Released in Summer 2024 by Warner Bros Japan and collaborators, *Suicide Squad Isekai* stands as one of the rare Japanese animated ventures set within the DC Universe. The premise mirrors the *Suicide Squad* film template, but with a pivotal twist: the task force is instantly teleported to a high-fantasy **Isekai** world.
*Note: As a reviewer with minimal prior exposure to DC media, this evaluation is conducted without the bias of long-standing franchise expectations, focusing solely on the anime’s merit.*
📝 Mono’s Measurement System: An Analysis
Story
Score: 6/10 — “Adequate”
The narrative kicks off after a skilled, katana-wielding woman captures Harley Quinn, separating her from the Joker. Harley and four other “supervillains”—Clayface, King Shark, Peacemaker, and Deadshot—are conscripted by Amanda Waller and ARGUS for a mission into a newly accessed fantasy realm. Their compliance is guaranteed by explosive nanobombs in their necks, with the promise of reduced prison sentences for success.
*Suicide Squad Isekai* is explicitly a shallow, action-centric series; it neither attempts nor achieves philosophical depth. While it briefly touches upon a provocative theme—the arbitrary nature of “good” and “evil” labels and the potential corruption within the systems of authority—this idea is neither explored consistently nor in any meaningful detail.
The main weaknesses are **inconsistent pacing**, failure to develop interesting thematic material, **weak world-building**, and a fundamentally conventional plot. The final episode did include a plot twist that, while decently executed, felt ultimately arbitrary and did little to strengthen the overarching story. Given the subpar quality of the writing, the widely held sentiment that this anime is a mere “cash-grab” is difficult to dispute.
—
Visuals
Score: 6/10 — “Adequate”
The artistic quality and animation are highly variable. While certain scenes are visually spectacular, others fall below average. The character designs are aesthetically pleasing, and the color palette is commendable. Moreover, the integration of CGI is generally smooth. Overall, the visuals are perfectly serviceable for a short, self-aware action-adventure anime. However, the notable **inconsistency in quality** prevents a higher score, which is a disappointing outcome considering the involvement of Wit Studio.
—
Audio
Score: 8/10 — “Excellent”
The Japanese voice-acting is superb. The cast features veteran talent, including **Jun Fukuyama** (Clayface), **Kujira** (Amanda Waller), and **Takehito Koyasu** (Peacemaker). **Anna Nagase** delivers an outstanding performance as Harley Quinn, continuing her rise after roles like Riko Amanai in *Jujutsu Kaisen S2*. Even with a limited role, **Yuuichiro Umehara** provides an enjoyable take on the Joker.
Complementing the voice work is the exceptional score by **Kenichiro Suehiro** (*Re: Zero, Fire Force*). The opening track, “**Another World**” by Tomoyasu Hotei, is a chaotic, jazzy, and kick-ass instrumental piece that perfectly embodies the superhero/villain theme. The ending song, “**Go Getters**” by Mori Calliope, initially struck me as unusual but grew considerably in appeal over time, despite the bizarre accompanying visuals.
—
Characters
Score: 5/10 — “Mediocre”
Dedicated DC fans would likely score this category lower due to deviations in the portrayal of iconic figures like Harley Quinn and the Joker. However, from a neutral perspective, this iteration of **Harley** was enjoyable. The anime’s **Joker** is distinct, notably displaying a keen awareness of societal injustice, a trait absent in many traditional, purely chaotic depictions.
While the designs and voice performances were strong, the character writing was disappointingly **surface-level**. Development for the DC characters was minimal. Furthermore, the original characters introduced, such as Fione, felt unoriginal and heavily typecast. This lack of development is frustrating, especially for characters like Harley and Clayface, who had the potential to be truly compelling.
—
Personal Enjoyment
Score: 7/10 — “Good”
My initial viewing in Summer 2024 was highly entertaining (I rated it 8/10 at the time). A recent re-watch revealed more of the animation inconsistencies and made it harder to maintain attention, leading to the adjusted score of 7/10. The highlights were the **voice-acting, music, select visuals, humor,** and the characterization of **Harley**. A stronger plot, better character development, and deeper thematic exploration would have significantly elevated the series.
—
Overall Score: 6.4/10
The calculated overall average places *Suicide Squad Isekai* at **6.4 out of 10**, coincidentally matching the score on MyAnimeList.net (as of October 2025). By my metric, a 6/10 indicates a series that is adequate but likely not essential viewing unless you have a specific niche interest, such as seeing an anime version of the Joker or are a devoted Harley Quinn fan.
While *Suicide Squad Isekai* is perfectly watchable as a light-hearted action title, its **weak writing** is its primary flaw. Prospective viewers who are passionate DC enthusiasts should be warned that the characterizations here are likely to be divisive.
