Watch Hand Shakers

Hand Shakers is an anime television series that aired in 2017. Directed by Shingo Suzuki and produced by GoHands, the show follows the story of two young Hand Shakers, Tazuna Takatsuki (voiced by Justin Briner) and Koyori Akutagawa (voiced by Sumire Uesaka), as they navigate a world where battles are fought through shaking hands.

In this alternate realm, Hand Shakers are individuals who possess special abilities that allow them to summon powerful weapons and fight in battles against other Hand Shakers. The ultimate goal is to compete in the "Ziggurat," a tournament that pits the strongest Hand Shakers against each other for the chance to receive a wish granted by the "God." However, the battles are not without a price - the physical strain on the Hand Shakers is immense, causing them to suffer from intense pain and even death if they are unable to handle the strain.

Tazuna Takatsuki is a young mechanic who lives with his younger sister. One day, he is approached by a mysterious girl named Koyori Akutagawa, who seems to be pursued by a group of menacing figures. Much to Tazuna's surprise, Koyori can only move if she holds his hand, marking the beginning of their journey as Hand Shaker partners.

As they compete in the Ziggurat tournament, Tazuna and Koyori encounter other Hand Shaker pairs, each with unique abilities and personalities. They face numerous challenges and enemies along the way, including the mysterious organization known as "Architect", which seeks to harness the powers of Hand Shakers for their own gains.

One of the interesting aspects of Hand Shakers is its use of unique and vibrant animation. The show features an art style that blends digital animation and live-action backgrounds to create a surreal, dream-like world. The character designs themselves are also striking, each Hand Shaker pair having their own distinctive visual style.

In terms of characters, the show's main duo of Tazuna and Koyori are portrayed well, with their growing relationship being a central focus of the story. Tazuna is a likable protagonist, who despite his reservations about fighting, will do whatever it takes to protect Koyori. Sumire Uesaka gives a strong performance as Koyori, who is initially very shy and reserved, but gradually opens up as she grows closer to Tazuna.

Other notable characters include the flamboyant Chizuru Mitsudera (voiced by Mikako Komatsu), who is partnered with her pet hedgehog, and the sinister rival duo of Lily (voiced by Ai Kayano) and Masaru (voiced by Soma Saito).

Overall, Hand Shakers is an enjoyable anime series that offers a unique and visually striking take on the battle royale genre. While the show does suffer from some pacing issues and underdeveloped side characters, its core story and compelling central pair make it worth checking out for fans of action and fantasy anime.

Hand Shakers is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (12 episodes). The series first aired on January 11, 2017.