One of 2024's brightest releases, chronicling the day-to-day life of a legendary killer forced into hiding.
The Fable is dedicated to a hitman. However, the story will not only be about taking the lives of strangers, but also about the ability to live a normal, everyday life.
The advertising campaign for The Fable was built in such a way as to give the impression that the title was a comedy. Criminal series, with an absurd main character, potentially black humor and a series of sketches about how difficult it is for Fable to live a normal everyday life.
It was all partly justified – but the anime turned out to be much more interesting and complex.
What Is The Fable About?
The legendary assassin, nicknamed Fable for his elusiveness, is forced into retirement: his boss has ordered him to temporarily lay low in Osaka. His only condition is not to kill, which sounds incredibly difficult for a mercenary.
His whole life has been about solving problems with a single blow, so he will have to learn how to live a normal life from scratch. He arrives in Osaka under the name of Akira Sato and with his "sister" Yoko, a partner who usually drives him to work.
A year is allotted for everything: according to the boss, this is enough time to cover his tracks and teach his subordinate something new, taking Fable's skills to another level.
The Fable Is Not Your Typical Crime Comedy Title
It quickly becomes clear that this is a much more complex work than it seems at first glance. Despite a certain comedic touch, this is first and foremost a high-quality crime story that is presented in a surprisingly serious manner.
The plot implies that Akira will avoid underground activities, but the past does not let go of him so easily. As a result, he constantly encounters inhabitants of the criminal world.
The Fable Is a Rather Authentic and Serious Crime Story
Sato has to deal with a considerable number of problems. The two central ones are a recently released yakuza who tries to restore the old order in Okinawa and a swindler who blackmails parents who overprotect their children.
Both arcs are presented with a high degree of authenticity, which is surprisingly consistent with the local manifestation of humor. As a result, human trafficking and the punch lines of the comedian Jackal, whose jokes only seem to amuse Akira, end up next door.