If you were curious about Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring but got mixed vibes from its premiere, the early verdict from Anime News Network is basically this: the show improves across Episodes 1 to 4, but it still has a lot to figure out.
The biggest change is that the emotional side finally starts landing. The first episode apparently leaned so hard into dramatic sadness that it came off more empty than moving, which is never a great sign for a fantasy series that clearly wants viewers to feel everything at maximum volume. By Episode 4, though, that starts to shift. The review says the series becomes easier to care about once the characters are given more room to breathe instead of just drowning in nonstop tragedy.
A big part of that comes from Sakura, who reportedly feels far more layered after the opening episode. Her scenes with the Hazakura sisters in Episodes 3 and 4 help a lot, and the show begins to make better use of the wider setup around the seasonal Agents and their Guardians. The core idea is that these so-called Agents are children forced into divine roles by fate, while the Guardians are the few people close enough to protect them from both outside attacks and the emotional damage that comes with having your whole future decided for you. That is a strong hook, and it sounds like the anime works best when it stays focused on that part.
The production side seems much easier to praise. According to the review, Studio Wit is delivering strong artwork and animation, with the seasonal themes giving the show plenty of excuses to go wild with colour and atmosphere. One standout mentioned is the wall of ice flowers created by the Agent of Winter in Episode 2. The soundtrack is also by kensuke ushio, and while the review does not call it his best work, it still sounds like the music brings plenty of weight to the dramatic moments.
Another arc that seems to help the series is the introduction of Ruri and Ayame, the twin sisters tied to Summer as Agent and Guardian. Their relationship is described as more natural and likeable than the show first suggests, which matters because this anime apparently lives or dies based on whether you buy into its character bonds.
That said, not everything is clicking yet. Hinagiku, the Agent of Spring, is singled out as the weakest major character so far, with dialogue and emotional delivery that feel too forced even after four episodes. Rousei, the Agent of Winter, gets a bit more grace because his material is only just being introduced, so there is still time for his side of the story to improve.
The other big issue is the action plot. The fights against the so-called Insurgents are said to look great, but the logic behind them is still muddy. If an Agent dies and another one is immediately chosen, it raises an obvious question: what do these attackers actually gain from trying to kill them? That uncertainty makes the action feel disconnected from the character drama, like the show is juggling myth fantasy, political intrigue, teen trauma, and stylish combat all at once without fully blending them together.
For Malaysia and the wider SEA anime crowd, that means Agents of the Four Seasons looks like a very specific kind of seasonal watch. If you are into lush visuals, emotional fantasy, and character-heavy drama, there is enough here to keep an eye on. But if you want clean worldbuilding and a story that locks in fast, this one might test your patience a bit, bro.
The anime is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
Source: Anime News Network