Action anime series involving competitive fighting often feature fairly ridiculous premises, but few are quite as incredible as the plot of Hand Shakers. Invited to a scientific institute, young Tazuna finds mute, white-haired girl Koyori sleeping; when he approaches, she awakens and grabs his hand, after which a researcher named Makihara informs the boy that if he lets go, she will die. Tazuna and Koyori have become Hand Shakers, destined to battle similar teams with special abilities in an alternate reality called Ziggurat, all for the right to be granted a wish by God (although it is later suggested that some players desire to challenge, or even kill, God). As the narrative progresses, Team Gear (so-called after Tazuna’s mechanical aptitude) faces off against five other teams, although except for Koyori anyone killed or wounded in Ziggurat will be returned to life and health after coming back to the real world. Why Koyori differs from the other players will be revealed in time, as will the dark motivations of some ancillary characters. Marred by oddly garish animation, Hand Shakers is as visually unattractive as it is narratively peculiar. Presenting all 12 episodes from 2017 in a dual-language Blu-ray/DVD Combo set, rated TV-14, extras include a bonus OVA episode. Not recommended. (F. Swietek)
Hand Shakers
(2017) 4 discs. 300 min. Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $64.98. Funimation (avail. from most distributors). Volume 33, Issue 5
Hand Shakers
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