Anime Reviews (2020s): Somali and the Forest Spirit – Complete Collection (2020)

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For those who love short, entertaining adventure series, “Somali and the Forest Spirit – Complete Collection” is recommended!

Click here to purchase this Blu-ray on Amazon

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TITLE: Somali and the Forest Spirit – Complete Collection

ANIME SERIES RELEASE DATE: 2020

DURATION:  EPISODE 1-12 (Duration: 300 Minutes)

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition (16×9), English and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, English Subtitles

COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks

RATING: TV 14 V

Release Date: May 24, 2022

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Originally created bu Gureishi Yako

Director: Yasuda Kenji

Series Composition by Mochizuki Mariko, Nagai Shingo

Character Design by Ito Ikuko

Art Director: Vincent Nghiem

Music by Yoshimata Ryo

Anime Production by HORNETS, Satelight

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Featuring the following voice talent:

Minase Inori/Corina Boettger as Somali

Ono Daisuke/Kyle Hebert as Golem

Kobayashi Yu/Alex Cazares as Kikila

Takagaki Ayahi/Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Praline

Hayami Saori/Cristina Vee as Uzoi

Suzuki Tatsuhisa/Kyle McCarley as Yabashira

Nanami Hiroki/Lucien Dodge as Shizuno

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The Golem has encountered many odd beings and animals in the years he has protected the forest. Yet… when he finds the small creature wandering alone, he is affected in an odd way. A young female human!

How did she come to be in his forest? The Golem cannot ask. He does not speak. But while there are many things that love humans, it is because they find them tasty, so he must protect this “girl” if she is to survive. That means he must help her find a safe place and other guardians, as the Golem’s own days are nearly done. But as he escorts Somali on this quest, a strange thing happens. What is this unusual feeling? Join a journey measured in far more than miles as two unique souls bond!

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Gureishi Yako created a fantasy online manga series titled “Somari to Mori no Kamisama” (Somali and the Forest Spirit) for “Web Comic Zenyon” back in 2015.

In 2020, a 12-episode anime adaptation was produced by Satelight and HORNETS and was co-produced by Crunchyroll and aired on television.  And now the anime adaptation will be released on Blu-ray courtesy of Sentai Filmworks.

The series begins with an introduction to a Golem, whose job is to protect the forest and make sure that life continues as it has, with no threat to the animals, insects and plants.

Upon walking in the forest, he comes across a girl in shackles.  The girl looks at him and calls him “father”.

The story of “Somali and the Forest Spirit” begins and is set during a time when the world is ruled by spirits, goblins and creatures.  Because humans deemed these other creatures as monsters and tried to annihilate them, the creatures fought back and won.  Humans have now been persecuted and not many live, if anything, they are considered as delicacies.

As the Golem is on an adventure with the young girl who he has raised.  Despite not being human and having no emotions, he tries to understand why Somali behaves with so much energy and is always curious.

While traveling, he makes her wear clothes to make people think she is a young minotaur but many people who come across the two have seen Somali as a person who truly loves Golem like a father.

But the reason for the adventures, unknown to Somali, is that Golem can only live for 1,000 years and he has lived more that 998 years and wants to find her family before he dies.

Will Golem find her parents?  Why as Somali found with shackles?  Will Somali want to be separated to the one thing she considers as her father?

For those who want an anime series that’s not long, doesn’t stray too far of being dark but keeping a more familial type of storyline between a young girl and a golem, whom she regards as a father.

It’s no doubt a fun storyline but also one of adventure and danger, considering that Somali is a young girl who tends to not listen to her golem father and her curiosity tends to get her in a bit of trouble.  Which is bad, because she is human and humans are not welcome in the current world of creatures, who look upon them as food.

But it’s an anime series that keeps you glued because you wonder if Golem will find her family before he dies?  But also makes you wonder why Somali was found with shackles.

As for the Blu-ray release, it’s a barebones release with no special features. The character design is well-done as well as the lush, colorful backgrounds featured throughout the anime series. And it looks great in HD. Acting for both Japanese and English dialogue are well-done!

If anything, most people will find “Somali and the Forest Spirit” to be entertaining and fun.  Satelight and HORNETS did a wonderful job with overall animation and for those who love short, entertaining adventure series, “Somali and the Forest Spirit – Complete Collection” is recommended!

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Click here to purchase this Blu-ray on Amazon