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... EST. ⏎ How was the first episode? ⏎Nick Creamer ⏎ Rating: 3.5 ⏎ Every time the preview guide rolls around, I am reminded anew just how much perfectly reasonable yet largely unsung anime there is out there. Not those rare shows that show up in all the critical lists, not the action staples that dominate the popular charts, and not the shows so bad they get recognized by infamy alone; the reasonable, unassuming shows in the middle, which accomplish their goals with perhaps not so much flair, but certainly plenty of dignity. ⏎ So it is for The Price of Smiles, a show whose first episode never dazzled me, but nevertheless demonstrated great consistency of writing and execution. Introducing us to the futuristic kingdom of Soleil and the young Princess Yuki, this premiere mostly just established the context of her life, and illustrated her relationship with childhood friend slash royal guard Joshua. With both her parents having died years before, Yuki has had to quickly assume a mantle of responsibility in her kingdom, but still isn't quite the most regal of princesses yet. ⏎ Perhaps what most impressed me about this premiere was its offhand approach to worldbuilding. Oftentimes, scifi or fantasy anime stumble over themselves in their rush to exposit all the cool features of their world, making their early episodes feel like a group of characters listing off paragraphs from their own show's wiki. In contrast, Smiles' first episode only contained one brief fragment of “as we both know” exposition, while more of the context of its world was revealed naturally, through offhand lines like “this is Tokyo, a city located on our old homeworld.” ⏎ Smiles' graceful methods of relaying information also extend to its characterization. Though Yuki's character certainly isn't unique, her mix of youthful naivety and genuine dedication to her role made her a heroine it was easy to root for, particularly once she took Joshua's challenge to his fellow officers into her own hands. Instead of simply telling us that Yuki is young but dedicated and competent, the show naturally demonstrates that, showing her strength both in negotiating with potential naysayers and coming up with battle strategies. ⏎ In visual , Price of Smiles is a relatively middle-of-the-road production. There isn't that much fluid animation, but the show's energetic direction and snappy pacing meant the occasional comedy beats landed well, and the character designs are all pretty appealing. Even the CG robots from this episode's battle simulation had reasonable models, and it was easy enough to follow the flow of battle. ⏎ Overall, while Price of Smiles seems to lack a distinctive hook that might set it apart among sci fi sagas, its mix of likable characters, generally confident storytelling, and fine visual execution still make for a very solid premiere. Nothing about this one is likely to shock you, but if you're looking for a familiar and reasonably executed adventure, it's definitely worth a glance. ⏎ James Beckett ⏎ Rating: 3 ⏎ The Price of...