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9-nine- Shihaisha no Oukan
Synopsis
9-nine- is a tale of the town of Shiromitsugawa, host to mysterious Artifacts and the superpowers they bestow on their Users. A tale of growing trust and budding romance between the protagonist and the heroine, and also a murder mystery where they hunt down the culprit behind a series of supernatural murders. (Source: Steam Description)
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9-Nine: Ruler’s Crown Season 1 – A Bold, Flawed Tapestry of Supernatural Mystery
9-Nine: Ruler’s Crown, the 2025 anime adaptation of Palette’s visual novel series, dives headfirst into a chaotic blend of supernatural intrigue, character-driven drama, and a murder mystery set against the backdrop of Shiromitsugawa, a sleepy college town desperate for revitalization. Season 1, which premiered on July 5, 2025, with a 60-minute double-episode, attempts to condense a sprawling visual novel into a 12-episode arc, resulting in a polarizing experience that’s equal parts ambitious and overstuffed. This review dissects its strengths, weaknesses, and unique elements, offering a fresh perspective on a show that dares to be different but struggles to find its footing.
A Premise That Sparks Curiosity
At its core, 9-Nine: Ruler’s Crown follows Kakeru Niimi, a pragmatic and slightly curt protagonist with a strong sense of duty, as his ordinary life unravels after a shrine’s sacred relic shatters during an earthquake. This event unleashes mysterious “artifacts” from a parallel world, granting superhuman abilities to a select group of young men and women. When someone begins abusing these powers, turning people to stone, Kakeru teams up with Miyako Kujo and others to hunt a supernatural serial killer. The premise, rooted in the visual novel’s episodic structure, blends urban fantasy, psychological tension, and budding romance, promising a narrative that could stand out in a crowded anime landscape.
The show’s setting, Shiromitsugawa, is a character in itself—a town that’s tried everything from high-budget, poorly written anime to festivals to escape obscurity, only to stumble into a supernatural crisis. This self-aware nod to its own fictional roots adds a layer of meta-humor, poking fun at the anime industry while grounding the story in a relatable, almost satirical struggle for relevance.
Visuals and Sound: A Mixed Palette
Visually, 9-Nine is a paradox. Studio PRA delivers moments of striking beauty, particularly in character designs by Saori Sakiguchi, which faithfully recreate Izumi Tsubasu’s vibrant art from the visual novel. Miyako’s expressive eyes and Haruka’s delicate charm shine in close-ups, capturing the emotional depth fans expect. However, the animation quality is inconsistent, with frequent still frames and noticeable dips in fluidity that betray the production’s rushed schedule. Critics on platforms like NamuWiki have pointed out “instability in drawing” and “frequent cuts” reminiscent of past animation disasters, a sentiment echoed across fan discussions.
The sound design fares better but isn’t flawless. The opening theme, “ResoNAnce” by Araki, is a high-energy track with dual guitars and bass that sets an epic tone, though some argue it feels mismatched with the show’s uneven pacing. Chihiro Yonekura’s ending theme, “Pale Blaze,” is haunting and evocative, perfectly suiting the show’s darker undertones. Yet, voice acting, particularly Misato Fukuen’s performance as Miyako, has drawn criticism for sounding forced in key emotional scenes, with some fans on Reddit noting her delivery as “gif-worthy” for all the wrong reasons.
Narrative: A Firehose of Ideas
The biggest talking point—and point of contention—is the storytelling. 9-Nine: Ruler’s Crown crams an astonishing amount of content into its first episode: earthquakes, mysterious statues, cosplay drama, haunted dolls, and a fire cliffhanger. This hyper-condensed approach, as noted in a Random Curiosity review, feels like a “mountain of content” that overwhelms newcomers while alienating visual novel fans expecting a faithful adaptation.
The show’s ambition to weave multiple heroine arcs into a single narrative is both its greatest strength and its fatal flaw. Each of the four visual novel episodes focused on a different heroine, but the anime opts for a mixed-route approach, blending elements of Miyako Kujo’s arc with new, anime-original content hinted at in the trailer’s cryptic line, “Shall we begin? An observation of a new branch.” This decision creates a unique story that diverges from the source material, offering fresh surprises for fans but risking incoherence. Scenes transition rapidly, often feeling like “rapid-fire” vignettes, as one Reddit user described, leaving little room for character development or emotional weight.
Despite this, the murder mystery at the heart of the story is compelling. The concept of artifacts granting powers—and the moral dilemmas they pose—adds depth to characters like Kakeru, who grapples with responsibility, and Miyako, whose growing trust in him hints at a slow-burn romance. The supernatural killings, particularly the petrification incidents, evoke a chilling atmosphere, though the show’s pacing often undercuts the tension. Posts on MyAnimeList forums praise the plot’s potential, particularly the opening scene’s eerie setup, but lament the lack of focus.
Characters: Depth in a Blender
The ensemble cast is a highlight, with each character bringing distinct flavor. Kakeru, voiced by Atsushi Abe, is a grounded protagonist whose sense of duty anchors the chaos. Miyako Kujo (Misato Fukuen) is a spirited heroine with a knack for getting into trouble, while Sora Niimi (Atsumi Tanezaki) and Haruka Kosaka (Yuri Yamaoka) add layers of mystery and charm. The supporting cast, including Yoichi Fukazawa (Kazutomi Yamamoto) and Renya Takamine (Tomokazu Sugita), injects humor and intrigue, though their roles feel underdeveloped due to the show’s rushed pacing.
The anime’s attempt to balance multiple heroines dilutes their individual arcs. Fans of the visual novel, which dedicated entire episodes to each heroine’s story, may find the anime’s approach jarring. A Reddit thread speculated that the show might allocate “6 episodes per heroine,” but the reality is less structured, with characters like Noa Yuki (Akane Fujita) and Satsuki Naruse (Hana Takeda) appearing briefly but lacking depth.
A Cultural Milestone or a Missed Opportunity?
9-Nine: Ruler’s Crown carries the weight of its visual novel legacy, which has been a niche success since 2017, with English releases on Steam and ports to PS4 and Nintendo Switch. Its transition to anime, announced in May 2024, was a bold move, especially given the series’ origins as an adult visual novel (though adapted from the all-ages version). The show’s meta-commentary on Shiromitsugawa’s failed anime project adds a layer of irony, as the real-life adaptation struggles with similar issues of ambition outpacing execution.
Fan reception is mixed. On Reddit’s r/anime, some users called the first episode “fine” but criticized its low ratings due to limited international streaming and delayed subtitles. Others, like a MyAnimeList poster, see potential in the supernatural mystery but feel the animation quality holds it back. NamuWiki’s scathing review highlights technical flaws, comparing it to past animation failures, while Anime News Network and Anitrendz focus on the hype around its July 2025 premiere and star-studded cast.
The Verdict: A Diamond in the Rough
9-Nine: Ruler’s Crown Season 1 is a fascinating mess—a show that swings for the fences but trips over its own ambition. Its supernatural mystery and character chemistry offer glimpses of brilliance, but the rushed pacing, inconsistent animation, and narrative overload prevent it from reaching its full potential. For visual novel fans, it’s a bittersweet adaptation that takes bold liberties; for newcomers, it’s a chaotic but intriguing dive into a unique world. The show’s greatest strength is its refusal to play it safe, but it’s also its own worst enemy.
Rating: 6.5/10 – Worth watching for its bold ideas and mystery, but brace for a bumpy ride. If you’re curious, check it out on streaming platforms like Anitaku, though availability outside Japan remains limited.
Sources: MyAnimeList, Random Curiosity, Anime News Network, Reddit, NamuWiki, Anitrendz, Anime-Planet, IMDb, 9-Nine Wiki1
