Are we getting a full adaptation?
Summary:
- Date A Live S5 Episode 1 makes fans hyped for the series.
- It’s produced by Studio Geek Toys, which was responsible for S4 as well.
- Fans wonder if the anime will fully cover the source material.
If you were to tell an anime fan in 2013 that 11 years later, Date A Live would still be a relevant seasonal anime, you would definitely be considered crazy.
Yet somehow, here we are in 2024, Date A Live is airing its fifth season, and the most incredible part is that viewers are actually hyped for it.
It’s Not Just a Generic Harem
Back in the day, Date A Live was considered just a generic harem. However, after multiple seasons, it somehow managed to find a steady fanbase — and there are multiple reasons why that might have happened.
The main one is Shidou being just a competent protagonist. That alone can win a lot of reputation for a harem anime. The story itself also proved to be not generic and way more complex than viewers initially expected, and at this point, those who are still watching it are very invested.
Once Again, It’s Made by Studio Geek Toys
The first episode of the fifth season is actually somewhat of a unique occurrence for the Date A Live franchises. This is the first time the anime got a new season without it being by yet another studio.
After all, the first season was by AIC PLUS+, the second one (and the movie) by Production IMS, and the third by J.C.Staff.
Both the fourth and fifth seasons are made by Geek Toys, and fans are satisfied that there’s finally a consistent choice of studio for the franchise. Yes, it may not have the best look, but the animation is decent enough, especially compared to that of S3.
What Do Fans Think?
The fifth season continues right where the fourth left off. With the latter ending essentially mid-arc, fans were eagerly expecting this continuation for years. The first episode of S5 definitely didn’t disappoint.
Fans are especially happy about Kurumi getting more screen time — among the Date A Live girls, she’s definitely the most popular one among the fans.
The only concern fans have left is for the action. The PV showed a worrying amount of CGI during the fights.
With the first episode consisting mostly of dialogue, it’s hard to confirm or deny these suspicions — but then again, some fans don’t even think the CGI in the trailer was that bad. Regardless, pretty much everyone who stuck with DAL for 10 years is happy to see it return.
There are also speculations about the light novels getting fully adapted. At the current pace, the anime will adapt the source material up to Volume 19 or 20. With the total amount of volumes being 22, there would be enough content for a movie or a set of specials left.