Speaker 1: The animated series High Guardian Spice arrived with ambitious goals
but quickly became one of the most controversial originals in
Crunchy Role's history. Announced in twenty eighteen as the streaming
service's first fully original animated production, the show promised a
fantasy adventure centered on four young women training to become
legendary guardians. Instead of becoming a flagship exclusive, it became
a lightning rod for criticism long before audiences ever saw
a single episode This is TV Casualty High Guardian Spice.
Much of the controversy began with the series announcement. Crunchy
Role released a behind the scenes promotional video that focused
heavily on the production staff rather than the story, characters,
or animation. While highlighting the creative team was intended to
celebrate diversity and introduce viewers to the people making the series,
many anime fans expected trailers, artwork, and plot details. Instead,
the marketing created confusion about who the show was meant
for and sparked online debates that overshadowed the project itself.
Production delays only made matters worse. After being announced with
considerable excitement, High Guardian Spice seemed to disappear for years
with little official communication. During that time, rumors circulated about
its budget, production problems, and crunchy roles priorities. Some subscribers
questioned why their membership fees appeared to be funding an
American produced animated series rather than licensing more Japanese anime.
Although these assumptions were often exaggerated or unsupported, the lack
of transparency allowed speculation to dominate discussion. When the series
finally premiered in twenty twenty one, it entered an audience
that had already formed strong opinions. Rather than being judged
on its own merits, the show carried years of accumulated
controversy into its release. Viewers immediately scrutinized everything from the
animation quality to the dialogue and character designs. The story
followed Rosemary, Sage, Parsley, and Time as they enrolled in
High Guardian Academy to train as protectors of their magical world.
Drawing inspiration from fantasy role playing games and Western magical
school adventures, the series blended coming of age storytelling with action, friendship,
and mystery. While the premise itself was straightforward, many critics
argued that the execution lacked the depth and polish expected
from a premium streaming. Original animation became one of the
most common complaints. Although produced by experienced artists, many viewers
felt the visuals looked inexpensive compared to both Japanese anime
and competing Western animated series. Action sequences were criticized for
lacking fluidity, while background art and character movement were often
described as inconsistent. Supporters countered that the show's limited budget
should have tempered expectations, but negative comparisons spread rapidly online.
The writing proved equally divisive. Some appreciated its focus on
emotional growth, identity, and and interpersonal relationships, while others found
the dialogue awkward and overly simplistic. Attempts at humor often
failed to resonate with audiences, and several characters were criticized
for relying on familiar fantasy archetypes without enough development to
distinguish them. One of the shows defining characteristics was its
openly inclusive cast of characters. High Guardian Spice featured LGBTQ
plus representation as a natural part of its world, including
transgender and non binary characters. For many viewers, this representation
was refreshing and meaningful, particularly in a fantasy setting where
such identities were treated matter of factly rather than as
dramatic revelations. However, the inclusion also became the focus of
intense online culture war arguments that frequently overshadowed discussion of
the series actual storytelling. As criticism intensified, it became increasingly
difficult to separate legitimate artistic critiques from politically motivated attacks.
Some reviewers genuinely disliked the pacing, animation, and script, while
others condemned the series simply because of its diverse creative
team or inclusive themes. Conversely, some supporters dismissed all criticism
as bad faith, making productive discussion nearly impossible. The result
was an environment in which nearly every conversation about the
show became polarized. Review scores reflected this divide. Professional critics
generally offered mixed reactions, acknowledging the show's positive intentions while
pointing out its uneven execution. Audience ratings were often significantly lower,
though many observers questioned how much of that reflected the
quality of the series versus organized review bombing and years
of negative publicity Crunchy Role itself faced criticism for its
handling of the project as a company primarily known for
distributing Japanese anime producing an original, Western style animated series