Brief Description:
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. In this case, it holds an infinite amount of secrets. These are secrets that only Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang are able to find. In a small shop called "Time Photo Studio," the two friends provide a special service: using their extraordinary powers that let them enter photographs, they jump into pictures brought to them by clients in order to grant their wishes. Through the eyes of the photographer, they live through the events surrounding the picture and try to decipher how to solve their client's request.
But every time they jump into a picture, they take a great risk. One wrong move and they could alter the future of the person who took the picture... and possibly countless other events too. So when the events they are forced to live through in these pictures start to become personal, it will take the utmost strength to push their feelings aside and focus on accomplishing the task they were paid to do. (Source: MAL)
https://myanimelist.net/anime/44074/Shiguang_Dailiren?q=link&cat=anime
US Release Date: 2021
US Distributor: Funimation
Rated PG-13
Link Click is complete at 11 episodes.
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Violence: A serial killer commits murders throughout, though I don't think any of them are shown. Characters die from natural disasters. Spoiler: some characters are stabbed in the finale though I don't think there was much blood. The rest of the violence is either comical or just characters punching each other. I don't think it was too bad.
Sex and Nudity: Well, only the first episode has something. A man tries to seduce one of his employees, and he is quite creepy about it. Nothing happens, though.
Theological Themes: Our leads have different supernatural abilities. One of them can see the past through photographs, while the other can enter the photographs as the person who takes the picture. Their landlady who runs the business refers to herself as a witch or a goddess online to draw attention away from her employees, while attracting customers. [spoilers]The main antagonist is revealed to have the power to control people's bodies.
Problematic Themes: Well, the last episode has Spoiler: a suicide in it, though the victim was Spoiler: being controlled. Other than that, there's one episode where a key player gets drunk. It also touches on human trafficking.
Overall: Link Click was absolutely fantastic. It's my first donghua (Chinese animation), and I'm glad it was. I loved the entire thing, both the episodic stories, as well as the eventual overarching plot. The finale was the best thing ever, though I am upset it was a cliffhanger, and I'm not sure if I'm interpreting things correctly.
Our leads run a shop where they help people fix their regrets by going back in time through photographs. However, one of the key rules is that they cannot change the past, something that the more emotional Cheng Xiaoshi has trouble with. Meanwhile, a serial killer is on the prowl. Most of the stories are self contained, though they do often feature moral dilemmas, as Cheng Xiaoshi has to grapple with not being able to change the past or save the people who are going to die.
Our leads are polar opposites. Cheng Xiaoshi is very social. He is empathetic and emotional, though that often leads to impulsive actions that could change the future. His partner, Lu Guang is more reserved, rational, and logical. He serves as the voice of reason. The other major recurring character is Qiao Ling, their confident landlady who is Cheng Xiaoshi's oldest friend. All of the characters are distinct, and I await more character development in the second season. All of the one off characters also had their own motivations.
The music is the best. I vastly prefer the Chinese opening and ending themes to the Japanese ones. The opening and ending themes are some of the best I've heard. My sister, who doesn't like anime music actually really liked the Link Click ending. The art is also gorgeous. I love the character designs. It's really my type of art style.
Link Click is a fabulous urban-fantasy, time-travel, mystery anime. I would recommend it to teenagers and up for the darker themes and subjects.
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