Night Raid 1931

About Night Raid 1931

If you are hunting for a new action series, Night Raid 1931 (閃光のナイトレイド) deserves a look (2010). The setup goes like this. The premise: The year is 1931. The town is Shanghai.

Next up: Ten years before America will enter World War II, the hydra's teeth planted by the first great global conflict are beginning to germinate. Hatching like spiders, they weave the complex web of plots and conspiracies destined to inevitably draw entire nations to the brink of destruction. Caught in the heart of these webs, desperately seeking to separate lies from truth, is "Sakurai Kikan," an ultra-secret intelligence agency staffed by extraordinarily talented individuals with abilities far beyond those of normal.

In an action series like this, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. Voice work is led by Daisuke Namikawa as Kazura Iha and Takanori Hoshino as Natsume Kagiya. This one is best suited to viewers who like fast, high-impact fights. At 13 episodes in total, it is easy to plan a viewing schedule.

Production & Appeal

A-1 Pictures is the studio behind Night Raid 1931, and its direction shapes everything from character design to motion. Within the action category, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. With a 6.5/10 score, it is more of a niche pick than a universal crowd-pleaser. On the casting side, Daisuke Namikawa voicing Kazura Iha gives the lead role a recognizable voice. It aired in 2010, which makes it easy to place in the wider anime calendar.