Kōkyū no Karasu (A Raven in the Harem)
 

https://cdn.animenewsnetwork.com/thu...0600/kouko.jpg

Kōkyū no Karasu (A Raven in the Harem) is getting an anime adaptation.

Plot Summary:

Source

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/new...-anime/.180600

Anime visual

https://cdn.animenewsnetwork.com/thu...619/e-b-u-.jpg

October Premiere

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/new...emiere/.184619

Key Gintama staff being listed as this series' staff plus Bandai Namco Pictures being involved means that this is a Sunrise production. Interesting choice of media to adapt, though. Are we seeing a rise in historical anime series?

PV

Dynamic tag cannot be rendered. (PrintableThread) Newest trailer pv.

Dynamic tag cannot be rendered. (PrintableThread) New pv if anyone didn't get the news.

Crunchyroll announced for streaming.

https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-ne...2-anime-lineup

They aired a sneak peek of the first episode in the (currently ongoing) Aniplex Online Expo 2022. All of the names are officially subbed as Chinese names.

The first episode gave pretty good impressions. Looks like it will be a lot closer to stories involving Chinese palace intrigue and obviously not going to be action-packed and/or fast-paced.

While this is obviously Chinese 'fantasy' and not history, the story is most-definitely based off the Tang Dynasty, with the almost correct usage of corresponding aesthetics & terminology. This is a rare case of 'doing the research' and an even rarer case of one appearing as anime. Overall quite interesting, but I am expecting something slow.

- Tak

There was a shorter preview on the Aniplex Online Fest 2022, I think the first five minutes or so and without the OP sequence. What I noticed was that the official English subs used Chinese names for the characters instead of a Japanese version.

Episode 1 is out

Tbh, I think this is a fairly interesting anime and start so far, with the setting and Jusetsu. Despite her elegance, she also has some goofy moments like talking while eating.

One of the most interesting part of this episode is seeing Jusetsu's special talent, that seems to be unique to her. Another girl introduced into this episode is Jiujiu although I find her presence overshadowed by Jusetsu.

Good soundtrack for the anime imo, for managing to capture the mysterious mood.

That was really nice. I'm not really sure which direction the show will take yet. Will it be episodic, with Jusetsu (CR used Chinese names but I can never remember them) solving various supernatural cases tied to political palace intrigues? Or will it be about her helping the Emperor and growing closer to him? Both?

Anyway, she's a nice heroine. I think it's a bit of a shame the first episode already debunked a lot of the rumors surrounding her. We know she's only sixteen and that her mother was the previous Raven. Her biggest secret is that she's a descendant from the previous dynasty which was supposed to have been completely wiped out. The only mystery left is where she gets her magical abilities from. It's obviously the reason her mother (or her grandmother) was spared from the purge.

That's not only mystery though. While it's true there seem to multiple generations of the Crow consorts, they probably aren't blood related. Crow consort is not subjected to "night duties" to Emperor, yet it's pretty clear them having adulterous relationship would be both difficult and unacceptable due their status. Thus biggest questions (how did Jusetsu even got here, what role her heritage play in it and how whole this crow consort thing work) is still unanswered.

I really enjoyed this one.

Court drama, which I am in the mood for. Dry wit to balance out the serious stuff.

Jusetsu/Shouxue is charismatic and mysterious. She exudes a natural gravity that both the emperor and JiuJiu naturally fell into.

Plus what is the relevance of the mythical kalavinka in the story?

Anyway...

Saiunkoku Monogatari, despite having a similar setting, doesn't seem to have the same feeling because the actual court intrigue there wasn't the central focus of the story (it was more about general imperial politics and being a civil servant), and so this is probably my first foray into actual happenings inside the Imperial Court. From this episode, we get a very nice glimpse of how things work there, both the bad and the worse, and how this seemingly self-contained city doesn't run out of things to talk about. I guess that's how consorts are a source of entertainment in more ways than one.

Shouxue seems to be capable as consort... and a detective, capable of going around the Imperial City while keeping her well-guarded identity relatively unknown to most. I mean, very few people do know her, so that's a plus for her. It also helps that Jiujiu is the perfect informant; she engages in everyday gossip and doesn't stop talking. Right now, the first case involves a supposed hanging of a consort who was suspected of poisoning another. Pretty sure it isn't actually her fault and a sharp weapon was involved. Otherwise, I don't think a sash could have left a mark on a jade earring like that.

Now there are overarching issues at play here, the current Emperor's beef with the Empress Dowager and his pursuit of justice according to law and logic, as well as Shouxue's actual background as both the Raven Consort and seemingly a member of the fallen Luan clan. Also what the actual fuck is that golden chicken?

Yeah. This was decent. Certainly earned my attention for another few episodes, at least.

Solid first episode. I am surprised they revealed so much within the single episode. I'd figure that some of these mysteries would be dragged out for a good while. But instead there's quite a bit revealed right away.

Shouxue is a pretty likable heroine. Can get a good idea of her past and everything else just from this episode. And definitely quite the heritage being a descendant of a survivor of a purge. Understandable that she'd have that reaction at the end of the episode. Thankfully for her it isn't like the Emperor is going to flip out over this. And the ship seems to be set pretty well between them.

I do respect that he's trying to take down that Empress Dowager with logic and law. She definitely was involved and was a scumbag. So in a sense it would be fine to just frame her for something and end her. But I respect that he wants to actually bring her down with her own real crimes. He still wants her dead, just through real crimes and real evidence.

Nice first episode, very easy on the eyes with an intriguing setting and a lot of promise going forward. I do wonder how Shouxue got a taste for freshly-made steamed buns given her apparent hikikimori status and I admire the Emperor's secret ninja intel service for finding this out for him so he could prepare the bribe beforehand.

If this series does well I would look forward to Kusuriya no Hitorigoto getting greenlit for an anime. It has many similar themes as this show but with a very different main character.

Believe it or not, considering the setting, Japanese onyomi of these Chinese names would have been a more correct and suitable way of pronouncing them.

I dunno, but it looks fat and delicious. Also gave me weird Konosuba vibes.

- Tak

Not a bad first episode. I kinda hate that stenciled look on the hairline of the girls, but I get its trying to simulate the way women wore their hair in those times. Also don't like how skinny they look. The mystery component remotely catches my interest, but I'm always down for a "forbidden" romance(although this may not be that exactly), so I'll be keeping up with it... for now.