Cop Craft Season 1: A Gritty, Genre-Bending Buddy Cop Adventure That Deserves a Second Chance

Cop Craft Season 1, which aired from July to September 2019, is a bold and intriguing anime that blends the classic buddy cop formula with a reverse-isekai twist, set against a gritty urban fantasy backdrop. Adapted from Shoji Gatoh’s light novel series Cop Craft: Dragnet Mirage Reloaded and animated by Studio Millepensee, this 12-episode series offers a unique take on crime dramas, infused with magic, interspecies tension, and a vibrant, if flawed, execution. Despite its rough edges—most notably its inconsistent animation and uneven pacing—Cop Craft delivers a compelling narrative, memorable character dynamics, and a world brimming with untapped potential. This review dives into what makes Cop Craft Season 1 stand out, its strengths and shortcomings, and why it’s a hidden gem worth revisiting.

A World Where Magic Meets Mayhem

Set in the fictional city of San Teresa, Cop Craft introduces a world forever changed by the appearance of a hyperspace gate in the Pacific Ocean 15 years prior to the story’s start. This portal connects Earth to Reto Semaani, a fantasy realm inhabited by fairies, elves, and monsters. San Teresa, a melting pot of over two million Semanian immigrants and human residents, is a vibrant yet volatile city where cultural clashes and crime thrive. The series follows Detective Sergeant Kei Matoba, a hard-boiled ex-soldier with a penchant for bending the rules, and Tilarna Exedilica, a young, idealistic Semanian knight wielding a sword and rudimentary magic. Together, they tackle the city’s seedy underbelly, from fairy trafficking to magical drug rings, in a classic buddy cop dynamic with a fantastical twist.

The premise alone is a breath of fresh air. While the buddy cop genre is a staple in Western media—think Lethal Weapon or Men in Black—it’s relatively rare in anime, with notable exceptions like You’re Under Arrest. Cop Craft sets itself apart by merging this formula with a reverse-isekai framework, where fantasy characters enter a modern Earth setting, creating a unique sandbox for crime and cultural exploration. The show draws loose parallels to films like Bright or Alien Nation, but its roots in Shoji Gatoh’s 2009 light novels predate these comparisons, grounding its world in a distinct vision that feels both familiar and refreshingly novel.

Strengths: Chemistry, World-Building, and a Killer Soundtrack

Dynamic Duo with Heart

At the heart of Cop Craft is the chemistry between Kei and Tilarna, which is arguably the show’s greatest strength. Kei, voiced by Kenjiro Tsuda (whose gravelly delivery screams hard-boiled detective), is a jaded, chain-smoking cop haunted by the loss of his partner, Rick Fury, killed in a botched fairy trafficking sting. Tilarna, voiced by Mayu Yoshioka (with Felecia Angelle stealing the show in the English dub), is a fish-out-of-water noblewoman from Reto Semaani, armed with a sword and a rigid sense of justice. Their clashing worldviews—Kei’s pragmatic, streetwise approach versus Tilarna’s honor-bound idealism—fuel both hilarious banter and genuine character growth. From Tilarna’s confusion over human pornography to Kei’s grudging respect for her swordsmanship, their evolving partnership feels authentic and engaging, carrying the series through its rougher patches.

The supporting cast adds depth, though they’re underutilized. Characters like Tony, a flamboyantly gay cop with a knack for undercover work, and Biz O’Neill, a sleazy yet oddly endearing informant, bring humor and flavor to the narrative. The show’s ability to weave comedic moments—like Tilarna systematically wrecking Kei’s cars—into its darker crime drama is a testament to Gatoh’s writing, which balances levity and grit effectively.

A Vibrant, Underdeveloped World

Cop Craft’s setting is a standout feature, even if it leaves viewers wanting more. San Teresa is a gritty, alternate-universe San Francisco, alive with neon-lit streets, corrupt officials, and a criminal underworld exploiting both human and Semanian vulnerabilities. The show explores unique societal issues, such as the Semanian lack of photography leading to a black market for human pornography or the use of fairy dust as a magical narcotic. These details make the world feel lived-in and ripe for exploration, though the series often skims the surface of its lore. For instance, Kei’s cryptic references to a past war with the Semanians hint at a rich backstory, but the show never delves into it, leaving viewers tantalized but unsatisfied.

A Soundtrack That Slaps

Taku Iwasaki’s score is a highlight, blending jazz, urban beats, and atmospheric tracks that perfectly capture San Teresa’s seedy vibe. The opening theme, Rakuen T主題 by Masayoshi Ooishi, is a catchy, high-energy bop that sets the tone for the series’ action-packed episodes, while the ending theme, sung by Mayu Yoshioka, adds an emotional counterpoint. The music elevates even the weaker episodes, making every chase scene or showdown feel cinematic.

Weaknesses: Animation Woes and Narrative Stumbles

Studio Millepensee’s Struggle

The biggest criticism leveled at Cop Craft is its inconsistent animation, a result of Studio Millepensee’s limited resources. Founded in 2013, Millepensee was in over its head adapting Gatoh’s ambitious light novels. Action scenes often rely on panning stills with blur effects, and odd scene transitions—like lingering shots of a character’s head entering a car—betray the studio’s budget constraints. In one notorious moment, Kei’s mouth moves before and after his voice actor’s dialogue, a jarring error that screams production issues. While the vibrant character designs by Range Murata (Last Exile) and the stellar opening animation show flashes of potential, the overall visual execution feels like a missed opportunity. A more experienced studio, like Madhouse or Bones, could have elevated Cop Craft to a visual masterpiece.

Uneven Pacing and Shallow Antagonists

The narrative, while engaging, suffers from pacing issues and underdeveloped villains. The 12-episode run feels cramped, with some arcs—like a fairy dust nuke plot—feeling overly ambitious and others, like a vanilla porn ring, leaning too heavily on comedic filler. The antagonists, save for a sinister mage introduced in the first and final arcs, are largely forgettable, serving as plot devices rather than fully realized threats. This lack of compelling villains weakens the stakes, making Kei and Tilarna’s victories feel less impactful. The show also struggles to balance its episodic cases with its overarching revenge plot, resulting in a meandering middle that doesn’t fully capitalize on its promising setup.

Missed Opportunities in Social Commentary

Cop Craft touches on themes of racism, immigration, and cultural integration, with Semanians facing slurs like “alien” and societal prejudice mirroring real-world issues. However, these themes feel like a surface-level copy of American race politics rather than a nuanced exploration of a fantastical interspecies dynamic. The show could have leveraged the Semanians’ magical abilities or cultural differences to create a more unique commentary, but it often falls back on familiar tropes, missing a chance to elevate its narrative.

Standout Episodes and Moments

Despite its flaws, Cop Craft has several standout episodes that showcase its potential. Episode 1 sets a strong tone with a gritty stakeout gone wrong, introducing the stakes and Kei’s personal vendetta. The body-switching episode is a comedic highlight, with Kei and Tilarna’s swapped perspectives leading to hilarious and heartfelt moments. The final arc, while rushed, delivers a satisfying conclusion to the revenge plot, tying together Kei’s past and Tilarna’s growth. Moments like Tilarna’s bewilderment at human customs (e.g., her disgust at erotic magazines) or Kei’s deadpan explanations of police work add charm and relatability, making the series a joy to watch when it hits its stride.

Why It’s Worth Watching

Cop Craft is a flawed but fascinating series that stands out for its genre-blending ambition. Its blend of buddy cop dynamics, reverse-isekai world-building, and urban fantasy grit makes it a unique entry in the 2019 anime lineup. Fans of classic cop dramas, fantasy anime, or character-driven stories will find plenty to enjoy, especially in Kei and Tilarna’s chemistry and the show’s creative premise. While its animation and pacing hold it back, the series’ heart lies in its characters and potential for deeper storytelling, making it a compelling watch for those willing to overlook its rough edges.

The show’s accessibility on platforms like Crunchyroll and Funimation (with a strong English dub featuring David Matranga and Felecia Angelle) makes it easy to dive into. Its 12-episode run is a quick binge, perfect for casual viewers and anime veterans looking for something off the beaten path.

The Case for a Second Season

With the light novel series still ongoing (six volumes as of 2016), Cop Craft has ample material for a second season. The first season ends on a satisfying note but leaves many threads unexplored—Kei’s wartime past, Tilarna’s status in Semanian society, and the broader implications of the hyperspace gate. A continuation with a bigger budget and a more experienced studio could flesh out the world, deepen the social commentary, and give the villains the gravitas they deserve. Fans on platforms like Reddit and Amazon reviews echo this sentiment, expressing hope for a follow-up despite the show’s lukewarm reception.

Final Verdict: A Diamond in the Rough

Cop Craft Season 1 is a mixed bag that shines brightest when leaning into its character dynamics and unique world. Its gritty take on the buddy cop genre, infused with reverse-isekai flair, makes it a standout, even if its animation and pacing falter. For fans of urban fantasy, crime dramas, or shows like Gangsta and Blood Blockade Battlefront, it’s a must-watch that delivers enough charm and intrigue to outweigh its flaws. Here’s hoping a second season gives this underappreciated gem the polish it deserves.

Score: 7.5/10

• Pros: Engaging leads, creative world-building, stellar soundtrack, authentic buddy cop vibes.
• Cons: Inconsistent animation, uneven pacing, shallow antagonists, underdeveloped themes.

If you’ve watched Cop Craft, what did you think? Would you like to see a second season? Share your thoughts below!

Where to Watch: Available on Crunchyroll, Funimation, and Amazon (Blu-ray/DVD).