(L) Hyakka Ryouran SAMURAI GIRLS

[Suzuku]

Really nice first episode. Very unique art style and nice use of ink, reminds me of SFIV a bit in it's implementation.

[Pheonix03]

The first episode was pretty good. The art style is fantastic and the execution of it in the animation is quite good; that paired with the strong character designs, the visuals are a joy to look at. Voice acting was quite good as well.

Still, I'm not sold on the series yet. For an anime that is built upon the foundation of its female characters, they really came across as weak in this episode (outside of the prologue sequence, of course). Yaguu just seemed very dominant in his presence throughout the episode; heh, a samurai-themed Queen's Blade this is not. Later on, I hope the female characters develop a stronger presence in the show. If I wanted to see a man fight, there's plenty of other better stuff out there for that.

I'll keep an eye on this one for now. There's a lot of potential for this series with it's stylish execution of the animation and great character designs. Hopefully that potential won't be wasted by making this a Negima rip-off.

If worst comes to worst, I'll check on the show every now and then to see Hanzou's yuri antics, heh.

[MisaoFan]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

I personally agree that complaints on this basis are nonsense, since just about all mainstream anime borrow heavily from each other. What they do with the material is more important than shallow similarities of plot. But I do think the similarities are real. One strong Sekirei connection is a magical fighter dropping (semi-)naked from the sky.

So far, I find the humor here in ep1 funnier than in any of the other three, and the art style is certainly a lot different from any of them. And more inventive and interesting. The strong male lead is a difference, too, is it not? And for some reason, I find it easier to follow and be interested in the story.

I wondered if I might just be biased in favor of a show with a seiyuu I like, Yuuki Aoi, but QB and Sekirei have two other favorite seiyuus of mine -- Hirano Aya and Hayami Saori.

EDIT: A new 2channel post gave me a laugh. Someone has listed 21 shows this show has ripped off:

Strawberry Panic, Ikkitousen, Negima, Sekirei, Sakura Taisen, QB, Sengoku Basara, Dai Maou, Stratos 4, Ookami (PS2 game), Qwesar, Katanagatari, Koihime Musou, Laputa, 11eyes, Blassreiter, Zero no Tsukaima, Ooedo Rocket, SD Gundam Sangokuden, Taishou Yakyuu Musume, Shaft direction.

Um, if it's like that many different shows, perhaps it's original?

It's not Qwesar but Qwaser.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Originally Posted by MisaoFan

It's not Qwesar but Qwaser.

Thanks. I can never remember which it is. I wish they just spelled it like the real word "quasar." In Japanese, it's クェイサー kueisaa.

By the way, the guy who made that long list of things this is derivative of left out Strike Witches. I'm just watching the episode again and enjoying the silliness of those aerial battles -- a more adult version of the SW girls, underclothes and all.

Surely the irony of the nationalistic narration is intentional? "We're so beautiful people keep invading us. (Of course, we never invaded anyone....)" I guess part of the set-up in this alternate world may be that Japan remained closed off and really didn't invade others.

Also, please feel free not to quote all of my tl;dr post. Feel free just to delete everything but the bit you're making reference to.

[dark998]

Originally Posted by Pheonix03

Still, I'm not sold on the series yet. For an anime that is built upon the foundation of its female characters, they really came across as weak in this episode (outside of the prologue sequence, of course). Yaguu just seemed very dominant in his presence throughout the episode; heh, a samurai-themed Queen's Blade this is not. Later on, I hope the female characters develop a stronger presence in the show. If I wanted to see a man fight, there's plenty of other better stuff out there for that.

I think giving focus to Muneakira and showing he is a capable main character was necessary, because he is bound to be overshadowed later, when the girls "awaken".

[Saturn Beaver]

Hmmm...I just watched the episode, and I rather liked it. I'm not really critical about art style or whatever, it doesn't bother me at all and I loved the animation of the fights, especially the bit at the beginning before the opening song. To be honest though, I liked those things far better than the fanservice/comedy bits. I loved the fighting scenes and is more looking forward for them, especially seeing the variety of cool weapons the girls wield (my personal favorite is D'artagnan's dual huge swords. Can't wait to see those in more action).

It's still the first episode but as I said before I'm not really interested in the comedy, like the bit about the usual ecchi misunderstanding. Hanzou Hattori kinda annoys me (btw, ninja maids are quite popular these days, huh?) and I've seen quite a lot of different interpretations of Yukimura Sanada (Kyo, Basara, Samurai Warriors) but seeing him as a tsurupettan, voiced by Rie Kugimiya no less, is a bit bizzare. The ink blots is rather creative, but gets kinda annoying. I'd rather Matabei clothers herself better than got that annoying blot in the middle of the screen. I don't care about originality though, everything is inspired by something at some point and I don't think this show's prime objective is to be a genre-breaking original work.

In short, I'm still a bit apprehensive but I'll watch the next few episodes again when it comes out. Now, seeing them makes me want to replay Sengoku Rance again, I think there's still a route I haven't played...

[Francismeunier]

Originally Posted by Saturn Beaver

I loved the fighting scenes and is more looking forward for them, especially seeing the variety of cool weapons the girls wield (my personal favorite is D'artagnan's dual huge swords. Can't wait to see those in more action).

I know those swords are amazing and the only action of it was I think in the OP! I still say D'artagnan = to Saber with a mix of Samurai Showdown's Charlotte and some girl I forgot in Guilty Gear XX.

Originally Posted by Saturn Beaver

Matabei clothers herself better than got that annoying blot in the middle of the screen. I don't care about originality though, everything is inspired by something at some point and I don't think this show's prime objective is to be a genre-breaking original work.

Yeah I know about the censors being but!.......her underwear which is a fudonshi makes up for that part and you got to admit not too much of that in anime anyways.

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

Surely the irony of the nationalistic narration is intentional? "We're so beautiful people keep invading us. (Of course, we never invaded anyone....)" I guess part of the set-up in this alternate world may be that Japan remained closed off and really didn't invade others.

It obvious that the B-29s are a USA opposition of leave us alone or super beings will come after you or Gundams for that matter. Well I did speak to someone about that part and USA simply do not trust Japan to leave it alone. Of course not when you can exploit it easily.

[MisaoFan]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

Thanks. I can never remember which it is. I wish they just spelled it like the real word "quasar." In Japanese, it's クェイサー kueisaa.

By the way, the guy who made that long list of things this is derivative of left out Strike Witches. I'm just watching the episode again and enjoying the silliness of those aerial battles -- a more adult version of the SW girls, underclothes and all.

Surely the irony of the nationalistic narration is intentional? "We're so beautiful people keep invading us. (Of course, we never invaded anyone....)" I guess part of the set-up in this alternate world may be that Japan remained closed off and really didn't invade others.

Also, please feel free not to quote all of my tl;dr post. Feel free just to delete everything but the bit you're making reference to.

The real word is Qwaser, not Quasar according to TVTropes.

[Thino]

I really like the art style , how the characters are outlined and stuff .

It seems weird to watch an anime about gorgeous girls with super powers destroying planes and whose powers are improved by kisses while Sekirei is still airing , but I guess I'll give it a few more episodes

Im half sold on the Great Japan shogun era , samurais , big artistic kanjis everywhere , that whole kind of medieval japan atmosphere in general (like Katanagatari or Okami the game , as mentioned before ) + inkdrops

I'll see how it turns out , as Im not really bothered by lack of originality

[technomo12]

OMFG episode 1 is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

but DAMMIT INK SPLOTS!!!!!!DAMMIT!!!!!!!!!!

but hey its better than fogs right?

god the echiness is awesome love the art work

the fight scene seems nice cant wait for episode 2

[Mizuno]

Yuuki Aoi's tone was so much win. Definitely sounds like a merciless, badass b****.

The ink blots made me feel like I was playing Okami. Just wicked.

Great start.

[Wrath88]

Uguu, I must watch this right away! Stupid homework...

[tsunade666]

well stupid fog and long not transparent sunlight or just ink blots here and their. Theirs been lot of censoring type but ink blots are lot better though the ink blots are too random and even in not the spot that needs not to be censored are hit by it.

[Wrath88]

Hmm, with the inkblot censoring, I kind of don't mind it.

Power up = kiss, girl falls down from sky...
But the guy is GAR! Still...

I facepalmed when the princess took out the picture.

Juubei's fall in the ED was quite cute.

[Eternal_Sin]

I love the Art

And I kinda love the censoring technique

the character also looks cute...esp.Jubei

Hope It won't be like Queen's blade.....

[tsunade666]

oh it won't be queen's blade because their is a guy and it won't be sekirei because at least the guy can fight. well let's wait and see but at least I'm grateful that the guy can fight and not some hide behind girls back. I hate that type.

[Echoes]

This was cool. Fantastic art, and the character designs are just lovely. I wasn't a big fan of the ultra-nationalistic opening, but maybe it was tongue in cheek, I don't know the language well enough to tell.

I'm really looking forward to this either way. It looks like mindless fun at its finest.

[Iron Maw]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

Thanks. I can never remember which it is. I wish they just spelled it like the real word "quasar." In Japanese, it's クェイサー kueisaa.

Surely the irony of the nationalistic narration is intentional? "We're so beautiful people keep invading us. (Of course, we never invaded anyone....)" I guess part of the set-up in this alternate world may be that Japan remained closed off and really didn't invade others.

Perhaps, I guess it depends on how seriously the characters themselves take it. Either case I didn't find it very funny, so I hope there's less of that, and more of the crazy fights of the first few minutes.

Originally Posted by dark998

I think giving focus to Muneakira and showing he is a capable main character was necessary, because he is bound to be overshadowed later, when the girls "awaken".

That's probably going to be case, I just hope he doesn't end as nothing more than a walking energy battery.

[tsunade666]

is all the girls awaken anyway to begin with? or only jubei is the one that need "chu" to awaken? though in the first part with the crazy fight against planes it looks like all are awakened or something and even I can't seem to identify sanada at first because she looks different..... a lot different.

[monir]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

Surely the irony of the nationalistic narration is intentional? "We're so beautiful people keep invading us. (Of course, we never invaded anyone....)" I guess part of the set-up in this alternate world may be that Japan remained closed off and really didn't invade others..

Watched it. I definitely want to say that portion of the narrative should be taken in as silly. At the same time, however, considering the growing anti-gaijin (especially for the Korean and Chinese immigrants) sentiment Japan is undergoing at the moment, I'm sort of reluctant to brush off anything.

Fortunately, I'm in it for the fanservice alone. I already dislike the male protagonist because of that particular seiyuu for the voice, so skins to distract me from the implicated plot point from various degree.

Oh, and the thread is now moved to the Current Series section.