Dhruv Sharma
The obsession of the anime creators with apocalyptic worlds very well comes in tandem with Netflix’s fixation towards creating sci-fi anime. So, here we are again with yet another sci-fi anime, ‘Cagaster of an Insect Cage,’ which is reminiscent of other well-known anime like ‘Attack on Titan‘ and ‘Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress,’ and in some ways, also reminds you of Netflix’s ‘A.I.C.O Incarnation‘ and ‘7 Seeds.’
In its runtime of 12 episodes, with each one being about 25 minutes long, ‘Cagaster of an Insect Cage’ manages to bring in a satisfying conclusion to all of its plot points while maintaining a decent pace. However, it is still as mainstream as a sci-fi anime can ever be and comes nowhere close to being brilliant. It has own moments where it exudes awesomeness and shows a whole lot of potential, but its evident flaws cannot be overlooked.
Cagaster of an Insect Cage Plot
‘Cagaster of an Insect Cage’ is set in a futuristic world where a deadly epidemic called ‘Cagaster’ has surfaced. As a consequence of this, several humans have turned into giant insect-like creatures who feast on other mortal humans. The story of the anime begins in the year 2125 where a young boy named Kidou makes a living by exterminating Cagasters. Cagasters cannot be killed by bullets or blades as the outer shell of their body is almost impenetrable. But exterminators like Kidou take it upon themselves to find a weak spot that lies on top of their bodies and they use their special blades to strike them there.
During one of his Cagaster hunting endeavors, Kidou is entrusted with taking care of a young girl named Illie. In the events that follow, Illie turns out to be a lot more inhuman that she initially seemed, the dystopian world around them gets darker by the second and what started off as an outbreak of disease, soon turns into a massive war.
Cagaster of an Insect Cage Review
‘Cagaster of an Insect Cage’ starts with a roar, exploding right out of the gate with 3-D animated high-octane action scenes that lure you with the mysteries surrounding the Cagasters. However, soon after this, it becomes relatively slower and falls back to the cliches of other similar anime shows. Now if ‘Cagaster of an Insect Cage’ had premiered five years ago, its premise would feel a lot more unique than it does as back in the day, the whole idea of carnivorous monsters ruling the world was fairly new.
The first few episodes roll in without creating a lasting impact and as a viewer, you’re very likely to give on it within this span. However, somewhere near its fourth episode, the anime starts to reinforce character development through flashbacks and this is how it creates more of an illusion of a plot. So from a story standpoint, it does not really offer anything new.
The anime has a very intriguing cast of characters and out of these, almost all the primary characters get enough development throughout its runtime. Kidou, the main male character, seems to be stoic and all badass on the outside, fitting right in with every shounen trope you can think of. But what makes him stand out are the inner demons that he struggles with. When it comes to Illie, her character seems to be far less impactful as compared to Kidou. And the supernatural twist that the anime brings to her character is certainly not predictable, but it isn’t surprising either.
There are some worse-off scenes and a few minor glitches in its animation here and there. But apart from that, ‘Cagaster of an Insect Cage’ has a spectacular production value. Its animation almost serves a bait that makes you stare at your screen in amazement and it’s this part of the anime evokes a desire to stick around for more. Even so, the fact that it has 3-D animation like almost all the other Netflix shows, can be a little problematic for viewers who despise the whole 3-D style of animation. When it comes to its other technical elements, the opening theme is far from “mood-setting” and you’ll probably find yourself skipping right through it from the initial episodes itself. Even the background scores, for the most part, go unnoticed.
Overall, ‘Cagaster of an Insect Cage’ creates a memorable experience for viewers through its high-flying action scenes and its dark political themes. On the downside, though, it does not feel different from all the other sci-fi or shounen shows that have preceded it. So if you’re expecting a revolutionary masterpiece of anime out of this one, you will be left disappointed.
Rating: 3/5
