Talentless Nana | Anime Review

This review is SPOILER-FREE.

When it comes to a superhero school setting, one would expect a superhero adventure story. But what if it got turned into a psychological thriller instead?

How would a story, seemingly combining two contrasting genres, unfold? Would you be interested to see a show with such a scenario? If you are, then I recommend you to give Talentless Nana a try.

Story

The world is apparently under the threat of maliscious monters called the Enemies of Humanity. In response, the government has gathered various students gifted with superpowers, referred to as the talented. These soon-to-be superheroes were placed in a special school on an isolated island to undergo training. However, for some reason, a talentless student (one with no superpowers) enrolled in the same special institution.

The anime provides a somewhat unique twist to the common premise or setting of a superhero academy. Despite its art style, the series is a psychological thriller, and is more of a suspenseful story than an action-packed superhero adventure.

The talentless student, who, unlike their peers, lacks any supernatural abilities, shares the same goal of defeating the Enemies of Humanity. But they do so through psychological methods of manipulation and deceit.

It’s like a Death Note and My Hero Academia crossover. That is the kind of vibe this show gives off. And much like Death Note, a cat and mouse game takes place in the anime between two leading characters.

Characters

The protagonist has an interesting background veiled in mystery. However, I don’t want to disclose their identity. Their introduction was done through a well-executed twist in the first episode, so I think it’s best to experience it without prior knowledge. The same goes for the deuteragonist who serves as their rival in the aforementioned cat and mouse game.

As for the other casts members, most of them fall under common anime character troupes like the fiery bully (with fire powers, of course) and the handsome, cool guy of the class (and yes, with ice powers).

But some of them do stand out, especially as we get to know more about them (their abilities and background) as the series goes on. If there’s one thing that’s common for a lot of the characters in the show, it’s that there’s more to them than meets the eye.

Art & Animation

The art style and animation looks vibrant and could even be described as a bit “cartoonish”. Some might get turned off by this, adding to the contrast between its setting and genre, but hopefully they stick around until the third episode where the anime actually pops off.

As for the fight scenes, which is expected for a series with superpowered characters, they were pretty okay. It wasn’t eye-catching or anything, but not too bad either. I guess action wasn’t the main focus of the show, but the suspense.

Final Thoughts & Rating

Talentless Nana is an interesting blend of a superhero academia setting and psychological thriller. As a fan of Death Note, the battle of wits between the two lead characters is what got me hooked in the anime. If you’re into that as well, then this is something I recommend you to check out.

Rating: (7/10)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Similar Recommendations:

• B: The Beginning
• Death Note

For more information on Talentless Nana, visit MAL: https://myanimelist.net/anime/41619/Munou_na_Nana