Is Gibiate worth watching? A Complete Review

Gibiate (Jibiēto) is based in a post-apocalyptic future of Tokyo city. A virus outbreak called Gibia has infected people which mutates them into monsters depending on their age, sex, and race.

The series is an original Japanese anime television series directed by Masahiko Komino at studios Lunch Box and Studio Elle and written by Ryō Aoki. The series premiered on July 15, 2020.

 Crunchyroll will stream the series as a Crunchyroll Original anime in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and the Middle East.

The story takes place in Japan in the year 2030. The Earth has been completely overrun by a viral disease named “Gibia” that turns infected people into various different monsters, based upon their personal characteristics.

1.Quick Review

The series is set in a grim and dystopian Japan. A virus called “Gibia” has infected humans throughout the world. The infected people turn into different monsters based on their age, or race.

A samurai and a ninja from the early Edo period travel together through time and arrive in a ruined Japan to aid a professor who is working on a cure for the virus.

GIBIATE | A Crunchyroll Original | OFFICIAL TRAILER

Together, they fight countless Gibia monsters, outlaws, and other fierce foes on their journey to save humanity from extinction.

The interaction between the characters does not seem very realistic. When the two protagonists time-travel from the past to this dystopian future,  one seems to want to question if there is any truth to it and go along with the plot. The show seems to revolve around an isekai genre of anime.

In any ideal storyline, the protagonists would have to show proof or justify what they are doing or why they are there in the first place.

The hurdles that they would have to jump over to confirm something as unheard of as time travel would have added to the richness of the storyline.

2.Info Card

3. Is it worth watching?

Gibiate is worth watching for the unique story if nothing else. The 2D-like animation and some parts of the plot don’t quite make sense.

You’re telling me a samurai and ninja time-traveled during a virus outbreak and you wouldn’t have any questions about how that was possible?.

The show has a lot to unpack- time-travel, a virus outbreak, and crazy looking Gibia monsters that the protagonists have to fight off.

I. Plot

The story unfolds in the city of Tokyo, Japan. A virus outbreak has covered the earth and once infected, patients become monsters and change their form depending on age, and nationality. The virus is called “Gibia”.

An Edo era time-traveling samurai and shinobi appear in the post-apocalyptic ruins. Helping a doctor who has dedicated his career for researching the cure for “Gibia”, hordes of Gibia monsters come after them along with outlaws searching for food – everywhere they turn, danger surrounds them.

II. Characters

Sensui Kanzaki is the typically quiet, manly protagonist. He is a samurai who has traveled from the early Edo period.

He is also known as “Senningiri” or “thousand men slasher” as he has cut down many enemies with his twin swords of Japanese Katana and Western sword. He, however, made himself a commandment against killing now.

Kenroku Sanada has time-traveled with Sensui from the Edo period. He is a chatty character who is cheerful and energetic. He fights against the Gibias using his bombs.

Sensui and Kenroku are seen with Kathleen Funada in the first episode. She is introduced as the naive and hopeful high school girl who first stumbled upon our heroes. She manages to save them just as they enter modern, monster-infested Japan.

Kathleen Funada is Dr.Yoshinaga’s assistant. He has dedicated his life to finding a cure for the virus.

The three characters aid Dr.Yoshinaga in saving mankind. They’re all basic standard and generic rather than unique, attention-grabbing characters.

III. Setting

The series takes place in a dark and dystopian Tokyo in the year 2030 where everything has gone to ruins during a virus outbreak.

IV. Theme Songs

The opening theme song “Gibiate” is performed by Sugizo and the Yoshida Brothers. The music sounds like a fusion of traditional and current rock culture.

The OP definitely sets the mood for the story we witness in the series. The visuals during the opening theme song also highlight the main characters that we will be following during the show.

Sugizo performs the ending theme song “Endless” with Maki Ohguro. The song starts off with calming flute-like music and builds up with Maki Ohguro singing about finding salvation in a now dark and desolate world.

4. Grade

5. Final Thoughts

Gibiate has an interesting storyline and fine music but the characters written to carry it out are quite generic.

The show which has the potential to be an “ultimate survival action” anime comes with a disappointing two-dimensional animation and overall, leaves muc