Admin's Anime Review: Seitokai no Ichizon - Discretion of the Student Council

Title: Seitokai no Ichizon
Studio: Studio DEEN
Genre: Parody, Comedy, Harem
Original Run: October 2-December 18, 2009
Episodes: 12
Director: Takuya Sato
Original Character Design: Kira Inugami
Number One Theme Song: Opening Theme "Treasure" by Hekiyou Gakuen Seitokai

Admin's Score:
Story: 85
Character Development: 90
Artwork: 88
Songs: 85
Animation: 86



Seitokai no Ichizon/ Hekiyou Gakuen Seitokai all stars (from left to right): Ken Sugisaki, Mafuyu Shiina, Chizuru Akaba, Sakurano Kurimu, Minatsu Shiina.



Seitokai no Ichizon is originally a series of light novel written by Sekina Aoi, with illustrator Kira Inugami, published by Fujimi Shobo. 2 series of Manga is also out, Seitokai no Ichizon Nya and Seitokai no Ichizon Petit.

Synopsis
Hekiyou Academy's student councils are selected by popularity among students. 4 girls are chosen to be the student council and Sakurano Kurimu is chosen as the president. The only boy is Ken Sugisaki, who got a special blue chip seat as one who ranked first in academic aspect. The story revolves around the student council activity, mainly meeting (or not...) in the student council room. Ken Sugisaki, who is a maniac of H-games, stated that he aimed for Harem when he first entered the student council. But, Sakurano Kurimu who's too childish, Chizuru Akaba who gives fear, Mafuyu Shiina who can't live without game and Minatsu Shiina who loves "BATTLE" made Sugisaki's life in the student council become outrageous...

Strength:
The comedies are really entertaining (especially the copyright-violating comedies). Without this, the anime will be really boring. Character development is good, every character has equal opportunity to be given the personality and every of them is packed well to be an interesting character. Artwork and animation are good.

Weakness:
May be boring in some parts of the anime, because of the long dialogues.

Screenshot:

Ken Sugisaki's dream, the harem path. He proposed this idea when he was ordered by the prez to write a novel to promote the student council. Besides his wild ideas, the others' ideas are just as ridiculous as his ideas. It ends up with no novel to promote the student council. Seriously, this episode made me laugh.

One of my favorite scene, the copyright-violating joke. Ken Sugisaki turned into S**umiya and declared that he has no interest in normal human. Very "dangerous scene" indeed.

The pose of the student council when they have ended their day. In episode 1 they did this together, but in later episodes, no more....become separated....:(

Admin's Anime Review: Bakemonogatari - Ghost Stories

Title: Bakemonogatari
Studio: Shaft
Genre: Comedy, Supernatural, Harem, Romance
Original Run: July 3-September 25, 2009
Episodes: 14 (ongoing, currently set for 15)
Director: Akiyuki Shinbo
Original Character Design: Vofan
Number One Theme Song: Ending Theme "Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari" by Supercell


Admin's Score:
Story: 90
Character Development: 90
Artwork: 90
Songs: 90
Battle Depiction/ Animation: 90



Bakemonogatari main characters (from left to right): Hanekawa Tsubasa, Sengoku Nadeko, Araragi Koyomi, Mayoi Hachikuji (center below), Senjougahara Hitagi and Kanbaru Suruga.




Bakemonogatari is originally a series of light novels written by Nisio Isin. The illustration is drawn by Vofan, Taiwanese illustrator. It was published by Kodansha.

Synopsis
Araragi Koyomi, a third year high school student recently survived an attack from vampire. Somehow, after that he kept on finding oddities such as gods, spirits, and ghosts around him. The story began when his classmate, Senjougahara Hitagi fall of the stairs. She caught and saved Hitagi, but felt that her body was weightless. Soon, he found out that Hitagi was possessed by an oddity. When Hitagi tried to silence him from telling her secret of being weightless, he offered her a help from Oshino Meme, a specialist who saved his life back then. Out of expectation, Hitagi accept his offer and the story begins...
In this series of events, Koyomi found himself encountering many new heroines, with everyone's stories packed into a series of episodes with one title, those episodes are divided into:
1. Hitagi Crab (2 parts)
2. Mayoi Snail (3 parts)
3. Suruga Monkey (3 parts)
4. Nadeko Snake (2 parts)
5. Tsubasa Cat (5 parts)
With one new heroine appearance in each arc.


Strength:
Very unique background and world outline, which can create odd nuances throughout the stories, such as fragmented real picture mixed with anime picture. Dialogues, jokes and sarcasm really have deep meaning that enhance the story well. Animation are good, especially with the fragmented picture. Nice ending theme which match with episode 12. Characters are developed very well, their personality is depicted with a lot of details.

Weakness:
May be very boring in some parts, like the Mayoi Snail (well, this anime is based on dialogues anyway), so those who long for action and some adrenaline-activating scene can't find it here.
The synopsis pages in the first part of the anime change up too fast, it needs some pausing and even rewind.

Screenshot:

Okay, the famous "warning scene", which I assume more like "life threatening". Hitagi opened Koyomi's mouth with a cutter, then insert a staple between his cheek and inside. Warning: she stapled his mouth once. However, Koyomi still offered a help (man, are you fearless? don't think you can handle anything just because you are a vampire !)

Oshino Meme, the oddity specialist. Some might think that his last name is somewhat moe, but he is a GUY in fact...anyway, he's one of the key character that always help Koyomi dealing with the oddities. His "western" theme song is somewhat cool and match his personality.

Hanekawa Tsubasa, cat version. Can't believe that she turned to be a totally different person at first. Personification of Hanekawa's stress. First time appeared during the Golden Week.

Admin's Anime Review: Sora no Otoshimono - The Lost Property of Heaven

Title: Sora no Otoshimono
Studio: AIC
Genre: Ecchi, Harem, Romance, Comedy, Fantasy
Original Run: October 4-December 27, 2009
Episodes: 13
Director: Hisashi Saito
Original Character Design: Suu Minazuki
Number One Theme Song: Opening Theme "Ring My Bell" by Bluedrops.

Admin's Score
Story: 88
Character Development: 85
Artwork: 90
Songs: 87
Battle Depiction/ Animation: 90



Sora no Otoshimono main protagonists (from left to right): Ikaros, Nymph, Sohara, and the one that on Nymph's lap: Tomoki.



Sora no Otoshimono manga volume 1, author: Suu Minazuki, published by Kadokawa Shoten, a little bit different to the anime in the sense of some addition like another type epsilon angeloid.

Synopsis:
Tomoki Sakurai who lived in Sorami city really adores peace and ordinary, normal life. But his peaceful life ended when he met with Sugata Eishirou, the chairman of "New World" club, who has an ambition to find a new world. Then, Tomoki went out to observe a black circular flux in the sky that stopped in Sorami that night. There, a strange object fall down like a meteor that almost killed Tomoki. In the crater made by the meteor, he found a girl with wings on her back, unconcious. He ignored her and went away when a rain of debris striked the area. He returned to save the girl, but a debris suddenly fall on him. That's when the girl spread her wings, flew to the sky, rescuing Tomoki along with her. She introduced herself as Pet Class Angeloid type alpha, Ikaros. She can grant any wish with her magical cards and call Tomoki "My Master". That's really the end of Tomoki's flat life, as he use Ikaros' cards to conquer the world and more angeloids were sent from the Heaven to retrieve Ikaros back. Chaotic life began !!

Strength:
Nicely done artwork with almost no flaw in drawing and great background, especially the realistic-looking machinery. Comedy that colored the anime all way long, makes it fun to watch. Great animation, especially the last battle when Ikaros used Uranus Queen Mode. Story and unique characters that sweep away boredom and last, the fan service (hmhmhm....).

Weakness:
Ending theme songs are always somewhat bad, although the animation keep on changing.

Screenshots:




One of the most dramatic scene, Ikaros saved Tomoki from the falling debris. Spread your wings, Ikaros !



Unexpectedly, Ikaros' forte is singing. Her angel's voice really touch down the depth of everyone's heart. With this, cultural festival is in her hands !



What if your girl is able to fly at speed of mach 240 and bring back huge fish from the amazon ? Yep, that's Ikaros, who can grant every wishes. Hey, don't you think that's too big ?