Mob Psycho 100

Eighth-grader Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama has tapped into his inner wellspring of psychic prowess at a young age. But the power quickly proves to be a liability when he realizes the potential danger in his skills. Choosing to suppress his power, Mob's only present use for his ability is to impress his longtime crush, Tsubomi, who soon grows bored of the same tricks.

In order to effectuate control on his skills, Mob enlists himself under the wing of Arataka Reigen, a con artist claiming to be a psychic, who exploits Mob's powers for pocket change. Now, exorcising evil spirits on command has become a part of Mob's daily, monotonous life. However, the psychic energy he exerts is barely the tip of the iceberg; if his vast potential and unrestrained emotions run berserk, a cataclysmic event that would render him completely unrecognizable will be triggered. The progression toward Mob's explosion is rising and attempting to stop it is futile.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Reigen, Arataka Main

Sakurai, Takahiro Japanese

Kageyama, Shigeo Main

Itou, Setsuo Japanese

Ekubo Main

Ootsuka, Akio Japanese

Kageyama, Ritsu Main

Irino, Miyu Japanese

Hanazawa, Teruki ing

Matsuoka, Yoshitsugu Japanese

Gouda, Musashi ing

Seki, Toshihiko Japanese

Kurata, Tome ing

Tanezaki, Atsumi Japanese

Suzuki, Shou ing

Kokuryu, Sachi Japanese

Onigawara, Tenga ing

Hosoya, Yoshimasa Japanese

Suzuki, Touichirou ing

Inoue, Kazuhiko Japanese

Bezerra, Wendel Producer

Matsuda, Akio Producer

Fukuda, Jun Producer

Nagano, Yuuki Producer

Reviews

Sep 26, 2016

Stark700

Recommended

There’s probably a million ways to describe Mob Psycho 100. One simple word is just exciting. How can it not be? It’s by the same creator of one of the most talked about shows from 2015, One-Punch Man. As a reader of the source material, I can also firmly say that the show’s trailers and hype is legitimate. Not in the legitimate way that it’s the best anime of the century. It’s more of legitimate excellency that represents classic supernatural entertainment.

Even if you’re unfamiliar ONE’s work, you’ll easily recognize that Mob Psycho 100 isn’t just a show with traditional artwork. The visual follows the manga ... pretty closely while the action sequences are animated by a famed studio, Bones. Plus, we got director Yuzuru Tachikawa on board as part of the staff. Known for his work such as Death Parade, Terror in Tokyo, and Kill la Kill, it’s definitely something to get excited about. Fans of the franchise will be also be pleased to know that Kawai Kenji is the sound director, known for famous works such as the Ghost in the Shell franchise, Gundam 00, and the more recent Joker Game. Still, Mob Psycho 100 is beyond what just the staff has to offer.

It’s not always so simple to understand the visual representation of Mob Psycho 100. Taking a closer look at the storytelling will give you a better idea as we are introduced to the main characters. At its core, we have main protagonist Shigeo Kageyama, otherwise known as Mob. He is a 14 year old kid attending a school with an average life. However, it’s immediately obvious that he is a special because of his ESP powers. Events in the story causes his powers to go unstable and Mob finds himself difficult to be “normal”. The premise is pretty simple on paper, right? An ordinary kid who tries to live a normal life with abnormal ability is the basic idea. However, the series delivers many scenarios where Mob uses his powers way more than he should. For a kid who wants a normal life, he gets into many abnormal situations which puts himself at risk. Still, this isn’t exactly the case as we’ll see how powerful Mob is. While he isn’t a Saitama 2.0, Mob’s abilities are not to be underestimated. In many battles he’s been in, Mob is able to overpower his opponents, sometimes without even realizing it. It’s interesting to also see what often triggers Mob to get involved in such unusual events. Social peer pressure and bullying are a few factors. Mob also seeks iration and even wants to impress a girl he likes so this leads to him making mistakes at times. I mean, he is still human and humans make mistakes.

Even though he is the titular character, the show doesn’t neglect its others especially with characters such as Reigen, Ritsu (Mob’s younger brother), Teruki, and Dimple. Ritsu has really grown to me as a very interesting character. Unlike Mob, he is very clever and often uses trickery to get what he wants. Sometimes, he even treats life as if it’s a game where playing the right cards will win. What most impresses me about Ritsu is his own self-awareness and how despite being powerless in the beginning, he is able to rise up as a leader. It’s also shown that he has an inferiority complex compared to his brother (because he originally lacked special powers) and that causes himself to express doubt. This eventually also turns into guilt and there’s reasoning for redemption.

Reigen is also an interesting character who is known as “Mob’s master”. He claims a lot of things and often speaks and lies with the truth. Despite being manipulative, he isn’t a bad guy and often looks out after Mob’ well-being. He also offers good advice to Mob including what really makes someone a “better person”. One weakness that I do find about him though is his unwillingness to it mistakes. Somewhere in between, there’s Teruki (“Teru”). I have to it though, this guy has one of the most ridiculous hair styles I’ve ever seen from ONE’s work. Unlike Mob, he freely uses his esper powers like if they are God’s holy gift. What makes him interesting is how after meeting Mob, Teru undergoes a big change in his character. It’s like a bully that reinvents himself after getting put to his place for the first time in their life. Quite iconic if you ask me. Finally, Dimple strikes to me as the most mysterious character. In fact, he isn’t even human! He’s actually a spirit who even at one time had his own cult. What makes him interesting is despite having a God-like complex and ego, Dimple also wants others succeed in particular Mob. With such a colorful character cast in this series, expectations are met especially when it comes to creativity.

Despite the story looking complex, it really isn’t. The first few episodes introduces our main characters while most episodes for the first half just follows Mob’s life in his daily misadventures. The latter half focuses more on linear plot though as dangerous individuals are introduced that truly tests the strengths of our protagonists. This puts strains on Mob as he must overcome his personal demons. Because , Mob just wants to live a normal life and when he gets stressed, rage follows. When that rage explodes, we get Mob Psycho 100%, literally. And it’s not a very pretty sight.

As a source reader, I am impressed at how they adapted the character relationships. Mob and Ritsu has one of the most complex relationship even as brothers. Teru’s evolution from a bully to a sidekick/ally to Mob is both amusing and also impressive to see as changes aren’t always easy for characters to accept. Reigen’s relationship with Mob is also based on respect and trust. Mob genuinely cares about Reigen and in one episode, his rage level almost goes out of control after seeing his master being put down. On the other hand, I am slightly disappointed that the season is only a 1-cour of 12 episodes. Some episodes are rushed as I was hoping they would adapt more into the story. For most parts, the series is still directed with good faith.

Ah yes, the artwork and visuals. Even though I already talked about it before, it’s really hard to ignore Mob Psycho 100’s quality with its artistic style. It is very stylistic to the manga and unique in quality. When things get serious, the artwork really works with its hardcore cinematography. Violent scenes really do feel impactful while body movements never really suffers in the show as character designs are simple enough to avoid that. In addition, Mob’s character is portrayed as pretty plain normal just as he should be. Other characters such as Teru and Dimple stands out with some unique physical traits; seriously, I still can’t get over how ridiculous Teru’s hair is at times. In retrospect, Bones did a fantastic job with the production for the show. With talented animators such as Yoshimichi Kameda and Matsumoto Norio involved in this project, Mob Psycho 100 stands out extravagantly in the artistic field.

Don’t underestimate the soundtrack either. The OP and ED theme songs are also stylistic and as a whole. The OST is instrumental and often intense during many segments. Character voice expressions are also noticeable especially when Mob’s mentality reaches 100%. And because the show is so filled with personality, the speech pattern and dialogues of the more prominent characters are often very memorable.

The amazing thing about Mob Psycho 100 is the excitement while feeling less of an anime but more like a comic action flick. As an adaptation, the show is stuffed with action, personality, and creativity. I can’t any episode where I was watching the clock and in fact often feel like episodes goes way too fast.

“What? That episode felt like 5 minutes?!”

It’s because of how entertaining it is that is more than just pure popcorn entertainment. Sure, this might not be a series that’s suitable for everyone. However, Mob Psycho 100 stands on its own merits and is definitely not just a One-Punch Man-wannabee. Crafted by ONE, it’s a show that’s more than a supernatural character drama. It’s just a damn good piece of greatness.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

What did you think of this review?

Nice 0

Love it 0

Funny 0

Confusing 0

Informative 0

Well-written 0

Creative 0

More reviews by Stark700 (722)

Show all

Read more

Show less

Open

Gift

Report

Jun 1, 2020

Joabter

Mixed Feelings

(spoiler-free review)

Mob Psycho was a show I really wanted to enjoy. After I heard about it from one of my friends, I searched it up to see if it would be worth my time. Everyone had great things to say about it, and some even went as far as to say it was the greatest anime of all time. This, however, was not the case for me.

Firstly, I'd like to talk about the positive traits of this show because although I didn't enjoy the series that much, there are still a few things I enjoyed.

Art/Animation:

Let me say this: Mob Psycho 100 has the ... most ridiculous, in your face, outright crazy art style, but that's what makes it so great. Right after seeing the first frame, I was instantly turned off from the strange and wacky animation, but later on, it really grew on me. It works really well with the characters and comedy of the show, and I thought it was the best part. Overall I give the art an 8/10.

Sound:

The shows sound is good as well. I felt like the sound really fit the scenes and made the show much more watchable. In some moments the music completely changed the tone of the story (along with the art of course), and all in all, it wasn't bad. Overall I give the sound a 7/10.

Characters:

According to most people, the characters in this show are AMAZING, and I agree... that one of the characters is amazing (I'm not going to say who, but his name might start with Re). Aside from that one character, I feel like I missed something out of the others. In fact, I found most of them to be quite cringe-worthy and/or decent characters. If you watch the show, you might just wanna come back here and kill me for saying that, but I'm being completely honest. If you wanna message me and explain why you think they're great, feel free to add me! Overall I give the characters a 7/10.

And now we get into the - not so good part of Mob Psycho.

Story/Plot:

THIS part of the show is what really brings my rating down. I love myself a good ass story. If the story isn't good, the chances of me liking the show go down quite a bit. Having watched/read titles such as Death Note, Code Geass, One Piece, and Oyasumi Punpun (which are all amazing stories that I highly recommend), this mediocre story seriously kills the series for me. I understand that some shows aren't supposed to have crazy plots, and I have definitely enjoyed many shows that aren't story-driven, however, Mob Psycho has so many pointless and boring episodes, that it almost seems like some episodes are just fillers. Maybe I'm missing something, and the story is actually fantastic, but I have yet to find that missing piece. Overall I give the story a 5/10.

To conclude, I wouldn't go out of my way to watch Mob Psycho. Sure, lots of people think very highly of the show, and some people can't stop talking about it, but in my opinion, it's a little over-hyped and the story needs to be worked on. As I mentioned, the series is loved by many, so it probably isn't a waste of time to check out. I'm just a random anime guy, so watch whatever you'd like!

Overall rating: 6/10

(thanks for reading this!)

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

What did you think of this review?

Nice 0

Love it 0

Funny 0

Confusing 0

Informative 0

Well-written 0

Creative 0

More reviews by Joabter (2)

Show all

Read more

Show less

Open

Gift

Report

Apr 19, 2017

ktulu007

Not Recommended

Mob Psycho 100 is based off of a manga by ONE. Yes, the same manga artist behind One Punch Man. The anime came out last year and was brought to us by Bones. Yes, the Soul Eater, Heroman, Wolf's Rain, etc... Studio. So, is this one okay like One Punch Man, better or worse?

Story:

Mob is a young man with psychic powers. His master, Reigen, is a con artist who pretends to have psychic abilities. Together, they get paid to go out and exorcise spirits. Shenanigans ensue and Mob's counter raises towards 100. What will happen when it goes all the way up? Will Mob ... ever find others like himself? Will he ever discover that his master is a fraud?

The biggest issue with the series is the comedy. A lot of it is either really obvious or just random nonsense. There are very few funny moments to be found. The whole narrative is also similar to One Punch Man in that it likes to build up some kind of confrontation for Mob, but then he settles it with relative ease once he gets worked up enough to actually fight. The big difference is that it's considerably less competent here.

The best I can say about the story is that it has its occasional moment. It has a few funny scenes and some more serious parts that are pretty decent.

Characters:

The characters in this fall woefully short. Mob is mainly defined by being thick. His brother's main feature is his mix of iration and jealousy towards Mob for his amazing psychic powers. There are a couple scenes that showcase the dynamic between Mob and Reigen that come close to making it decent.

Art:

The artwork does have some good and bad elements. On one hand, a lot of the psychic power scenes are pretty visually creative. On the other hand, the character designs are boring and lazy. The backgrounds are usually weak and a lot of the action sequences are weakened by being a bit of a hard to follow mess.

Sound:

This is a series that suffers from extremes in the acting. You get a lot of characters being really exaggerated and a lot of actors sounding completely uninvested. Itou Setsuo especially. There isn't much in of middle ground that allows the cast to show that they can actually act. Kawai Kenji's soundtrack for this isn't bad. It's not good either. It's a pretty average work. His tracks for Bakuretsu Hunters and Ghost in the Shell were definitely better.

Ho-yay:

There really isn't any. The most we get in of romance is Mob having a crush on the most easily impressed girl ever. Which is weird because we only see her talk with her in flashback and even then it's about five lines. I guess when you're a dullard that's enough to create a fixation.

Final Thoughts:

Mob Psycho 100 is pretty stupid, and not in an entertaining way. The story is dumb. The jokes are largely unfunny, stupid humour. The characters are morons. It's certainly not on par with One Punch Man and, frankly, it's the worst thing I've reviewed by Bones. If you liked One Punch Man you may want to give it an episode or two. Maybe it'll work better for you than it did for me. But, for myself, I give it a 3/10. Next week I'll look at Tales of Zestiria the X.

Reviewer’s Rating: 3

What did you think of this review?

Nice 0

Love it 0

Funny 0

Confusing 0

Informative 0

Well-written 0

Creative 0

More reviews by ktulu007 (661)

Show all

Read more

Show less

Open

Gift

Report

The Highest Rated Animes of all time (1 Per Franchise, No Sequels)

by l3en

50 Entries · 112 Restacks

series that have to do with living/dying

by pinkplumeria

15 Entries · 3 Restacks

really meant something

by fatnat1234

28 Entries · 3 Restacks

North American Anime & Manga Releases for June

Here are the North American anime, manga, and light novel releases for June Week 1: June 1 - 7 Anime Releases Appare-Ranman! Blu-ray Black Clover Season 3 Part 4 Blu...read more

Jun 1, 2021 1:15 AM by Discuss (13 comments)

Q4 2018 Anime & Manga Licenses [Update 12/31]

In this thread, you'll find a comprehensive list of anime and manga licensed in the fourth quarter (October-December) of 2018. Fall 2018 anime which were licens...read more

Sep 28, 2018 4:43 PM by Discuss (28 comments)

	Poll: Stark700 - Jul 11, 2016	418 replies	by »» 6 hours ago
	Poll: Stark700 - Sep 26, 2016	419 replies	by »» May 2, 7:30 AM
	daisyrage - Feb 17	45 replies	by »» Mar 30, 6:41 PM
	Poll: Stark700 - Sep 19, 2016	271 replies	by »» Mar 30, 6:43 AM
	Poll: Stark700 - Aug 15, 2016	187 replies	by »» Mar 29, 11:03 AM

Ramen in Anime: A Bowl of Nourishment and Symbolism

Come along on a ramen-infused anime journey presented to you by ZenPlus - the site unifying thousands of Japanese online shops in one shopping cart.

by MAL_editing_team

67,208 views

Advertorial

In Numbers: The Best Anime of the Decade

What's the #1 anime of the 2010s? Which year was the best? What studio had the most hits? We have the answers to all these questions and more!

by Shymander

661,483 views