WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.120
- It's Isaiah Colbert, the Otaku of Kotaku

2
00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:05.850
and welcome to the "Kotatsu Anime Corner,"

3
00:00:05.850 --> 00:00:07.500
brought to you by Acura.

4
00:00:07.500 --> 00:00:09.540
Kotatsus are comfortable
pieces of furniture

5
00:00:09.540 --> 00:00:12.180
for sitting under with a special someone

6
00:00:12.180 --> 00:00:14.280
while you throw on something on the TV.

7
00:00:14.280 --> 00:00:16.440
However, the spring anime season is filled

8
00:00:16.440 --> 00:00:19.950
with far too many series
to haphazardly put on

9
00:00:19.950 --> 00:00:22.470
without a proper screening
from a trusted source.

10
00:00:22.470 --> 00:00:23.580
In the weeks to come,

11
00:00:23.580 --> 00:00:26.280
I'll also answer the critical question

12
00:00:26.280 --> 00:00:28.740
of whether or not it's safe to watch

13
00:00:28.740 --> 00:00:30.090
with other people in the room.

14
00:00:30.090 --> 00:00:31.080
For our first episode,

15
00:00:31.080 --> 00:00:34.267
we'll cover what is arguably
the sleeper hit of the season,

16
00:00:34.267 --> 00:00:36.367
"Mashle: Magic and Muscles."

17
00:00:36.367 --> 00:00:39.750
"Mashle," by A-1 Pictures,
is an action-comedy series

18
00:00:39.750 --> 00:00:43.920
about a wizard that's totally
not inspired by Harry Potter.

19
00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:47.460
The story follows a
young man named Mash who,

20
00:00:47.460 --> 00:00:50.910
unlike the lazy witches and
wizards in the fantasy land,

21
00:00:50.910 --> 00:00:52.950
does not have any magical powers.

22
00:00:52.950 --> 00:00:56.250
However, Mash more than makes
up for his Mugblood-ness

23
00:00:56.250 --> 00:00:59.580
by training every day in
his forest temple of gains

24
00:00:59.580 --> 00:01:02.580
to become a Saitama-esque muscle machine.

25
00:01:02.580 --> 00:01:04.830
Similar to how shows like "One Punch Man"

26
00:01:04.830 --> 00:01:08.580
and "Mob Psycho 100" have a
smidge of social commentary

27
00:01:08.580 --> 00:01:10.477
mixed in with their power fantasies,

28
00:01:10.477 --> 00:01:13.380
"Mashle" shines a light on
its own world's prejudice

29
00:01:13.380 --> 00:01:16.590
and outright genocide for folks
born without magical powers.

30
00:01:16.590 --> 00:01:18.810
Mash's only saving grace going forward

31
00:01:18.810 --> 00:01:21.240
is enrolling into a magical academy

32
00:01:21.240 --> 00:01:23.610
and working to become a Divine Visionary,

33
00:01:23.610 --> 00:01:26.700
which basically grants him
immunity from persecution

34
00:01:26.700 --> 00:01:28.410
as well as being a God king.

35
00:01:28.410 --> 00:01:29.520
Whether you're a diehard fan

36
00:01:29.520 --> 00:01:31.680
of Harry Potter-esque stories or not,

37
00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:33.450
"Mashle" is sure to entertain you

38
00:01:33.450 --> 00:01:35.940
with its madcap slapstick comedy

39
00:01:35.940 --> 00:01:38.130
and its impressive action scenes,

40
00:01:38.130 --> 00:01:40.835
making "Mashle" safe to
watch with others present.

41
00:01:40.835 --> 00:01:43.418
(upbeat music)