Madhouse Released Its Biggest Fumble in Fall 2025, But the Manga Still Deserves a Chance

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2025 brought a fantastic lineup of anime, with popular series like Solo Leveling and Dandadan returning for new seasons. The year also saw exciting new shows debut, including Gachiakuta, Witch Watch, and several other captivating titles. However, not every new series was a success; Wandance, a performing arts anime, unfortunately didn’t connect with viewers. Given the manga’s positive reviews and the fact that it was animated by the renowned studio Madhouse, many had expected it to be a hit.

Wandance gained attention, but unfortunately, it was for negative reasons, leading many to question the capabilities of Madhouse, the studio behind popular shows like Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Orb: On the Movements of the Earth, and Sonny Boy. Madhouse has a strong reputation built over 50 years, and while not every series is a huge success, their work is generally highly regarded. They’ve worked with Cyclone Graphics before on lesser-known shows like Forest of Piano, but this time, the animation quality didn’t meet expectations, and there’s a clear explanation why.

Wandance’s Animation Is Its Biggest Weakness

Despite a lot of hype, the series Wandance is likely to fail because of its poor animation. The dance sequences, which should be smooth and flowing, look awkward and jerky due to unappealing 3D models. The animation relies too heavily on CGI, and the combination of 2D and 3D styles doesn’t capture the charm of the original manga. While the manga’s artwork isn’t outstanding, it’s still visually engaging. However, the dances are better suited to animation than they would be in still images.

It’s a shame when a great manga doesn’t find a new audience because of a disappointing anime adaptation. The difference in ratings on MyAnimeList is striking – the anime currently has a score of 6.35 after just two episodes, which is quite low compared to the manga’s 7.87, even with more people voting on it. The initial response to the anime has been generally negative.

The Fall 2025 anime season is shaping up to be fantastic, with highly anticipated shows like My Hero Academia: Final Season, Spy x Family: Season 3, Gintama – Mr. Ginpachi’s Zany Class, and To Your Eternity: Season 3 leading the way. With several popular sequels and new series like Sanda and May I Ask for One Final Thing? already gaining attention, it might be tough for Wandance to stand out, particularly after the mixed reaction to its first episode.

Despite the Unsatisfactory Anime Adaptation, Wandance Manga Is Still Worth Reading

This 2019 manga by Coffee is a heartwarming story about Kaboku Kotani, a new high school student who struggles with self-doubt and prefers to blend in. He also has a difficult past that prevents him from enjoying dance. The story beautifully explores themes of isolation and anxiety as Kaboku slowly gains confidence, all while weaving together hip-hop dance, compelling characters, and a touch of romance.

I noticed him completely captivated when he saw Hikari Wanda – she was incredibly cute and a dancer, too. I watched as he tried to decide which club to join, and then he saw her practice in the hallway. It wasn’t just that she was beautiful, though; she seemed completely free when she danced, and that really drew him in. He’d been teased in middle school for his lack of rhythm, but watching Hikari sparked something in him – a dream he hadn’t even considered before.

Kaboku hesitantly joins Hikari’s Dance Club and struggles at first, but she supports him instead of making fun of him. He starts dancing hoping it will help him feel more liberated, and as he improves, he discovers a newfound passion – and his feelings for Hikari deepen.

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2025-10-21 01:42