I’m going to be completely honest when I say that I wasn’t sure what to expect from Sparks of Tomorrow.
First Impressions: Kyoto Animation’s New Frontier in Historical Steampunk
This is a review for episodes 1 – 3 of Sparks of Tomorrow (Nijusseiki Denki Mokuroku).
I’ve been covering the development of Sparks of Tomorrow through Netflix’s production news regarding the series, but I wasn’t sure how the anime would ultimately pan out. Obviously, I enjoy history, period dramas, and I like KyoAni’s work, but I wasn’t sure where the premise would go in terms of storyline based on early information.
Three episodes later, I can see the series’ appeal and why Director Minoru Ota considers this project “… a masterpiece destined to leave its mark on anime history.” in his 2025 interview with MyAnimeList.
Aesthetic Ambition: Traditional Background Art & 1906 World Building
To be quite honest, aside from the beautiful art backgrounds that use a traditional painted style in line with the series’ 1906 timeline, the visual execution immediately stands out.
The anime also had Kihachi make a wing suit, and after the first episode name-dropped da Vinci, I thought of his flying machine (ornithopter) from the lake scene with Prince Henry in the 1998 Cinderella film Ever After with Drew Barrymore, as I watched Kihachi and Inako fly off the roof of her family’s storehouse to escape…only to then somehow cover a lot of distance and then land directly in front of Yosuke’s vehicle.
The Mystery of Seiroku & The 20th Century Electrical Catalog
Aside from the visuals, I’m mostly interested in learning more about Kihachi’s brother, Seiroku.
I’m pretty sure he is most likely dead (given the literal war flashbacks shared by both Yosuke and Kengo) but man, was he an interesting character. Seiroku reminds me of every ‘cool older brother’ featured in a 90s sitcom, who seemingly had everything figured out in order to make a huge impact in life, but ultimately tragically dies before achieving his goals.
World’s Fair Inspirations and Steampunk Inventions
Given Seiroku’s foresight into events and inventions, I’m wondering how exactly he got into studying electricity in the first place. He took Kihachi to the World’s Fair, and both brothers fell in love with everything in the Engineering Building – but who introduced him to that sector of achievements in a steampunk world?
Especially since in reality, electricity and (gas-powered) lanterns were often shown off at the World’s Fairs of the late 1800s and early 20th century. The San Francisco World Fair of 1915 (the Panama-Pacific International Exposition) had General Electric Company (GE) design cascading floodlights that illuminated the buildings, much like Kihachi’s “Moon Lantern”.
Character Dynamics: Yosuke, Kihachi, and Inako’s Complex Web
Speaking of Yosuke, I’m wondering what the nature of his actual relationship with Seiroku, is. Alongside Kengo and Noriko, they all attended school together in Shiga, and judging by what Kengo said along with the flashback between Yosuke and Seiroku on the rooftop, Yosuke changed his entire personality and appearance, and revolved his life around creating the Age of Electricity with Seiroku.
(Yosuke clearly hates the smoke-filled streets of Kyoto…)
Yosuke even wanted to marry Inako because she comes from a prestigious (Sake-brewing) family, which seemed to be a request from Seiroku. But, that doesn’t quite explain the former’s jealousy toward Seiroku’s little brother, or why Inako’s older sister was trusted with the real first half of the 20th Century Electric Catalogue. Or why Inako and Noriko’s father Jinemon seems to casually have the second half of the book in a dresser drawer within their living room.
Or why Inako’s friend Suzu just happened to be carrying around a box of ashes to unlock the secret message for the Electric Catalogue Inako didn’t know even existed, but somehow knew her mother was involved with because it faintly smelled like Sake.
Burning Questions for Episode 4 and Beyond
But, tell me your thoughts: Is Yosuke an illegitimate heir who was motivated (or manipulated) by Seiroku for unknown reasons? Why is Yajiro friends with this group? And were the Sakamoto brothers orphans, or is the Yagura family a distant relative of theirs?
🏮 Read More in Asian Spaces
Discover more exclusive interviews, reviews, and news hubs across the In Asian Spaces universe:
- Kyoto Animation’s Sparks of Tomorrow: Netflix Release Date, Cast, and Steampunk Kyoto Lore – Dive deeper into KyoAni’s historical setting, cast details, and production background.
- The Ghost in the Shell (2026) Episodes 1–3 Review: Cybernetic Ghosts & 90s Vibes – Read our breakdown of Science SARU’s cybernetic adaptation and retro aesthetics.
- The Steampunk Future of Anime: Scott Westerfeld and Justin Leach on the Leviathan Netflix Adaptation – Explore how modern creators are shaping the steampunk genre across major streaming platforms.
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Ep 1 Review: A Bit More Time – Discover another thoughtful, beautifully paced premiere that redefines fantasy storytelling.
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