guns. Like, that's an American thing, why is Switzerland the one with the guns? outrageous! I want my country to be a stereotype in this anime!
Hawkeye752
I am a big proponent of stories having a good message. This is why I do not get tired of the "power of friendship" trope seen in a multitude of anime series. Shy is no exception to this, but for a different reason. Shy ultimately is about a young girl who is also a hero. She is not used to attention; hence she acts "shy" in these situations. On the surface this should be a boring show, but we are provided an interesting discussion about dreams and the past colliding. Each hero has some sort of past that troubles them, and that past literally tries tostop the heroes. The way the show goes about resolving its dilemmas is intriguing and worth the watch.
This show also provides another aspect that makes it worthwhile, and that is the ability to find courage in others. All throughout both seasons, Shy finds herself unable to be strong enough. She isn't cured instantly by a speech from a friend but is given a couple chances to find her own strength and bring it in harmony with her friends. This is how Shy approaches the "power of friendship" trope, but in a different manner.
Ultimately, this is a well written, and animated show that is worth the time spent watching it. It is not surprising that this show gives more heart than the light and fluffy exterior would make you think considering how important one's heart is to the narrative.
DISKOWN
Shy is an engaging anime with strong visuals and character design, complemented by an intriguing narrative and solid character development. However, some character moments linger unnecessarily, and the pervasive positivity and cuteness can become grating at times. The visuals and character design are well-executed, with each character feeling unique and well-motivated. The antagonists, in particular, stand out and hold promise for future development. The narrative humanizes its villains, presenting their motivations in a sympathetic light. The series delves deeply into character relationships and emotions, though these explorations can occasionally feel overly prolonged compared to the well-animated action sequences. This occasionally leads to pacing issues, exacerbated byawkward exposition scenes that disrupt the momentum.
Shy shows promise as an above-average series with potential for improvement in pacing, suggesting a bright future ahead.
The_W3za_Man
So considering season 2 is just around the corner, I figured I should go back and watch this eason in order to reevaluate some of my thoughts. And honestly, I don't think I gave this show enough credit back when it was airing in Fall last year. It's by no means a masterpiece and it has a lot of room to improve, but what's there I think is worth talking about. First off is the story, which isn't that crazy honestly. It's basically just superheroes fighting against an evil group trying to "make people show their true hearts" (which translates to "turn everyone into negative emotionmonsters") and the heroes try to stop them. While, like I said, it isn't that interesting or fresh, does admittedly bring some enjoyment in that simplicity. It's just a classic superhero story that's fun to watch. Something I wish was more touched on was the world and heroes affect it, but there's enough intrigue to keep me around for when it's actually delved into. And what's there, like how each nation has a hero, is still pretty good.
But my point about the classic superhero feel does call into question the villains. And they're...not bad? I've seen people call them overly edgy, and yeah I can kind of see it. But they're honestly pretty decent. The one the season mainly focused on was actually pretty well written now that I've gone back and looked at her more, and her dynamic with one of the heroes wasn't anything groundbreaking but pretty well done. There's also the other one who accompanied her who also wasn't deep but she was entertaining enough. In fact that's the whole point of her characters (her name is literally onomatopoeia for laughing). And the other ones briefly introduced later do look pretty standard, but if the first one was any indicator they should be pretty solid. Then there's the main villain, who's actually got a pretty good presence and threat to him, plus some intrigue about how he is as a person and just what he actually is (betting now, he in some way biologically related to the overseer of all the heroes, given their similar hair color and you never see her face).
That's enough on the villains though, they obviously need heroes to go against. And I think they're better, they've got plenty of personality to them and none of them are boring to watch. The highlight of the season is certainly Pesha, the hero for Russia (and is always drinking vodka...how subtle...), which isn't a problem, she has a very enjoyable personality. But some of the other heroes in the season could've used some focus. But honestly it's not a huge deal, they're likely to get some more next season, and they've each been given enough screen time to get a good idea of their characters.
And of course, there's the titular hero of Japan, Shy. Who, unsurprisingly, isn't the most socially skilled. And honestly I quite like her. She really has her moments as a hero, especially towards the end of the season, and even her "she just like me fr" side isn't ever annoying or anything, and it just helps to show how great her shining moments are when she does have them. She's even got some SoL moments to break up the superhero stuff, so you know, you can actually see the shy aspect up front. Yes it's cringe sometimes, but is that not the point sometimes?
Of course though, a good superhero show needs some action. And I'll just say it now, don't expect some power scaling worthy super brawls. Honestly, even though I enjoyed the fights, they're not very large scale or anything and are very shonen-y. But like, what do you expect, it's literally a shonen manga. It's also worth mentioning that a lot of action is also focused and/or resolved on the emotional, talk-no-jutsu side of things. Though I think it works. Hearts and emotions are very much the big theme of this show, and the concept of emotions empowering you to act are taken literally and used as this series' power system. So in that regard, the talk-no-jutsu route checks out. And as for animation, it's fine. Not good or bad, it just works well enough, though it does do some pretty interesting visuals at some points for certain shots. They do look very nice.
All in all, this probably isn't making anyones favorites list (though more power to you if it does). But it's a well done show that does a lot of things well, just not to its full extent. All the ingredients are there, and they were used well, just not perfectly. But it looks whatever was made is a good appetizer for season 2 to hopefully build on what this season did.
rowanblack
Title: Shy: A Thoughtful Blend of Shounen and Shoujo, Focused on Heartfelt Drama Shy is a unique anime that skillfully treads the line between shounen and shoujo, offering viewers a refreshing and engaging experience. With a reluctant but determined hero at its center, the series combines good animation with a narrative that leans towards drama rather than action, creating a distinctive and emotionally resonant story. The animation quality in Shy is commendable, providing a visually appealing backdrop to the unfolding drama. While not necessarily groundbreaking, the animation serves the story well, capturing the essence of both shounen and shoujo elements without compromising on quality. What sets Shy apartis its focus on a female hero without delving into ecchi territory. The decision to keep the narrative in the lighter girls' love edge, especially with the majority of the cast being female, adds a unique flavor to the story. It explores relationships and emotions with a tenderness that avoids the pitfalls of unnecessary fan service, allowing the characters and their connections to take center stage.
The reluctant hero is a familiar trope, but Shy manages to breathe new life into it by infusing the character with depth and nuance. The protagonist's journey becomes a captivating exploration of self-discovery and growth, keeping viewers invested in her personal and emotional struggles. The balance between the hero's reluctance and determination adds layers to the character dynamics, contributing to the overall richness of the narrative.
While the series does have action sequences, the majority of Shy revolves around drama. This deliberate choice elevates the emotional stakes, allowing the characters to grapple with complex situations and relationships. The exploration of themes such as friendship, love, alcoholism and personal identity gives the anime a mature and thought-provoking edge, resonating with audiences beyond the typical shounen or shoujo tropes.
In conclusion, Shy successfully navigates the intersection of shounen and shoujo, offering a well-animated and emotionally charged narrative. With a focus on drama over action, the series provides a refreshing take on the reluctant hero archetype and a genuine exploration of relationships. Shy is a compelling watch for those seeking a blend of genres that goes beyond traditional boundaries, delivering a captivating and heartfelt story.
