Lycoris Recoil is an original anime, so there’s only so much we can work out. However, the first episodes have now aired, so here’s what we know so far.
What is Lycoris Recoil About?
Lycoris Recoil was originally marketed as a comedy anime following two young girls working at a Japanese cafe that caters to every order. However, closer to the anime’s premiere, an action element was teased, and this played a big role in episode 1. Lycoris Recoil takes place in a future Tokyo that appears perfectly peaceful and crime-free. That’s thanks to agents called Lycoris – young girls that clinically subdue criminals before they can do any crime. Takina is a talented but hard-headed agent. When she doesn’t follow orders during a mission, she’s reassigned to Lycoris Recoil, a Japanese cafe that doubles as a hub for Lycoris. Lycoris Recoil is the workplace of Chisato, a bright and excitable waitress who also happens to be one of the best Lycoris (Lycori?) in the business. Chisato eagerly takes Takina under her wing, with the two working together to excel at both their jobs and earn back Takina’s standing as an agent. Lycoris Recoil is created by Asaura (Ben-To), with character designs by Muru Imigi, the mangaka behind This Art Club Has a Problem. The original anime is directed by Shingo Adachi, who was the animation director for the hit restaurant comedy Working!!
Is Lycoris Recoil a Gay or Yuri Anime?
Despite a lot of rumours surrounding the show, there has been nothing to confirm whether or not Lycoris Recoil is a yuri anime. However, it’s very likely there will be yuri themes, if not an actual gay romance. The most notable series created by Asaura previously, Ben-To, was also a yuri anime, which first fuelled speculation. So far, Lycoris Recoil has purposely hinted at the possibility of a lesbian relationship at the heart of the story, particularly strongly during episode 3: So far, everything can be seen as the start of a beautiful relationship. Whether that love is romantic or something else, we’ll have to wait and see.
What Genre is Lycoris Recoil?
At its core, Lycoris Recoil is a comedy anime with some slice-of-life themes. However, action will also be a key part of the story. It’s likely that the director Adachi will take inspiration from his time on Working, a great example of restaurant-based comedy, and combine that with the attitude of Asaura’s Ben-To. Working was a comedy slice-of-life anime with a restaurant as its centrepiece. That series was permeated with different romances and couples but kept the comedy angle at the forefront for most episodes. So far, Lycoris Recoil has centered on the relationship between the main characters, with plenty of comedy moments between their differing personalities. However, it’s likely the series will become more action-orientated in the future, as the main conflict starts to emerge. So, if you’re not sure if Lycoris Recoil is for you, I would urge you to give it a shot! It has all the ingredients to be one of those quirky comedy anime that fans talk about for many years.
