Title: Toaru Majutsu no Index
Genre: Supernatural / Magic / Action / Comedy
Aired: October 2008 to March 2009
Review Score: 9
Toaru Majutsu no Index (A Certain Magical Index) is one of my favorite series. Recently I’ve had the pleasure of introducing it to someone who I thought would really enjoy it and so far he has. As such I decided to throw up a review of this show if you never have seen it. Before going into any details I will warn you that the show is pretty slow moving and it isn’t non-stop action either. I would define it as a great mix of story, action, character design, art, and music.
Toaru Majutsu no Index follows Kamijou Touma, a level 0 esper who lives in Academy City. Academy City is a city devoted to science and education with a prime focus on the study of espers and their powers. On the flip side of the world there are the magicians out there that are connected to various churches and push the study of religion and magic. The world revolves around this concept of two entities, magic and science. People who are labeled as not having an ability are level 0. Touma however has a special trait, his hand has the ability to cancel out both esper and magic when it comes in contact with it. They define in the show that it is neither an esper ability or magical trait, more defined as a curse that will even negate the effects of blessings and luck. The show opens with him meeting a young looking girl named Index who is hanging out to dry on his balcony window. Index has a skill called “Perfect Memorization” and her brain holds 103,000 of the most dangerous magical books, thus she is a magical index. She is being chased by the “Magic Cabal” who is after the contents in her head, thus the show starts.
Not to be deceived the show is not strictly focused on this base premise. The plot is pretty intertwined and flowing, it moves as the show moves from arc to arc. Each arc of the show contains its own plot which will have effects or points of interest later in the show, even later in seasons. The central concept would lie around Touma, what he is, those around him, and what he does. He mainly will go to rescue or help any girl in danger, each one of those girls special in their own way. The entirety of the “A Certain…” series takes place in a short time frame and does a great job of giving you character background, skills, and purpose. Most of the information in the show actually holds a purpose to the current plot/arc and is used to explain what lies behind the “plot/power/situation”, most of it coming from Komoe sensei.
A big reason I love this series is that you also get the “esper” side with its side story (focused on Mikoto) “Toaru Kagaku no Railgun” (A Certain Scientific Railgun). The series does a great job of teaching the fundamentals of the world they exist in and the factors that shape the everything around them. The big down side is there is no overall plot laid out, except you know that the leaders of church and of the science factions all have an ultimate goal and are willing to use anyone to achieve it. Beyond that, you do not know much of the people in control, but the of the people involved. The plus side I can see from how the show is constructed, it forces you as the viewer to be part of the main cast of characters and learn as they learn. That concept is very fitting after you get through the first arc in my mind.
Overall this is a great anime in my books. The arc plots move really well and previous events do hold significance to what goes on in the story. The anime can feel a little sluggish at times, but I felt the comedy inserts with overall concept carry it well. I loved the concept of magic being in the center of a scientific city. Then seeing the story move deeper with the concept of magic and/vs science. If you have never seen it, it may require a second watch to fully grasp how well things are really tied together. I would honestly recommend this entire series to most people, however I know it is not up everyone’s ally. It is a show I would mark as see for yourself, but at least watch the first arc before dropping to the side.
Title: Kamen no Maid Guy
Genre: Comedy / Ecchi / Action
Review Score: 6
Aired: April 2008 – June 2008
Review:
Fujiwara, Naeka and her brother Kousuke are the inheritors of their grandfathers wealth. Upon turning 18 Naeka will be allowed to inherit this, however there are many out there who would see her demise in order to prevent that. Her grandfather sends in Fubuki and Kogarashi to help take care of them as well as protect them. Fubuki is skilled with knives, beautiful, clumsy, and the tamer of Kogarashi. Kogarashi is known as Maid Guy! A super human maid of impending doom who possess thirty seven senses and odd abilities to aid in the protection and care of Naeka. As a result of Naeka and Kousuke being unable to take care of themselves (cleaning – cooking), their grandfather makes them accept the new maids.
This story has an underlying plot, protect Naeka. Most of the anime is based on watching Naeka have to suffer through the shenanigans of Kogarashi as he does what he believes is “best for her sake”, without regards for common sense. The show is very funny as various skills and attempts to make things better reveal themselves from Kogarashi, however it is extremely ecchi really focusing in on Naeka’s boobs (Kogarashi even has x-ray vision to aid this point on). If you don’t mind ecchi, want a smaller cast, and pretty solid humor the show is a good one time watch. Kogarashi and Fubuki really sell the show over the rest of the characters, I never felt Kogarashi rub me as old or overused with his scenes. A point of interest if you decide to watch this show is that it only runs 12 episodes and doesn’t continue onward although the possibility was there, you will need to pick up the manga to continue this story.
PS: I love the ending.
Title: Kaichou wa Maid-sama!
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Review Score: 9
Aired: April 2010 – September 2010
Review:
So you guys get back to back series I really love. Kaichou wa Maid-sama! is built around student council president Ayuzawa, Misaki. She is president of a school that used to be an all boys school that just recently turned co-ed. Do to the recent merger, there are still far fewer girls surrounded by a relatively over the top group of guys. Misaki feels she needs to protect the girls from the boys both as the president and personal experience. Among all of the girls, Misaki is known throughout the school for being a man hater and is called the demon president.
Enter in Usui, Takumi the pretty boy who is super popular among all the female students. He carries a very passive and calm appearance, however deep down has started to fall in love with Misaki which turns his interactions with her in to teasing. What preempts this interest is Usui stumbling upon Misaki’s job working as a maid in a maid cafe. SHOCK! Why does the straight as a board president work in such a place? Simple, her family is poor and she helps her mother by working here. Upon learning her secret and some of the story that lies behind her nature, Usui takes it in as his own secret and so their story starts.
This story is just as cute as it is funny. The cat and dog game between Usui and Misaki as the series progresses never got old to me nor her tsundere type attitude she carries. The supporting cast I found interesting and each sub arc was entertaining and funny. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Usui and Misaki develop all the way through the final episode which I thought was super cute. I would highly recommend this anime if you enjoy a light hearted romance.
Title: Kamisama Hajimemashita (Kamisama Kiss)
Genre: Comedy / Romance / Fantasy
Review Score: 8
Aired: October 2012 – December 2012
Review:
So here we are with another comedy romance. The Fall 2012 season had few romance aimed anime that felt to properly offset the action/drama releases. From the get go I started to love this story, they don’t spend much time building up some sappy past and simply explain it in about three minutes.
In short Momozono, Nanami is homeless after her father leaves her. Since no one is there to pay the bills she left without a home sitting on a bench in the park. While figuring out what to do, she “helps” a man stuck in a tree due to a “dog”… Nanami shoos the dog away. The hearing her story tells Nanami she can live at his old house due to him taking a trip. Upon arriving at the… shrine Nanami comes to learn the man had just given her his land god duties and she is officially a god. Working at the shrine are two helpers and the land god’s familiar, Tomoe. Tomoe is your standard super good looking guy, but with a bad attitude. Upon learning that Nanami is the new caretaker, Tomoe leaves her and goes back to the land of the gods. Nanami follows to retrieve him, which turns more into her yelling at him. Stuff happens… she gets in trouble… Tomoe comes… she kisses him which makes him her familiar now and the story starts.
You spend most of this short series watching Nanami come to terms with her feelings for Tomoe and her trying to become a proper land deity. As they spend time together Nanami develops feeling for Tomoe who promises to stay at her side, always. The words can be misleading as is Tomoe pledging as a familiar or as someone who also is coming to fall in love with her.
Kamisama Kiss does a great job of merging the story of Tomoe’s past (which effects his ability to accept humans… mainly Nanami) and the development of Nanami as she learn what it means to be a land deity. The series may feel a little slow at times but I personally felt the speed of the story perfectly matched the tone. I felt the supporting cast was great, introducing other deities who live on earth as well as giving a little bit of competition to Tomoe. I also love the opening song, it fits the anime perfectly. I really did love the art style for this show for both the characters and backgrounds. I felt the ending of the show was satisfying and completely happy with it ending at thirteen episodes believing they did a wonderful job. If you love the romance / comedy genre with a kick of the supernatural you will really want to check this series out
Title: Skip Beat
Genre: Comedy / Romance / Shoujo / Idol
Review Score: 8
Aired: October 2008 – March 2009
Instead of doing as I should and get you guys some Fall Reviews caught up, I’ve been watching lots of anime, my bad. I watched a lot of the new shows, but I had the sudden urge to re-watch Skip Beat! (This was brought on by School Idol Love Live! and AKB0048) If you have never seen Skip Beat, you really should consider it.
Skip Beat! is one of my favorite “Idol” type anime to date. You follow a girl named Kyouko as she seeks revenge on her ex-boyfriend (aka she was like his maid) Fuwa Sho. Why the revenge and how would she do this? Well Sho was just using her knowing she would follow him anywhere… How? Simple, she will become an idol and overtake him in popularity. So easy…
So her journey begins by joining an entertainment agency (the rival agency of Sho) where the “cool” #1 male idol Tsuruga Ren works. She tries out and fails due to her lacking a spirit of love which was shattered by Sho. Feeling that she has too much talent the owner of LME creates the “Love Me!” section. A section designed to help upcoming talent find the most important thing they might lack, love.
This anime is really funny. Kyouko is a combination of pure evil and super cute funny. The love story is there, albeit a bit on the side as the story is more focused on revenge and growing as an idol. You will follow Kyouko as she starts to rise from lowly errand girl to becoming an idol. My biggest gripe in the show lies in it ending at 25 episodes. The manga does continue onward, but as of now the anime has not gotten the green light for a much needed second full run. The ending wishing for more, and only time will tell if it will come. Regardless of knowing this, I highly recommend Skip Beat! if you are looking for a great comedy with a good story, solid animation, and a side of love.