I went into RobiHachi without having any idea what I was about to watch. I have to say, the results where definitely… unexpected.

Plot

RobiHachi (hence the name) is the story of, yes, Roby and Hachi. They are two very different characters who accidentally meet when Hachi stops a guy from stealing Roby’s bag. While Roby is a wreck of a man who constantly finds himself broke, cheated, and unable to control his fate, Hachi is a young genius whose life has been too easy thanks to his superior intelligence. They discuss their lives over a meal. Roby explains how he comes from a wealthy family that he couldn’t put up with and escaped from as a teenager. SInce then, he’s been trying to find a way to stop working and invest in a job that will give him a life of comfort, pretty much just like what he had before he ran away from home. Hachi, on the other hand, finds his life uninteresting and boring, and feels like he’s seen everything he needs to see and is capable enough to be able to predict his future, as life is perfectly linear. Unexpectedly, the next day after their meeting, Hachi is asked by his boss to collect Roby’s debt. He finds him at home and while trying to arrest him, he gets himself locked in a spaceship with Roby, on a quest to adventure, trying to get to Iskandar, a place that promises eternal bliss and happiness. As the two of them are being chase down, they discover two mysterious battleships that -wait for it- transform into a giant robot.

Episode Highlights

Le paradox: Roby, bro, seriously, what is it with you trying to beat life’s high score. You are basically after the life your parents would have offered you and you kindly rejected. Maybe go back home, make amends, and take a trip to somewhere exotic to reinvent yourself? Isn’t that what rich people do?

The style: I am not sure I can appreciate the aesthetic setup of the show. Is this supposed to be a joke? I can’t tell if it looks intentionally old and banal or if I feel that way because it all looks so uninteresting. I swear, if the people who worked on Cowboy Bebop watched this, they’d be crying themselves to sleep for the rest of their lives.

That transformers moment: Was that Optimus Prime with a mustache?? Definitely the best part of the whole episode. I especially appreciated the part that they commented on the fact that music unexpectedly started playing. Hilarious.

Themes and Trivia

Iskandar: The Eastern variant of the given name Alexander after Alexander the Great, as preserved by various Middle Eastern cultures. For example, the Egyptian city of Alexandria is called ‘Skandereya’ in Arabic. There are however said to be several Alexandrias across the Middle East.

Toy Story Aliens: Did anyone else notice these guys walking all over Roby in the beginning of the episode? The CLAWWWWWWWWWW

This setup: I am confused as to who this genre is being targeted to. It reminds me of course a great deal of the Tiger and Bunny – Double Decker setup where two very different characters are forced to collaborate… And boy, did I suffer watching Double Decker. Please god, don’t let it be contagious.

I mean, let’s see, who knows, right?

I have to admit, this looked completely uninteresting when I started watching. However, the last bit gave it a humorous boost that I didn’t expect, so maybe we should give this show a chance to show us what it’s got?

How did you find the first RobiHachi episode? Let us know in the comment section! And don’t forget to check the rest of the Spring 2019 anime reviews on MANGA.TOKYO!

RobiHachi

Spring 2019