Chained Soldier [Season 1]

Alright, let’s dive into Chained Soldier Season 1. First off, this anime is based on the manga Mato Seihei no Slave by Takahiro and Yohei Takemura, which has been serialized on Shueisha’s Shōnen Jump+ since 2019. The anime, animated by Seven Arcs, aired from January to March 2024. The story follows Yuuki Wakura, a high school student whose life takes a wild turn after his sister disappears during a “Mato disaster.” He stumbles into Mato, a demonic dimension, and ends up forming a contract with Kyouka Uzen, a commander of the Anti-Demon Corps. The catch? Their power comes from a “slave” pact, where Yuuki gains strength by being “chained” to Kyouka.

Now, let’s talk about what fans are saying. The biggest buzz (or should I say, frustration) revolves around censorship and animation quality. A lot of viewers are upset that even the “uncensored” version of Episode 4 feels watered down. One fan rants, “Both the action and the fan service are trash as hell with the action being ugly CGI and the fan service even being censored in the uncensored version.” Ouch. Another adds, “The anime is failing hard being overtaken completely by gushing over magical girls.” Wait, magical girls? Oh right, there’s a running joke comparing it to Mahou Shoujo ni Akogarete, which some fans say does ecchi way better.

Censorship isn’t the only issue. The pacing is rushed, and character development feels lacking. “The theme of slave aside everything else feels very generic and fast,” one viewer notes. Others point fingers at the director, who they claim hasn’t handled ecchi well in decades. “What do you expect from an almost 70-year-old director whose recent directorial works are all non-ecchi low-scored anime… His last well-known ecchi work is from more than 27 years ago.” Yikes, that’s a mouthful.

But it’s not all hate. Some fans are sticking around for the absurdity. “I think it’s just funny for the wrong reasons of course lol its so bad with the censors and stuff its turning into a meme I swear,” one user laughs. Another admits, “I’ll admit it’s not perfect but the absurdity and sheer shamelessness of this anime make it really fun to watch.” There’s also hope for the Blu-ray release, with some suggesting, “be patient and wait for BD release before slamming the show for censorship.”

The CGI action scenes are another sore spot. Fans complain they look cheap and take away from the “hardcore ecchi” vibe the show is supposed to have. “Even the ecchi at that is subpar having censored scene on the uncensored version,” a disappointed viewer says. Meanwhile, others are already jumping ship to the manga. “If y’all don’t like the censorship just stick with the manga. It’s that simple,” someone advises.

There’s also a heated debate about whether the censorship is due to Western values creeping in. One user rants, “It really shows how the majority of anime fans now are just SJWs/tourists who want to sanitize anime and manga so it aligns with their own western values.” But others push back, saying, “No one in this thread is praising ‘censorship’—not this thread, but go look at the others.”

So, who’s enjoying it? A few anime-only viewers are along for the ride. “As someone who is currently anime only with this series, I like how the anime is going so far. I don’t really mind the CGI, it could’ve definitely been worse,” one says. Another adds, “Imma just watch it and not give a shit.”

In the end, Chained Soldier Season 1 is a mixed bag. It’s got a wild premise and some fun moments, but the censorship, rushed pacing, and CGI issues are turning off a lot of fans. If you’re into ecchi with a side of demon-slaying, you might still find it entertaining—just don’t go in expecting the manga’s level of intensity. And hey, if all else fails, there’s always the manga to fall back on!