ANIME REVIEW: The New Gate (Non-Spoiler)

Entering the saturated realm of isekai anime, The New Gate initially appears to offer little beyond the tired tropes of protagonists trapped in virtual worlds or alternate dimensions. While it hints at potential with its premise, promising a blend of battles, leveling up, and quirky companions, it ultimately delivers little of substance.

Our protagonist, Shin, finds himself trapped in a fantasy world that suspiciously resembles the VR game he just conquered. Lucky him, right? Well, not exactly. While everyone else is busy grinding levels and slaying monsters, Shin is just trying to figure out how to not accidentally become the overlord of this whole dimension.

The animation throughout The New Gate is generally crisp, capturing the fantasy world’s vibrant hues and the characters’ distinctive designs. However, as we reach the grand finale in episode 12, it seems the animators decided to “not to paid.” Suddenly, movements become jerky, backgrounds lack detail, and characters resemble cardboard cutouts more than heroic avatars. It’s like watching a high-stakes battle through a foggy window, with animation errors popping up like NPCs in an overcrowded server.

Despite these hiccups, The New Gate manages to wrap up its narrative with all the finesse of a player hitting the “skip cutscene” button—efficiently, if not gracefully. Shin’s journey from virtual hero to accidental dimension-hopper is a rollercoaster ride that’s worth the occasional graphical glitch. Just remember to lower your expectations as you approach the final episode, or prepare to see Shin and company go out with a pixelated whimper.

In essence, The New Gate feels like what Sword Art Online would have been if it decided to be the English dub of Ghost Stories, but worse.