Admin's Anime Review: Asu no Yoichi - Tomorrow's Yoichi

Title: Asu no Yoichi!
Studio: AIC
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Martial Arts, Action, Harem
Original Run: January 8- March 26, 2009
Episodes: 12
Director: Rion Kujo
Original Character Design: Yu Minamoto
Number One Theme Song: Opening Theme "Egao no Riyuu" by MegRock

Admin's Score:
Story: 89
Character Development: 89
Artwork: 90
Songs: 88
Animation/ Battle Depiction: 86


Asu no Yoichi! all stars (left to right, front to back): Kagome Ikaruga, Karasuma Yoichi, Chihaya Ikaruga, Ibuki Ikaruga, Ayame Ikaruga, Tsubasa Tsubame, Keita Torigaya, Ryou Washizu, Angela Takatsukasa.


Asu no Yoichi! is originally a manga series written and illustrated by Yu Minamoto. It was serialized in Monthly Shonen Champion, beginning in October 2006.

Synopsis
Karasuma Yoichi had trained for martial arts for 17 years under his father in the mountain. As his father had nothing left to teach him, one day, his father ordered him to go to the city for the purpose of training. He was ordered to stay in the Ukiha Divine Wind Style Swordplay dojo owned by the Ikaruga family, fellow to the Karasuma family that possessed the same Swordplay Style. Then, Yoichi began to "freeload" at the Ikaruga house. There, he met with the 4 sisters of Ikaruga, whose parent had left them for sake of training. Yoichi found his life in Ikaruga house in the middle of the city hectic. Everyday was filled with outrageous events that happened between him and the Ikaruga sisters, also with a school delinquent and another martial-artists. Will Yoichi be able to polish his skill in this chaotic life ? The harem and fun begins !!

Strength:
Have to admit, I love the character design, especially the Ikaruga sisters, they have "chemistry" of anime characters, each with their own beauty and interesting personalities, well developed in addition. The comedy entertains the watcher through the entire anime, adding "spice" along with battle scenes aside from the romance and harem, the main theme of the anime. The story packed with entertaining elements and plot twists make this anime enjoyable, not boring at all.

Weakness:
Some flaws in drawing, so a character may sometimes look different from his/her first appearance (except Torigaya, who changed as the anime goes on). The battle scene is kinda short and out of the level of martial art theme anime (If only the battle scenes were improved and the girls' actions were increased, this anime will be really good).

Screenshots:


Ibuki Ikaruga, the eldest out of the 4 Ikaruga sisters, also the most popular out of them, in swimsuit in the beach holiday episode. She is even scary while in that swimsuit, beating Yoichi with that wooden sword. By the way, the shivering girl on her left is Ayame.


Yeah !! No way your life is complete(You will never be with Ibuki, how sad...)! One of Washizu's imagination. You'll find him spacing out most of the times in the anime, thinking about Ibuki with the "Washizu's Vision". He's one main comedian in this anime which really plays a great role in making the audience entertained.


C'mon samurai, say "aaahh". Ayame Ikaruga, shove in the food to Yoichi's mouth, because his hands tire out because of 1000 push-ups with Washizu. Ayame, trying to approach the samurai and build a love relationship, although she treats him harsh most of the times.