Like I needed more to watch, but the fall anime season has started with a slew of new shows. MissieMoon and myself are giving the first episode of several such shows a gander (selected by her) to see what’s worth watching and what gets added to the drop list.
The first two series we’re going to talk about couldn’t be more different.
Kill la Kill
MadDormouse:
Kill la Kill/Aniplex
Give me a second to catch my breath after watching this one. The action didn’t slow down at all. The episode started with a fight, ended with a fight, and still managed to explain just about everything I needed to know to follow along.
Our hero is transfer student Ryuko who shows up at a very interesting school. She doesn’t care about the established rank and file of the student body. No, her great quest … is to find whoever has the other half of a giant pair of scissors. It’s a tale of vengeance and seeking out the person who killed her father.
Not that I took this anime too seriously, it’s a little hard to do that. The fight scene are ridiculous and did I mention half of a giant pair of scissors? Plus there are special school uniforms that grant extraordinary abilities.
It’s funny, fast paced, and has kickass female characters. The fanservice seems unnecessary though. I will continue to watch this show.
MissieMoon:
There’s something about this show. It has a bit of a Gurren Lagann feel, perhaps. Probably because, as I have discovered, it was written and directed by the same pair that brought us Gurren Lagann. It has the same ability to make the characters seem larger than life. You are drawn to Ryuko immediately. She’s like the main character in a Western; a badass outsider who strolls into town to turn everything upside down. She transfers into a new school, befriends a girl in her class (a character reminiscent of Kodomo no Omocha’s Sana in her rapidity of speech and hyperactive behavior), and before the first day is over, she has picked a fight with the most powerful person in the school. (The student president, who else?)
It’s cool, it’s quirky, the action is rapid-fire, and the characters are fantastic. I particularly enjoy Satsuki Kiryuin, the president, who is the most masculine female character I’ve seen in anime in a while, and who has the whole unruffled head villain thing down pat. My only quibble is, as MadDormouse mentioned, the fanservice Ryuko was forced into by her battle uniform was quite unnecessary. I get that sometimes boobs are a big draw for male fans, and I can roll with that because I like to see male characters with no shirts, too. But, I just don’t want to see a battle outfit with no battle functionality. It makes my blood boil. If you want to show girls in the changing room in their bras, do it. Girls in string bikinis on the beach? Do it. However, the idea of sending a girl into battle with suspenders covering her nipples? No thanks. Luckily, based on the images circulating, it looks as though her unform will grow as the series continues.
Diabolik Lovers
MadDormouse:
What the frick did I just watch? When did they make Twilight into an anime? I love a good vampire love story as much as the next guy, but Jesus effing Christ that was steaming pile of rape with extra rape sauce.
I don’t think the first episode covered any plot at all (it was only 15 minutes long). Just, girl arrives at big spooky house and immediately gets accosted by six Edwards with different colored hair. The only plot I detected was at the end when our unfortunate damsel, Yui, randomly learns she’s adopted. And that’s out of nowhere.
The Edwards (all vampire brothers) fill the character types one would expect in an anime “harem.” And all of them took relationship advice from the Edward Cullen School of Dating, except worse. One of the vampires kept referring to Yui as “little bitch.” Granted, they didn’t want to date her, but rather eat her instead. However, she is supposed to be someone’s bride. That was mentioned briefly.
Honestly, I’m not even sure. Where’s Buffy when you need her?
MissieMoon:
I’m not sure what I can say that MadDormouse hasn’t said. The hype about this show in Japan has been big, and I love a good reverse harem, but I was completely disappointed. I’ve always worried about the culture of rape in Japanese animation, but Diabolik Lovers was just terrifying. The main character, Yui, is completely flat and helpless. This is not completely uncommon for main characters in anime based on dating sims, because the theory is that you’ll project your own character onto her body and imagine yourself in the role, but when it comes to being victimized rather than romanced, I think I’ll pass.
I will give it some credit. I did think when I first watched it, that maybe we’re getting back to what vampire romance really is. Twilight and all that followed were cute love stories, but traditionally vampires are monsters. Any interest on their part is focused solely on that delicious nectar that runs through your veins. Women might fall in love with vampires, but it really is a fascination with danger and death that brings them there. It’s about time somebody brought us to that reality. Anyway, if you’re looking for a refreshing love story, approach this one with caution.
Mad Fan Musings 