First Impression: Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate

Another show that I am more than ready to dismiss. I hope it serves more than just kids eating food in the food club. That would be another K-ON and I think we all have enough K-ON at the moment. I decided to give this one a try because of the arts and the character designs of which I saw in the preview. Like I said, AIC Build better up their games for this one.

Unfortunately they don't. What I see in the preview does not translated to the animated show. There, I am already disappointed.

because in the anime, they censored it. Also because she's the only likeable character for me personally
(c) Akinashi Yuu

Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate is about a food club that is going to be disbanded soon since it's not productive at all. They just sit there and eat snacks while having yaoi jokes every so often.  So they decided to run for president of the student council and naturally Yuuki was selected to do the honor. The good thing about this show however, it not just that. It has mysteries to uncover. There are certainly villain in this one who ran over a student who is now pretty much brain dead. The said student gathered some evidence of some shit and obviously the villain doesn't want anyone to find out.

So yeah, wasn't bad for a story, except for them eating all those junk food in the club.

Like I said, I was pretty disappointed with how the arts and animation turned out. I was trolled. The character designs are pretty generic and to be honest, most of the characters annoyed the shit out of me, even Yuuki who is voiced by Yuuichi Nakamura. I wasn't sure whether I dislike them because of their personality, character designs or their voices.

Though I am not dropping this show, I wonder if I will ever sit down and watch it at all. Hmm... who knows. Maybe? Perhaps never?

Episodes: 13
Aired: Summer 2012
Genres: Drama, Romance

arts & animation 5/10
story 6/10
characters 6/10
sound 5/10
enjoyment 5/10
overall 5.4/10

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Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai

When I first watched the OVA, I thought to myself... what was it about this shit that Glo was raving so much about? But once I saw the first episode, I finally understood what he meant, but part of the majority reason why I like this show so much is because of Mikazuki Yozora. I'll talk about her in details later. Wait, I actually has wrote what I think of her in my first impression post so yeah, won't repeat the same shit again.

(c) Buriki

First of all, Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai, or Haganai for short touches on matters that I can relate to. Just like these characters, I am not good at making new friends. I can talk to strangers if the situation requires it, because it's part of my job, but to call someone a friend takes more than an exchange of smiles. I wish people understand this and stop forcing themselves upon my space.

Haganai characters all have unique trait about them which made them socially inept. Thanks to Yozora who created the club (even though her reason to do so was totally selfish) and also Kodaka (who most of the reason why the other decided to join), they got together. They were so n00bs at making friends, they don't even realized that they are friends now, and always in denial about that fact. At the club, they do whatever shit that they want and once in a while they did something together to experience what the masses experienced, like going to swimming pool together in the summer or did some karaoke.

Most of the time it was seemingly one plot-less episode after the other but in the midst of all that, the core of the story is ultimately about two childhood friends reuniting after ten years. There were also romance in the air (but of course there is, it's a harem after all). Needless to say, I'm pro-Yozora.

Speaking of characters, they are definitely one lively bunch:

(c) pixiv id 1996843

• We have Yozora Mikazuki , the awesome leader or head of the club and the reason why we have this show. She's brilliant and witty and doesn't give a shit if she's different. I like that a lot because she's reminding me of me. Her most memorable dialogue is from episode 3. Of course she was referring to Sena.

  You damn perverted! Silence wench! You succubus! Flasher! Bitch! Walking cum dumpster! Real dutch wife! Walking porn scene! Don't come near me! Don't touch me! You'll make me pregnant!

• Kodaka Hasegawa, the required male protagonist, because after all this is a harem. I like him though and I can understand why the ladies are attracted to him. He is a gentleman in his own way though a bit disturbing that he didn't get a b0nar for seeing Kobato/Sena naked. I wonder if he's gay and didn't know it.
• Sena Kashiwazaki or better known as Mikku or Meat which I think fits her perfectly. She's okay as a character and a great comedic relief whenever Yozora making fun of her. Other than that, especially when she starts blushing for Kodaka just annoyed the fuck out of me. I wish she would just play her yuri game in a corner while the others pretend that she didn't exist.
  
• Yukimura Kusunoki is the honorable trap. I think they was hoping he'll be as popular as Hideyoshi but BITCH PLEASE, no trap can beat Hideyoshi. He is in his own category. I think Yukimura character was a waste. If only they played their card right - by reminding us that he actually has a dick all the time - then he would have been more entertaining than just a mere underling for Kodaka.
• Rika Shuguma is a genius and a total pervert. I didn't like her much at first but as the show progressed, I find myself looking forward to her random outburst. She pride herself for being a pervert and find any situation as a turn on. That was a talent that I wish I had LOL
• Kobato Hasegawa is Kodaka's sister who literally lives her life by cosplaying as some vampire character. I kinda feel for her for having no real identity. She'll have a hard time growing up, I'm sure. Also, she's terrified of Sena.
  
• Maria Takayama is a 10 year old kid who became the club's adviser after being tricked by Yozora. I found her annoying because she reminds me of Index. She and Kobato are constantly fight for Kodaka's affection. In other words, Kobato has a brother complex.

Ryohei Kimura is definitely one of the seiyuu in 2011 that I took notice of and he did a great job as Kodaka. I don't usually sing praises for the female seiyuu because 99% of the time, I don't give a shit about female characters. However, I like to do so for Marina Inoue (Yozora) and Misato Fukuen (Rika) for making me enjoying their characters the most. Their deliverance for their dialogue are in my opinion, crucial to ensure that the comedy doesn't fail and they didn't miss a beat. Misato definitely embodied Rika's character as a pervert and make her so damn believable and likeable at the same time.



Unfortunately I am not a fan of either the OP or the ED. They weren't bad, not just my cup of tea. Both were average at best but fits perfectly for the show. If you are a fan of upbeat songs, it might be just right for you. But again, praises for the seiyuu because they didn't sound bad at all singing those lines. The BGM however was... unmemorable because I seriously can't remember any of it at the moment. The insert song in the last episode was okay but unless I hear it repeatedly, it won't have a slot in my brain either.

The art for Haganai is memorable. Even though there is nothing special about it, the details are exceptional. I like how the characters are drawn and they can certainly look cute if they tried. I thought AIC did a great job at capturing all the characteristic of each character design, especially Kodaka's hair color. Same goes for the animation. The quality was consistent from episode 1 to end. Solid work guys. Well done (p/s: I can do without the fanservice though).

Haganai is surprisingly quite an entertaining anime. I said so because I am not someone who usually enjoy a harem anime. In factm I usually ignored/dropped/rage at such anime. For me to say anything good about this show means that Haganai did something right and thus it exceeded my expectation. So this means that I might just recommend this show for you guys if you like harem comedy without the romance.

Since the show ended without any real progress between Kodaka and either two of the female protagonists Yozora, I expect a second season. I truly want to find out how these two further developed their relationship now that both has remember the past.

#Haganai (Fall 2011)
12 episodes
Produced by FUNimation Entertainment and AIC Build

arts & animation 8/10
story 7/10
characters 9/10
sound 9/10
enjoyment 8/10
overall 8.2/10

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Boku Ha Tomodachi Ga Sukunai (OVA)

This here I am watching is an OVA for the upcoming TV series that will be released anytime soon. To be honest I was completely confused for the first two minutes of this episode. I thought this show's alternate title in English is "I Don't Have Many Friends" but in this one, it repeatedly shows us statement of "I Have Many Friends" with some spaceship UFO as the background picture. On top of that, they showed us snippets of Kodaka with his harem of not less than 5 girls who are desperate for his attention.

(c) Buriki

Isn't this the opposite of what this show is supposed to be? And to be honest, I am a little bit pissed off feeling that I have been cheated. I don't appreciate the harem as well even though one of them girls has heterochromia. I don't like it even more when only 2 girls are of his age while the others, including the heterochromia, are lolis.

Oh shit this is turning out to be a disaster for me. I don't think I can take it anymore!

Thankfully the first half of the episode was only Kodaka's dream. His perverted thoughts were interrupted with a taser gun. Turned out he and the others were having (poisonous) hot pot in a very questionable dark room. The two girls from his dreams who were all chummy and what not are Yozora and Sena. In real life, they are literally like cat and dog and will compete with each other about anything and everything.

The other characters are Maria, the heterochromia girl, Kobato (Index -you'll get what I mean if you saw her and have watched To Aru Majutsu no Index), Yukimura (Misaka - again, referring to To Aru Kagaku no Railgun) and Rika, the lab girl. If I have to pick one girl to root for, then it has to be Yozora just because I'm a sucker for character like her.

(c) Itachi-san314

The characters are pretty much the archetype characters. There aren't any surprise with their personality which already make this show feels so boring. It doesn't bring anything new and exciting to the table. They thought the story of few people having no friends and socially awkward creating a Neighbors Club for themselves is made of win. Well, I beg to differ. But then again, this is only the OVA. Hopefully with the TV show, they will be as promising as the manga and make it a bit more entertaining and interesting for us.

For an OVA with airing time of 11 minutes, it was a disappointment for me. The first half was full of fanservice while the other half was pretty much a lost cause. If they think this OVA will make people want to watch the TV show, then I think AIC Build has failed miserably.

art & animation 6/10
story 4/10
characters 6/10
sound 5/10
enjoyment 4/10
overall 5/10

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First Impression: Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai

The show started with a sister waking up her brother for school. I have seen this kind of scene numerous times before. Usually it's either the brother waking up with a morning wood and get released with the help of his sister, or the sister initiated the morning wood. Thank goodness that this didn't turn out quite like that.

Kousuke Kousaka, the brother in question, was actually very doubtful of his sister's attention because usually his sister just kinda pretends that he does not exist. Oh wait, that is just him dreaming. Obviously this guy has a sister-complex thus the title of the show.

He found a DVD with a really innocent cover but very devious content. I'm sure it's an eroge of incest. Just a nudge that he needed >> Only a pervert with sick mind like him would feel guilty when found something like that. Other brothers would just leave it at the place where he found them, after they watched and fapped to it quietly.

But I guess I have to remember that the hero is usually have that admirable trait about him. So he found the culprit and was very cool about it. Heh, just a tactic to enslave his little sister I tell ya!

And it works! It really did! His sister has a 180 changed of attitude. She even woke him in the middle of the night and asked him to go to her room. Lucky bastard.

*chuckles* if only that was true. Unfortunately all she wants is a life counseling as she showed him how much of an otaku she really is. To be precise, she is obsessed with anything that has "little sister" in it. Damn, now I feel sorry for Kyousuke. Obviously he doesn't stand a chance. Kirono is gay. But he's not going to give up as he promised to keep her secret. Hoping one day she'll realized how big a sacrifice that is and called him Nii-chan in bed.

Hahaha fuck, I am such a perverted psycho.

I guess it does feel pretty cool when I start listening to Kirino excitedly and proudly explaining the anime stuffs and presented her collections to Kyousuke. That's how I am too when I talk about anime. I believe many of us found this scene relate-able. I kinda hope they used real anime shows and manga as reference, like Bakuman did. That would make this show more cool. But, did I see a figure from Lucky.Star?

I understand the frustrated feeling in your guts, Kirino

So I can't really not like Kirino. She reminds me of myself except that I don't have a little-sister complex. My obsession is just yaoi. As for Kyousuke, I can't really take him seriously so far. He just lack that commanding attitude about him. But he is kinda charming.

The art and animation for this show is commendable. They gave a 100% and this can be seen with the smallest details. For example when Kyousuke pour drink from a box. It makes me happy to see the details of the drink filling up the glass. Having said that, I do have a slight irritation with how the female characters all walking with a constant blush. It feels like they are always in a heat or something. Also the animation kinda a little sharp at times too. Aniplex and AIC Build must have tried their hard knowing that the fans of the novel will murder them if they don't. I mean, there are plenty of Kirino figures out there even before the anime exists, just goes to show how big of a fanbase it has.

I have said in my review for Zettai Karen Children OVA that I would remember Yuuichi Nakamura. I am so happy with myself that I fulfilled that part. When Kyousuke open his mouth I jumped with glee. Yuuichi is definitely turning out to be my top three male seiyuus. As for Kirono... Fuck, I really need to pay attention to the female seiyuu as well. According to MAL, Kirono is voiced by Ayana Taketatsu. Now that I have looked at her disco, she does sounds familiar. Speaking of sounds, I didn't remember if this show has an OP/ED. If they have, I certainly don't remember them. Yay for being redundant!

I don't read the novel so I don't know what is going on. However it was interesting that they covered the otaku part. I mean, I'm very open about liking anime and such. My family knows about it. My friends too. They may think I am weird but they don't say it to my face and even if they do, I don't give a damn. Their opinion does not define who I am. So to see a Japanese family member being so reserved about it... now, that is weird. Is the community outside of Japan more open to otaku-ness than in Japan itself?

Overall, I do enjoy this show. It's either because of Yuuichi or the fact that this show is about a girl that I can relate too. Probably both. I am definitely more than willing for round 2.

art & animation 8/10
story 7/10
character 7/10
sound 8/10
enjoyment 7/10
overall 7.5/10

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