Erabe:
1. Give this anime a shot.
2. Watch Mars of Destruction.
3. Something!
(Warning: choice 3 is potentially catastrophic)
Don't like these choices? Be glad you're not the protagonist of this series. This guy is a literal wreck from all the mishaps that go on throughout this anime (you can see it in the way he grins all the time). Noucome has one heck of a premise to build on, and it certainly knows how to make great use of it. This is an anime that does not know how to hold back; it takes everything you'd normally see in a stereotypical, rom-com anime and blows it far out
...
of proportion. And not only will it do so with these seemingly generic concepts, but it'll even have a few unique ideas for comedy present as well. The way this anime is written truly does surprise the heck out of me at times.
Enough of all that, I bet you want to know more about the plot, right? Well, while it definitely isn't this anime's strong point, it is there. And it may not be anything worthwhile, either, but the plot is enough to compliment the series of events in a way that they don't go anywhere without any real direction. This anime does have a clear and concise goal (believe it or not). And, on the plus side, it's written in a way that compliments the overall feel of the series; it's zany, whimsical, and outrageous. Also, surprisingly enough, the writing does put this seemingly bleak moe series a cut above the rest as it adds a certain degree of uniqueness to the setting and romance. The only major drawback I've found with the storyline was the lack of completeness. At least I was expecting that much after episode six and wasn't really let down by it. I mean, really, what more can you expect from this kind of storyline in ten episodes? At the very least, however, NouCome actually doesn't waste any time with pointless antics and scenarios. So it's ten episodes well spent.
The designs in this series may not be anything groundbreaking, but they're still pretty fantastic. It was the very character designs themselves that actually pulled me in to watch (risky, I know, but I couldn't help it). I'm glad that this anime did not lose its artistic luster over time at least. There have been many series of this kind in the past where drops in quality were blatantly noticeable, but not so much with this one. There probably are a few scenes that could have looked better, but I'm not picky enough to actually notice them unless they're obvious. And there are some sceneries that look genuinely nice too, and the light-colored designs are a pretty hard standard for rom-com anime. It's almost too much of a blessing to me to see these kind of designs as I am generally a fan of it.
Out of all the fun characters in this cast, Yukihira Furano is unabatedly the best addition to this series. Sure, you can say what you want about the quirkiness of the others, but Yukihira is essentially the greatest focus in terms of development. And while she may not have developed to a favorable degree (I blame the length), she does have a solid enough change to where I could actually grow attached to her characters and will forever hold her close to my heart. There's a certain other side to Yukihara that I just can't help but love. Between her keen insults, her unusual antics, and her social inadequacies, she certainly does have some peculiar characteristics. God, I really do wish I had more to say about her, it's a shame this series couldn't be longer. Hopefully another season will add a little more depth to her character. As for everyone else (I guess I'll get to them too), they are not too bad either. Can never go wrong with loli teachers (they're one of the many wonders in anime), excessive imouto characters, large booby girls with an ego, etc. They're all exceedingly quirky, and fun. Nothing quite out of the ordinary with the protagonist, but he has his moments at least. In many ways, I feel really sorry for him.
As with many other comedies, this anime will only hit home with certain audiences. The first couple episodes will be a good measure of what you can expect from the rest of this series. If the comedy in the first couple episodes doesn't fit your preferences, you're not likely to change your mind later on. Personally, I loved every episode as much as the last one. It may seem like the anime makes a slight decline in the 2nd half, but I didn't think that in the slightest. It just take a different approach to its comedy that may or may not be agreeable, but it's not bad at all. There are some elements of fanservice, but they come off as more of a parody/comedy device rather than a pandering one. That aside, if generic harem and rom-com series are something you take a liking too, this anime will not bore you at all. And even if you're not, this may be a pleasant surprise. The only viewers I can see not liking this anime are the hardcore serious types, or those that are overly bothered by rom-com stereotypes. Good thing I'm a really casual viewer, this series is a true blessing to those that don't take anime seriously!
Personal Score: 7/10
Critic Score: 5/10
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Dec 11, 2013
Erabe:
1. Give this anime a shot. 2. Watch Mars of Destruction. 3. Something! (Warning: choice 3 is potentially catastrophic) Don't like these choices? Be glad you're not the protagonist of this series. This guy is a literal wreck from all the mishaps that go on throughout this anime (you can see it in the way he grins all the time). Noucome has one heck of a premise to build on, and it certainly knows how to make great use of it. This is an anime that does not know how to hold back; it takes everything you'd normally see in a stereotypical, rom-com anime and blows it far out ... 
Feb 17, 2012
Ben-To Picture Drama
(Anime)
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I started looking into this special shortly after finishing the series hoping to get a little more content in before officially moving away from Ben-To.
I very much enjoyed the series and had good expectations for this special, but was gravely disappointed with what I got from it. You begin this special with Ume's bit on photos taken of her during a sports event. As expected of an elitist personality, you will see her in her usual mood as she discovers suggestive shots of nothing but her when a photographer was instructed to take pictures of a sports event for the school. She is harsh, snaps in ... |
