Highschool of the Dead is the most overrated show of this entire season. While it does have a satisfying beginning and conclusion, a few exhilarating fight scenes and a dark atmosphere, the overabundance of fanservice, painfully slow mid-point, and a lot of poorly acted scenes really do a lot of damage to what could have been a fun show about the zombie apocalypse. It also doesn’t help that the show suffers from an identity crisis, as it tries to be both a horrifying story of survival and an over-the-top testosterone fest, resulting in a show that fails at being scary or thrilling.

HOTD follows Takashi Komuro, a high school sophomore who is depressed over losing his girl friend Rei Miyamoto to his best friend Hisashi Igou. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have time to mourn over his loss, as the zombie apocalypse begins for no adequately explained reason (It’s a show about zombies! Who cares?). In the midst of an attack on his high school, he groups up with various survivors, such as Rei, Hisashi, Kouta Hirano, a gun otaku, Saeko Busujima, a psychotic kendo master, Shizuka Marikawa, the useless nurse, and Saya Takagi, the arrogant, if intelligent, student council president and escape the high school. The rest of the show has the survivors trying to survive in a zombie-infested Japan.

While the story to HOTD may sound interesting, and is at first, the pacing drags out in the middle of the show, causing it to be a painfully boring experience. There is nothing wrong with a plot that slowly develops for the purpose of fleshing out its characters or creating lots of tension, but HOTD does none of this, instead focusing too much time on a fanservice episode, poorly executed morality situations and even cheesy rhetoric delivered by Takashi and various other characters every single episode! If HOTD focused more on its characters and how they survive, maybe putting them in constant danger in order to actually create some tension in each episode, then the slow pacing could have actually been used to its advantage.

Thankfully, the characters are decent, even if the majority of them are stereotypes. Takashi, while being your generic delinquent, is at least a likable protagonist, despite having the nonsensical habit of abusing Rei mentally and physically when he does in fact have feelings for her. Kouta and Saeko, on the other hand, are easily the coolest of the survivors, as while they aren’t given that much in terms of depth, (Saeko only receiving a little back story) the involvement they have in fight scenes really makes up for their shallowness. The only character who is actually well fleshed out has to be Saya, being that while she’s unlikable in the first few episodes of the show, the unveiling of her inner conflicts towards the finale does a great job of allowing the viewer to feel sympathetic towards her. The only characters who actually drag down the show are Shizuka and Rei; Shizuka having no purpose other than to bounce her cleavage around, Rei constantly being used as the damsel in distress archetype, making her appearance alone an annoyance.

But of all the flaws that HOTD the largest has to be the pointless and irrational use of fanservice. Now, fanservice is not necessarily a bad thing in anime, as it can sometimes be utilized in a way that benefits the show, just like shows such as Cowboy Bebop and Hayate the Combat Butler, the former using it to make their characters seem sexy, the latter using it for parody purposes. HOTD uses fanservice for no reason other than the fact that the cast mostly consists of female characters, often influencing the movement of the plot itself in order to get to moments of gratuitous panty shots and overwhelming breast jiggles. The problem is amplified by the fact that action scenes and moments of intense are gore are intertwined with fanservice, resulting in numerous execution hiccups that sometimes cause the experience to be incredibly laughable at times.

The only thing that makes HOTD worth a watch has to be the action scenes, as while they are incredibly inconsistent with many characters gaining the ability of Schwarzenegger and blasting through hordes of zombies with nothing more than melee weapons in one episode while struggling to defeat another horde despite gaining shotguns, assault rifles, and snipers in another, they are extremely satisfying to experience. This is mostly due to the grotesqueness of the zombies and the gratifying blood splatter, which is exaggerated, but only makes the turmoil all the more turbulent. Unfortunately, their isn’t enough action, as the majority of the show isn’t action, meaning that these moments occur about once every three episodes.

Ultimately, HOTD could have been a great series if it weren’t for the slow pacing, excessive fanservice, and poor execution. If it had tried to create a tense atmosphere, each episode making us wonder if the characters survival was in fact guaranteed, than it could have been a good survival horror show. It is by no means, the worst show of this Summer season, but it is nothing more than a dumb action show that does nothing to distinguish itself from other products of its genre. I can only recommend this to only the most hardcore fans of fanservice, action, and gore, but even they may be disappointed by the lack of tension and the disappointing middle portion.

Highschool of the Dead is licensed by Sentai Filmworks and is slated for a DVD release. Watch it now at The Anime Network.

This review will be reposted when the DVD is released.

ENJOYMENT
The beginning and ending are the best parts of the show, the middle is just boring.

RECOMMENDATION VALUE
Only to fans of fanservice, action, and gore. Maybe they’ll like it.

REWATCH VALUE
The action scenes are rewatchable. Everything else isn’t.

This episode we present a special in-depth review of all the ups and downs of Crunchyroll. Although the site is clearly the leader in the anime streaming business, it still has a lot of issues to iron out, which we go into detail about. See also: Crunchyroll’s Premium Subscription: Why You Should.

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Otaku in Review – Episode 20 – The Crunchyroll Special | Subscribe in iTunes

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One challenge faced by many directors and producers today is the need to immerse viewers in their creations. By “taking the viewer away” to a world where they can almost feel what the characters are feeling, they can create a deep emotional response from viewers which in turn makes for some outstanding entertainment. Recently I decided to watch Clannad and Clannad After Story (hereby referred to simply as “Clannad“). Never before has a story moved me in such a way that this series did.

Clannad, based on a visual novel developed by KEY (Air, Kanon, Little Busters), initially looks like a typical high school harem. Any images or synopses you may see of the series will easily give one that impression. However, there’s so much more to the series that one will not realize without actually watching it. Clannad is about love. It’s about life. And it’s about sadness.

Tomoya Okazaki, the protagonist of the story, is a high school student with the reputation of a delinquent. Him and his troublemaker friend Youhei Sunohara constantly pull pranks on their classmates and skip classes. Despite this, Tomoya is a kind person with a big heart, and enjoys helping others. He becomes friends with some of his classmates and helps them with their troubles, whether it be to create a club, win a student council election, or deal with family problems. Clannad is a story about how Tomoya and his friends all struggle to become better people, and deal with life’s many tragic hardships in the process.

There is hardly a moment in the Clannad series where it becomes uninteresting. The animation is outstanding, the music is beautiful, and the characters are lovable. There’s plenty of comedy to go around as well, and some of the jokes are outright hysterical. However, Clannad is more a drama than anything else. There are many emotional moments that could bring one beyond tears. Some scenes will just rip your heart out and throw it in a blender. This is not just because of the story, but also because of the presentation. Tatsuya Ishihara, the director of both series, really knows how to present an emotional scene in the best way possible, and does so spectacularly.

What sets Clannad apart from other anime dramas like Toradora! and True Tears is the fact that the characters deal with a lot more than just romance. In Clannad, many other real-life situations are presented – including estranged family members, financial issues, health problems, and even the death of loved ones. Even though there are supernatural elements to the story, the events that occur are still something that viewers can very much relate to. The reason the series is so acclaimed by its fans is not only because of this, but also because the story is presented in such a way that deeply immerses viewers. It is absolutely and truly a masterpiece.

As a whole, the Clannad series, including both seasons and both OVAs, is 49 episodes long and is completely worth the time and money one would invest in it. Even the weaker parts of the series still manage to hold great entertainment value. For anyone who’s ever dealt with life’s difficulties, as emotionally wracking as they may have been, this series is a very strong recommendation.

Clannad and Clannad After Story are both on sale and distributed by Sentai Filmworks.

One challenge faced by many directors and producers today is the need to immerse viewers in their creations. By “taking the viewer away” to a world where they can almost feel what the characters are feeling, they can create a deep emotional response from viewers which in turn makes for some outstanding entertainment. Recently I decided to watch Clannad and Clannad After Story (hereby referred to simply as “Clannad“). Never before has a story moved me in such a way that this series did.

Clannad, based on a visual novel developed by KEY (Air, Kanon, Little Busters), initially looks like a typical high school harem. Any images or synopses you may see of the series will easily give one that impression. However, there’s so much more to the series that one will not realize without actually watching it. Clannad is about love. It’s about life. And it’s about sadness.

Tomoya Okazaki, the protagonist of the story, is a high school student with the reputation of a delinquent. Him and his troublemaker friend Youhei Sunohara constantly pull pranks on their classmates and skip classes. Despite this, Tomoya is a kind person with a big heart, and enjoys helping others. He becomes friends with some of his classmates and helps them with their troubles, whether it be to create a club, win a student council election, or deal with family problems. Clannad is a story about how Tomoya and his friends all struggle to become better people, and deal with life’s many tragic hardships in the process.

There is hardly a moment in the Clannad series where it becomes uninteresting. The animation is outstanding, the music is beautiful, and the characters are lovable. There’s plenty of comedy to go around as well, and some of the jokes are outright hysterical. However, Clannad is more a drama than anything else. There are many emotional moments that could bring one beyond tears. Some scenes will just rip your heart out and throw it in a blender. This is not just because of the story, but also because of the presentation. Tatsuya Ishihara, the director of both series, really knows how to present an emotional scene in the best way possible, and does so spectacularly.

What sets Clannad apart from other anime dramas like Toradora! and True Tears is the fact that the characters deal with a lot more than just romance. In Clannad, many other real-life situations are presented – including estranged family members, financial issues, health problems, and even the death of loved ones. Even though there are supernatural elements to the story, the events that occur are still something that viewers can very much relate to. The reason the series is so acclaimed by its fans is not only because of this, but also because the story is presented in such a way that deeply immerses viewers. It is absolutely and truly a masterpiece.

As a whole, the Clannad series, including both seasons and both OVAs, is 49 episodes long and is completely worth the time and money one would invest in it. Even the weaker parts of the series still manage to hold great entertainment value. For anyone who’s ever dealt with life’s difficulties, as emotionally wracking as they may have been, this series is a very strong recommendation.

Clannad and Clannad After Story are both on sale and distributed by Sentai Filmworks.

The presentation: You may be familiar with SHAFT’s art style from other titles such as Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei and Bakemonogatari. It’s certainly a unique style that employs the use of colorful designs and patterns to create an almost surreal-like feeling. While the series itself is anything but surreal, Hidamari‘s style of presentation certainly makes it a piece of art that’s enjoyable to just simply look at, even if one does not find other aspects of the show interesting. If you appreciate good art, you will appreciate this series.

The comedy: Hidamari Sketch contains a load of subtle humor. What I mean by that is that unless you’re paying full attention to the jokes, it’s real easy to miss them. However, if you can stay focused on the characters’ conversations, you will find that the show has some outright hysterical moments. It’s very similar to the type of comedy found in Azumanga Daioh and makes for some very subtle, yet funny, and mostly wholesome entertainment.

The characters: The traditional “moe” character tropes are done to a much lesser extent, and that’s what sets this show apart from others of its kind. There’s no tsundere, and there’s no delinquent girl. While there are differences among the four girls, they aren’t over-exaggerated. So if you’re tired of the crazy overly hyperactive girl or the shy glasses girl, rest assured knowing that while those character tropes are present in Hidamari, they aren’t overdone. The characters really are quite adorable, and there are plenty of moments that make you feel all “warm and fuzzy inside.” In other words, the show will make you go “aww” quite a bit.

Hidamari Sketch is a really fun show one can enjoy at any time. It’s the type of show that one can really relax to, simply because it doesn’t require much thought. Of course, the show is not for everyone. If you want an anime with a deep epic story that will challenge your mind, I suggest you look elsewhere. However, if you’re a fan of subtle humor, adorable characters, and unique art styles, then this show is totally worth your time and money.

Hidamari Sketch is currently on sale and is licensed and distributed by Sentai Filmworks.

ENJOYMENT – Art style, subtle humor, and cute characters make it great

RECOMMENDATION VALUE – Great for anyone who just wants to kick back and relax

REWATCH VALUE – The humor doesn’t lose its fuel, so it’s worth rewatching

Purchase Hidamari Sketch at RightStuf

The story revolves around Rito, our perverted male lead character. He’s been unable to confess his love to his classmate Haruna, the love of his life. One day while Rito is taking a bath, a completely naked girl appears out of nowhere. It is soon discovered that Lala, the mysterious girl, is actually an alien from outer space. Shortly after, Rito accidentally (and hilariously) enters into a marriage contract with Lala. Yes, in the anime world, people can even get engaged by accident. However, Rito is not interested in Lala, for he wants Haruna, the girl of his dreams. And that’s the plot. Don’t enter into this series expecting a story, or you will be disappointed. Just enjoy it for what it is: an ecchi harem comedy. And a hysterical one at that.

What makes To Love-Ru so good is its ability to be consistently funny. Unlike many ecchi harem shows, the jokes here are frequent and humorous. While the jokes themselves aren’t all that original, the amazing cast of characters and the show’s presentation make it all feel nice and fresh. The show also has great production value. The animation is smooth, and the character designs are excellent. Personality-wise and appearance-wise, To Love-Ru has an amazing cast of characters that really make it enjoyable to watch.

Just like in any ecchi series, there is a healthy portion of fanservice. However, it’s not excessive. Some ecchi shows seem to go by the belief that “the more fanservice, the better!” (I’m looking at you, Rosario+Vampire), but To Love-Ru maintains a nice balance and doesn’t go over the top. That said, if you’re someone who just can’t stand fanservice, I still wouldn’t recommend this show to you. But if you can handle it, this show is definitely an under-appreciated gem that should not be overlooked.

To Love-Ru Collection 1 is currently on sale and is licensed and distributed by Sentai Filmworks. Official series information is available at TheAnimeNetwork.com.

ENJOYMENT – Very highly entertaining

RECOMMENDATION LEVEL – Not for everyone, but would recommend to most

REWATCH VALUE – Good for some laughs you may have missed the first time

Purchase To Love-Ru at RightStuf

Five years ago, the residents of Kamioki Island were mysteriously massacred. Mari Wakatake, the only survivor of this incident, lost her memories, and has been living with her grandmother since. Mari is forced to transfer to a new school by her grandmother, much to Mari’s resentment. In the new school, she gives her classmates a cold attitude, and is even more upset when she meets Hagino Senkouji, who upon meeting Mari, immediately tries to strangle her. It is soon revealed that there is much more to Hagino than meets the eye. Essentially, Blue Drop tells two stories: The slice-of-life story about Mari’s school life and the sci-fi story about the mysteries surrounding both Hagino and the destruction of Mari’s hometown five years ago.

This would work if the two stories were related to each other in some way, but they aren’t. The show is littered with awkward “genre shifts,” where, for example, we’ll go from an epic sci-fi battle to a scene about girls preparing for a school play. Even then, the sci-fi aspect isn’t all that great, as most of the scenes consist of little more than just simple dialogue, where not much really happens. There are some good battle scenes, but they don’t come in until the second half of the series, and even then they are few in number. As for Mari’s school life, the pacing is overall very slow, but it was at least interesting enough to keep me watching the show.

What I liked about this show are the characters. Mari’s got that tsundere-ish personality that I enjoy so very much. Hagino’s a very mysterious girl, and trying to find out what her deal is kept me interested in her. Overall, the story is actually pretty good, I just wish it were presented better. This is another series where I feel that if it were less episodes, it could have been free of pacing issues. However, even at only 13 episodes, the story still seems very stretched-out.

Blue Drop is good if you think you can stand the awkward genre shifts and don’t mind slow pacing. The entire series is available from Sentai Filmworks at an affordable price, so I would say it’s at least worth checking out, as you won’t have much to lose if you don’t enjoy it.

Blue Drop is currently on sale and is licensed and distributed by Sentai Filmworks. Also available at TheAnimeNetwork.com.

ENJOYMENT – Interesting enough

RECOMMENDATION LEVEL – Probably not

REWATCH VALUE – Probably not

Purchase Blue Drop at RightStuf

Also available with new English dub

I haven’t seen either, but I’m excited for Maria†Holic after gia from AnimeVice showed me the ED to the show. Yes, I judge an anime by its OP and ED. Ok, not really, but I really do love good artistic OP/ED sequences, and they do affect my enjoyment of a show.

So I will most definitely be buying Maria†Holic, not sure about Skull Man quite yet, as I’ll need to research that a bit more.

Expect these releases to be sub-only, which I’m fine with. Dubs would be nice, but by now Sentai has pretty much established that they’re not doing dubs.

I’m very glad that Sentai is licensing some of the more niche titles. I can only hope though that these titles will sell, and can help restore them to their former glory that was once known as ADV.

I haven’t seen either, but I’m excited for Maria†Holic after gia from AnimeVice showed me the ED to the show. Yes, I judge an anime by its OP and ED. Ok, not really, but I really do love good artistic OP/ED sequences, and they do affect my enjoyment of a show.

So I will most definitely be buying Maria†Holic, not sure about Skull Man quite yet, as I’ll need to research that a bit more.

Expect these releases to be sub-only, which I’m fine with. Dubs would be nice, but by now Sentai has pretty much established that they’re not doing dubs.

I’m very glad that Sentai is licensing some of the more niche titles. I can only hope though that these titles will sell, and can help restore them to their former glory that was once known as ADV.