A.I.C.O.: Incarnation

“A.I.C.O.: Incarnation,” also known as “AICO,” is an ONA (Original Net Animation) that captivates viewers with its intriguing storyline. The series consists of 12 episodes, debuting on March 9, 2018, and concluding on the same day. With a mature rating of R-17+ for violence and profanity, “A.I.C.O.: Incarnation” explores a world altered by a catastrophic experiment gone wrong.

Produced by Bones and supported by Bandai Visual, Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures, Lantis, and Yamasa, “A.I.C.O.: Incarnation” spans 12 episodes, each lasting 24 minutes. The anime has received an impressive rating of 8.89/10 from 155 participants, indicating its popularity and acclaim among viewers.

The narrative unfolds in 2035 in Japan, where a failed experiment known as “Kivik” results in a catastrophic incident called “The Burst,” covering the entire Kurobe Gorge city with an artificial life form known as “Matter.” Once seen as humanity’s hope, this research city is now completely cordoned off by government authorities. Two years after the disaster, Aiko Tachibana, a 15-year-old who lost her family in “The Burst,” receives unexpected news from Yuya Kanzaki, a new student at her school. Kanzaki reveals that Aiko harbors a hidden mystery within her body and that they must journey to the center of “The Burst,” known as the “Zero Point,” to unravel the truth.

While some viewers find the concept intriguing, there are mixed opinions about the execution of the plot. Despite its potential, the series is criticized for not fully realizing its narrative, leading to moments of monotony. However, praise is given to the animation quality, emphasizing that the anime could have benefited from a more nuanced exploration of its thematic elements.

Individual reviews highlight the anime’s engagement factor, with some expressing that it’s worth watching during periods of limited anime availability. The series is acknowledged for its beautiful animation, though some suggest that a more adept handling of the plot could have enhanced the overall viewing experience.

A.I.C.O.: Incarnation

In the year 2035 in Japan, a failed experiment called “The Burst” results in an accident named “Kivircik,” covering the entire city of Kurobe Gorge with an artificial life form called “Matter.” Once seen as humanity’s hope, this R&D city is now completely cordoned off by government forces. Two years after the disaster, 15-year-old Aiko Tachibana, who lost her entire family in the Burst, is shaken by unexpected news from Yuya Kanzaki, the new student at her school. Kanzaki reveals that there is a hidden mystery in her body, and they must go to the “Zero Point,” the center of the Burst, to solve it. What truths will they face when they enter the city?

Viewer Comments:

1. “I started this anime because I had a shortage of short anime to watch. The plot is good, but it feels unexplored and can be quite boring. If they had added a bit of shoujo, maybe it would have been more watchable. The animation is excellent, but they could have utilized the plot better.”
2. “I had started this anime before; when my computer crashed, I couldn’t find its name. Now I happened to find it by chance, and I will watch it again. I remember it being a good anime from the beginning.”
3. “I saw this anime in my test book 💀💀.”
4. “Which test book is that?”
5. “Newton’s Magnificent 3.”
6. “Mecha anime usually doesn’t appeal to me, but since everyone wrote it had some mecha elements, I watched it. Frankly, it didn’t captivate me. If you’re in an anime drought, you might give it a try.”
7. “Hmmmm, I just finished the anime, so I came to comment right away. While watching the anime, I had many thoughts like what’s happening, why is it happening, and what’s the relevance of this character here. Because although the story is good science fiction, it hasn’t been brilliantly executed. As for the characters, both main and supporting characters were good, but as many others have written, they were somewhat emotionless.”