English Dub Review: Hand Shakers “Conductor to Contact”

Funimation series Hand Shakers is a neat show that excels on several levels. Already from the first episode, there’s a lot of lore which isn’t quite explained. Hand Shakers season one episode one features stellar animation, some of the best music in an anime series yet, and an engaging backstory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ09V5jcjEk

Hand Shakers is set in Osaka, Japan in AD20XX. The narrative revolves around Tazuna Takatsuki (Justin Briner), a high schooler with a penchant and passion for mechanical repairs. Early on in “Conductor to Contact,” Tazuna repairs friend and fellow student Lily’s (Natalie Hoover) mp3 player.

Tazuna receives a job from Professor Nagamasa Makihara (Anthony Bowling). However, upon arriving, Makihara’s lab seems a bit strange. There’s no sign of Makihara, only a girl in the back room. After touching her hand, that’s when there’s a radical change. Tazuna and the girl, Koyori (Laura Woodhull) are transported into an alternate universe of sorts dubbed the Ziggurat. Koyori and Tazuna face off against two chain-wielding adversaries, Bind (Monica Rial), and Break (Alejandro Saab).

During “Conductor to Contact,” there’s quite a bit of action and when the credits roll after the just sub 30 minute run time, many questions remain. I like the quick pacing and rapid evolution combined with mystery. It’s evident that Hand Shakers conceals an intricate backstory that’s poised to unfold as the series progresses. For instance, “Conductor to Contact” shows the Ziggurat, discusses Hand Shakers, and doesn’t explain any of this fully. Nevertheless, the plot eschews confusion.

Part of the episode features a non-linear narrative, and this really perpetuates the action. Further benefiting Hand Shakers, the animation is gorgeous. There’s definitely a modern vibe with its 2.5d visuals. Chains shot by Break pop off-screen and appear almost lifelike. Yet these scenes are complimented by more traditional 2d animated scenes which help Hand Shakers avoid looking like video game footage.

As a dub, voice acting is top notch. It’s probably some of the best dubbing I’ve heard. The voice actors lend a great range of emotion to their characters. Especially with animated media, vocals remain crucial to crafting the atmosphere. Dubbing is far from flat, with rich, impassioned acting. Similarly, the music might be my favorite aspect. GOON TRAX and Kadokawa handle production. There’s almost constant music, ranging from poppy pieces to mournful piano riffs. Despite the auditory backdrop, the soundtrack doesn’t feel distracting. At times it’s highlighted appropriately, and others it’s barely noticeable.

The characters feel relatable. “Conductor to Contact” primarily introduces Tazuna. His obsession with electronics and mechanics sort of reminds me of Serial Experiments Lain. Tazuna comes across as a slightly awkward high schooler who zones out and fixes electronics. The down to earth characteristics like this help balance out the fantastical elements like his supernatural abilities as a Hand Shaker. It’s not quite fully explained, but the concept of Hand Shakers feels a bit like the Contractors in one of my favorite anime series, Darker Than Black. From the initial presentation, it seems Hand Shakers feature both abilities and dependencies like Contractors.

However, characters don’t quite feel fully fleshed out. Additionally, the story feels a bit rushed in the initial episode. Most of “Conductor to Contact” follows Tazuna, and a lot happens in little time. Lily busts out a tarot card, which feels important but it’s unclear if it is and if so why. What exactly a Hand Shaker is remains a mystery, but I rather appreciate that it’s set to unravel. Nevertheless, forthcoming episodes promise to offer more complete character arcs and delve into the supernatural elements further. Overall, Hand Shakers is a promising Funimation series that boasts fantastic dubbing, music, and lore.