Ganglion [Season 1 Episode 1]

Ganglion Season 1 Episode 1: The 3-Minute Villain That Left Fans Begging for More

Imagine logging onto MyAnimeList at 2 a.m., scrolling through new releases, and stumbling on a title that screams “edgy anime villainy”—Ganglion. You hit play, grab your snacks, and… wait, why’s the ending theme already rolling? If you’re like most fans who binged Episode 1 the second it dropped on October 3, 2025, you probably stared at your screen like, “THAT’S IT?!” But here’s the tea: those 3 tiny minutes might just be the start of something weirdly brilliant.

Let’s cut to the chase: Ganglion isn’t your typical anime. Directed by Ayumu Watanabe (the guy behind Space Brothers—yes, really) and animated by… well, we’re still low-key confused who’s animating it (thanks, sparse Wikipedia!), this show’s whole vibe is “what if The Office but everyone’s a villain in spandex.” Episode 1 drops us straight into early 2000s Tokyo, where Kenji Isobe (voiced by Yujiro Kakuda) isn’t just any 9-to-5 drone—he’s a combatant for the evil Ganglion Corporation. Think: your dad’s boring office job, but instead of Excel spreadsheets, he’s executing the “Tokyo Cedar Pollen Operation” (yes, that’s a real plot point) in a skin-tight bodysuit. Relatable? Maybe not, but hilarious? Abso-freaking-lutely.

But let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the runtime. Fans on MAL lost their minds over the 3-minute episode. One user ranted, “It looked promising but with just 3 mins, we basically get nothing…” while another begged, “Wish they would have just made 1 or 2 normal length instead.” Even the die-hard optimists were like, “Great start… but wtf are those 3 minutes???????” (shoutout to Comment 15 for that iconic meltdown). And can we blame them? We barely get to see Isobe’s “villainous” routine—just a quick montage of him suiting up, grumbling about work, and… that’s it. No epic fight scenes (despite the YouTube thumbnail lying to us), no big bad reveal, just… corporate villainy vibes.

But here’s the twist: fans are obsessed with the concept. The top comments? They’re all about the “daily life of the evil corporate salaryman” angle. One user called it a “dark comedy on the hardships of an henchmen as a commentary on the suckish nature of the 9-5 corporate job”—and honestly? Chef’s kiss. Another hyped, “Looking forward to this as a SOL of daily life of the evil corporate salaryman. Enjoying the approach so far it is a hard trope to break down.” Let’s be real: who hasn’t felt like a villain just trying to survive a Monday morning meeting? Isobe’s struggle? Relatable content.

The animation? Even the haters had to admit it’s clean. Fans praised the “stunning animation” (YouTube wasn’t lying about that) and “good style, good acting”—shoutout to Satoshi Tanaka’s deadpan delivery as Isobe’s grumpy coworker. It’s like if One Punch Man and Aggretsuko had a baby that hates its job. And let’s not sleep on the voice cast: Yujiro Kakuda nails the “I’m too tired for this villainy” energy, while Saki Yonemoto’s cameo as the snarky receptionist had fans like, “We need more of her!”

Now, the drama: subbing chaos. Remember Comment 14? The legend who announced, “I’ll release the subbed ver in less than 12 hours after WEB-DL release”? Heroes don’t wear capes—they sub random short anime. Fans were thirsty for subs, with one user crying, “Not foundable anywhere for now :(“ (same, tbh). And let’s not forget the memes: Comment 3’s iconic take on villain speeches—“so that’s why in most superhero show, the hero won’t attack in the middle of villain speech… it’s part of the SOP”—had the whole forum laughing. We’ve all seen that trope, but Ganglion? It’s making fun of it, and we’re here for it.

So, is Ganglion Episode 1 worth your 3 minutes? Abso-freaking-lutely. It’s not perfect—those 3 minutes feel like a teaser for a show we desperately want more of—but the concept is gold. It’s a love letter to anyone who’s ever hated their job, wrapped in a spandex suit and a side of dark humor. As one fan put it: “better than 90% of the shows this season, lowkey ambitious for something with a 3 minutes runtime.”

Final verdict? If you’re into weird, short-form anime that makes you laugh and think (and maybe cringe at your own 9-5), Ganglion is your new obsession. Just don’t forget to set a timer—those 3 minutes fly by faster than Isobe’s coffee break. And hey, if the next episode is still 3 minutes? We’ll still be watching. Because sometimes, the best things come in tiny, villainous packages.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to buy a bodysuit and file a complaint about my boss. Ganglion has awakened something in me.

— A very sleep-deprived anime fan who’s definitely not writing this during work hours.

P.S. If you find subs, share the link. We’re all in this villainous corporate hell together. 🦹♂️💼