Promare Review Roundup

Kamina...is that you? PROMARE, the first feature-length film from the acclaimed studio TRIGGER, (creators of the hit series KILL la KILL and Little Witch Academia), and director Hiroyuki Imaishi (GURREN LAGANN, KILL la KILL), sees a world where thirty years have passed since the appearance of the Burnish, a race of flame-wielding mutant beings, who destroyed half of the world with fire. As with its main protagonist, this new Japanese Animated film shares a lot with TRIGGER's previous work but, does it stack up in quality? Here's the review roundup:

ROGER EBERT 3/5
"The battle scenes are arguably too much of a good thing. They are almost constant, and almost always feature a hero looking at a villain and screaming “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!” and they often do this almost a half dozen times in an individual face off. Also, the songs and theme music are not just cheesy but practically always present; you have to build a tolerance for it quick if it’s not your cup of tea. Still, there’s a lot of crunch and dazzle here. While the overall tone is pitched to a teen demographic, the creative energy and the execution on display is consistently engaging." 

Clickhere for the full review.

VARIETY 
"The film offers no shortage of action sequences set in a visually stunning space, but all that energy feels like overcompensation for the lack of narrative development. While the results are entertaining, there’s a nagging feeling of a missed opportunity to be much more than a generic action film, had Imaishi only chosen to explore more of the experimental aspects the film introduces. As presented with “Promare,” it’s best not to think too deeply and appreciate the view."

Click here for the full review.

IGN 8/10
"Promare is a great debut film out of Studio Trigger. Its characters burn bright with stylish designs and fun personalities, but the action is the real scene-stealer. Time split between protagonists Galo and Lio’s conflicts in a world on fire is done well, though the movie would have been stronger with tighter editing to flesh out some finer character details. Promare is littered with Trigger references too, so much so that even the movie’s structure is reminiscent of the director and writer’s past work. That’s hardly a problem, though, as that just means Promare keeps escalating to bigger and more exciting fight sequences."

Click here for the full review.

THE LA TIMES 
"The mechanical devices and even the explosions are equally stylized and graphic. After seeing every leaf on every bush in so many features, it’s fun to sit back and enjoy a film that pushes its look and palette beyond mere reality to create a fantasy world that could exist only in animation."

​Click here for the full review.

DEN OF GEEK 4.5/5
"It’s wise that Trigger refuses to hold back for their first feature effort. Insane action and lovable characters give Promare life and, at nearly two hours long, it’s a film that flies by. This is not just some visual extravaganza and orgasm for the eyes, but there’s enough substance here that this feels like a real film and not just some glorified animation project that got into theaters. It’s the perfect kind of escapism that doesn’t overstay its welcome but also makes every minute count. Promare will no doubt be one of the most beautiful animated films that you see in 2019, and it points toward a bright future for its studio."

Click here for the full review.

PROMARE is currently a whopping 92% on Rotten Tomatoes after 12 counts. As seen in the above trailers, the film truly embraces its GURREN LAGANN roots, an anime series that is very dear to my heart for its insane animations and action. The film is already out in Japan and recently released in the States but, it's unlikely it will come to these shores.

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