There is a concept in psychology known as “reactance” where negative actions done to someone can motivate them towards things they may have otherwise ignored. Examples of this include kids wanting to see an R-rated movie when told it’s not for them, or when a streaming service drops a show in the middle of its run claiming it doesn’t meet their standards. Such is the case with Funimation removing Interspecies Reviewers from their streaming catalog, sparking a massive outpouring of criticism from all corners of the Internet. This naturally brought many more eyes to the show that potentially would have passed it up under the assumption it was just another seasonal one-off. Discussion of Funimation’s practices aside, how does Interspecies Reviewers fare in terms of entertainment and what is it about the show that would cause the firestorm of controversy around it?
At first glance, Interspecies Reviewers’ simplistic art style and the relatively standard character designs of the main cast could lead the uninitiated to believe it’s yet another generic, milquetoast, run-of-the-mill fantasy. Yet only a few seconds into the introduction, this notion is completely thrown out the window as the narrator lays down the fantasy setting and makes it extremely clear that the focus is all about the multitude of “succu-girls” — essentially prostitutes of a variety of fantasy races with succubus ancestry that serve to fulfill the carnal desires of the adventurers that inhabit this realm.
Enter the main characters, a human named Stunk and an elf named Zel. While out on an adventure, they rescue an angel named Crimvael, or Crim for short. Crim’s halo is broken and she’s stuck on Earth until it is repaired, so the two introduce the unwilling angel to their decadent hobby of exploring the city’s multitude of brothels. Later, at a tavern, Stunk and Zel get into an argument about the appeal of elf girls and drag two other adventurers of different species into giving their opinion. Much to Stunk’s surprise, it turns out other species view elven longevity as a turn-off and humans cannot comprehend it due to their inability to detect mana. This inspires the crew to explore various brothels with unique species, then post reviews about their experiences for all the adventurers to read — and thus the titular Interspecies Reviewers are born.
Each episode then brings up a new species for the protagonists to gratify themselves with. Due to the multitude of anatomies among these fantasy races, it leads to a myriad of “why didn’t I think of that?” situations that are so simple in concept yet exceptionally clever in execution. The initial argument about elf girls is incredibly tame compared to what comes up in later episodes, such as a fairy brothel with mandatory penile inspections to make sure the client’s member will not crush the tiny creatures, a minotaur brothel that dog beastmen cannot enjoy due to their inability to consume milk, as well as a genderbending brothel where clients drink a magic potion to turn them into the opposite sex. Perhaps the most striking idea occurs in episode four, where the heroes visit a salamander brothel in a volcano, where they proceed to barbecue meat on the naked body of a Salamander girl. This comes to a climax as they use her flaming internal temperatures to cook a sausage by sticking it inside her orifices.
These types of degenerate yet hilarious situations really show just how far the limits are being pushed. Perhaps it’s the innate decency within most people which causes the initial reaction of shock when the realization of what the show is about first hits. Yet this shock quickly subsides and the humor comes through when Interspecies Reviewers hits on the most basic and relatable levels. What Interspecies Reviewers has managed to do is take timeless ideas, put them in a fantasy skin, and present it to the viewer in a boisterous and highly energetic anime. Certainly, there are parts of the show that can be off-putting or repulsive to some, but regardless of whether or not Funimation’s removal of the show was justified, their platform has definitely lost a comedic gem of a show that will certainly be discussed for years to come.
