March Comes In Like a Lion has arrived on both Netflix and Crunchyroll, offering a rare opportunity to experience one of the most visually and emotionally distinct dramas in modern anime. Produced by Studio Shaft, the series is a masterclass in atmospheric storytelling, utilizing the studio’s signature avant-garde direction to map the internal landscape of a grieving, isolated shogi prodigy.
A Portrait of Quiet Resilience
The story follows Rei Kiriyama, a 17-year-old professional shogi player living in solitude after escaping a suffocating domestic life. While the premise centers on the high-stakes world of competitive board games, the heart of the series lies in Rei’s slow, painful process of learning how to accept kindness from the Kawamoto sisters, a local family who anchors him to the world of the living.
Why It Stands Out
What separates this series from other seinen dramas is its refusal to rely on melodrama. Instead, it treats Rei’s depression and professional burnout with a gentle, observational patience. The animation by Shaft elevates these quiet moments, shifting from stark, monochromatic depictions of Rei’s loneliness to vibrant, warm sequences that reflect his gradual rehabilitation and discovery of a found family.
Essential Viewing
With an 8.37 rating on MyAnimeList from over 300,000 voters, the series is widely regarded as a pinnacle of the medium. It manages to balance the intellectual intensity of shogi matches with a deeply empathetic look at the complexities of adoption and adult responsibility.
The series is now fully available to stream, including the complete first season. For those looking for a show that prioritizes character depth and artistic intent over standard genre tropes, this is an essential watch.
