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Feb 13, 2017
First of all the series does not continue from the first two films, it retells them and expands, adding extra scenes between events already seen in the movies to build up the world and characters and hopefully go beyond the ending of Parade, the second movie. Considering the films had to condense a lot the series allows more freedom to explore and not rush us, the audience, through things. It builds up the relationships/friendships more, like seeing how Akko, Sucy and Lotte meet and how Akko got into the Academy and her background (ie: why she sucks at magic: she's not a born witch, unlike
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all the others while the movies make seem like she just is a bit behind in development)
*Character
All the characters are still the same with Akko being our guide/eyes into the world of LWA. We actually see more development from each of the main girls including Diana, the rival. We see the build up of friendship outside of the school rather than "this is a group of friends" as introduced in the movies. Each girl still has her distinct personality and talents, which are explored more. Character development is always a good thing, especially relationships. Even the girls, Amanda and the other two, who first only appeared in the second movie (who apparently been around since the first but went unseen), are seen prominently in the series in the background as well as active roles, building up their relationship with the main trio unlike suddenly being introduced in the second movie.
~Akko: A Japanese girl who saw the witch performer Shiny Chariot when she was younger and wishes to be a witch like her idol. However she comes from a non-witch lineage which puts her at a disadvantage since she doesn't know the fundamentals witches learn growing up and her magic potential sometimes comes out in spurts. She does not give up easily and is a bit of a chatter box who hates being looked down upon and is excited to learn magic, not studying.
~Sucy: A witch who hails from an implied Filipino background who is a lover of all things poisonous. She can come across as creepy and a bit obsessive when it comes to her noxious brews and research. At first she was off put by Akko's chattiness but since they're roommates she learns to tune her out or humor her or even use her as her test subject.
~Lotte: A young witch who's been attending the Academy longer than her two roommates. Rather patient, studious and well meaning, Lotte is supportive of her friends even if Akko can get into some trouble.
~Diana: An esteemed witch from a long line of witches who is the top student in knowledge and magic practice. She can be a bit of a refined show off, though not like the movie-version of herself who is a bit more snooty and direct rival to Akko through her dismissiveness. We see more dimension to her in the series. However she is willing to put her haughtiness aside for the good of all as she means well to be true to magic and its knowledge. She is poised and mostly gives facts bluntly without personal attack while her groupies do the sassing for her but Diana is honest and not excessive; when she realizes she was wrong about Akko and the Rod not being a fake, she tries to tell what happened but everyone believes that Diana the prodigy is the only one who could worked such great magic. There is obvious 'redemption' to her character in how she acts, as she is simply trying to do her best to make her family proud with the best of her abilities by going above and beyond, but the main cast think she's prideful, snooty and overly worshiped.
*Story
The story starts off with the beginning of the first movie and then moves to events that took place before Akko enrolled at the school or rather was TRYING to, to past the entry ceremony involving events seen in the movies as well as new ones due to some change in events. It starts off with Akko entering as a freshman for first term while Lotte has already been attending for a while, and Sucy enters the same time as Akko. As with the movies it shows for Akko to discover the power she has inside herself and to not stop believing and trying to do her best. Teamwork with her friends is also emphasized through the trials of life as a witch and a student between trying to master spells and encountering actual challenges and dangers. Humor and drama balances the flow of the episodes nicely. It also ties Akko's connection with Shiny Chariot much more, namely the Shiny Rod which in the movie was mysteriously at school despite Chariot's apparent disgrace as a true witch and being only an entertainer yet being the owner the powerful staff. It also establishes the fact the story takes place in our world, Akko being from Japan and Sucy implied being from the Philippines (her broom type and her last name). The tv series might reveal what happened to Chariot and where she is now, as she disappeared 10 years ago and Akko discovers her Rod in a forest. The main focus is Akko's adventures trying to learn magic and her mishaps and adventures at school and out of school, but also her goal to find Chariot and be a witch just like her.
*Art
The art style and quality is the same as the two movies. There is more showcasing of the world and magic that is in LWA. The creature designs are still memorable and fitting to the art style and the girls are still distinctive in their personal wear as well their school uniforms. The environments are rather enjoyable from the town, to leyline tower to forest to the school and more. Very enjoyable.
*Enjoyment
The tv series looks promising so far. The feel from the first two movies is not missed at all, it feels natural and well tied in with the expansion from events already seen in the movies. The new scenes are well done, including the diverting from the original film though it might get back to that point sometime via new connecting scenes (how the Rod ended up in the tower in the movie or is Akko going to hold onto it for the whole series, hence some change in events?) More development of characters, more exploration of the world, more Little Witch Academia's art, characters, and story for everyone! Watching the first episode alone is worth it if you've already seen the movies, but there are more adventures to be had!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Oct 11, 2016
I will update my review once the series ends (at ep 16). I am committed to finishing this series as it's part of the Digimon franchise. So my critique is as a Digimon fan but also as how this series stands on its own since it diverts from Digimon norm and blatantly is about 'AppMon' and not 'Digimon.' (Note there is an Appli Drive and not Digivice, Deep Web and not Digital World.)
First of all let's talk about the overall impression I've seen people compare it to: Digimon meets Yu-Gi-Oh and Yokai Watch. And... so far that is accurate in terms of designs and some
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aspects like: AppMon can be 'summoned' through the Appli Drive using their corresponding App Chips (like cards) and 'realize' into being, much like Duel Disk and cards in Yu-Gi-Oh. Plus clearly the creators are so fair treating this as a 'game' via terminology from 'main character' to 'final boss.' Oh and this takes place in 2045.
Now to be fair folks: This is Digimon Universe, it takes place within the Digimon existence but these creatures are basically Digimon cousins. These AIs are data but not Digimon, living solely in phone apps until they get an App Chip that can be used to realize them through the Appli Drive. So far this show has shown it's heavy with comedy via embarrassment, gags, repeated shots, slap-stick or comedic timing, sure to get darker as the true villain of the show comes into play, but for sure light-hearted because it's obviously for kids!
ART:
The main character only looks like a typical Digimon main character via his goggles (exception being Digimon Savers/Data Squad). Everyone else reminds me of designs seen in typical card game anime (I'm looking at you Cardfight!! Vanguard Card and Yu-Gi-Oh) and even some of the Megaman animes. (For those wondering what I'm talking about: crazy hair, unnatural hair colors and blinding colored outfits. No one in any of the past Digimon seasons has had 'natural' green or pink hair. (Mimi from Adventure was even noted to have dyed it and then switched back)) The show is full of bright colors, though the AppMon designs are interesting which is good and sometimes... simple/???? Some designs are the same just recolored (even made fun of in show by going "Are you two related?" "No, we just look alike" despite familiarity with one another) As of episode 6 they reused a Digimon design as an AppMon so, questions there if they're going to borrow more designs. Also they reuse some Digimon names for new characters/designs unrelated to the original versions from previous series (Raidramon). The fusions of the Appmon are done in CG which either can look borderline cool or gaudy.
We have our one female main character, pink-haired Eri, who a pop star (appears in episode 5), and our spotlight goggle boy Haru and another male character Torajirou "Astra" who is an internet celebrity (appears in episode 7), forming a trio with a shady fourth character, Rei who is an edgy/mysterious lone wolf with his own agenda (Rei and Hackmon appear at the end of ep 3, officially debuting to the others in ep 9). Out of the human designs, Rei is the least cringe worthy of outfit colors in my opinion, he wears black unlike his other blindingly clad co-stars.
PREMISE:
Most episodes so far deals with an infected Appmon causing chaos. Appmon reside in mobile apps and act accordingly (messenger Appmon deals with IMs, GPS Appmon for navigation apps, etc); when infected by the L virus they become unstable and the one causing the virus, to quote Gatchmon, is 'the final boss, a sinister artificial intelligence: Leviathan.' In order to stop the out of control AI from causing trouble Haru has to team up with Gatchmon to stop it and its minions, like Cameramon. Using the power of the Appli Drive Gatchmon can achieve super forms to take down the enemy by combining/fusing with ally Appmon. It is revealed in ep 3 there are "7 Codes Appmon" with a special code within them that can fight against Leviathan and Haru needs all 7. (This is reminiscent of any Digimon show, a small time villain/challenge per episode before working up to bigger threats. Also the classic 'infected by a virus/controlled by higher and corrupt power' is classic of the Digimon franchise)
Apparently there is one Appmon per app program not per app download, they are one of a kind and can hop to the same function type app as long as it's on someone's device (ie: any GPS app, any IM app). (THOUGH this is questionable as in ep 3 we see many Roleplaymon via flashback, though he was the AppMon of a specific RPG) Also Appmon via their appli chips can be combined together through "Appli Link" and then a much stronger "Appli Fusion," much like what Digimon fans have seen in Xros Wars/Fusion. Appli Link = power boost and combined look similar to Digimon Xros Wars/Fusion, while Appli Fusion is more like DNA evolution seen in Adventure 02 where two compatible Mons become a new entity in form completely, none of this 'added feature/combined like Voltron.' These forms are called "Super Appmon." Also to engage these rogue Appmon Haru enters an AR Field, much like the Quartz Zone from Digimon Xros Wars Season 3 (Hunters). It should be noted that Appli Fusion can fail though, resulting in a wrong and weak fusion.
In episode 3 it is revealed Appli Fusions are done in CGI, which even Haru remarks 'wow he even looks CG!' (I am not kidding). So you have a CGI Appmon on screen w/ 2D characters, something that isn't uncommon in anime now a days or anyone familiar with early 2000s+ shows. Thankfully it doesn't look too out of place but might take some getting used to from jumping from seeing CG digivolutions to CG forms actually fight non-CG forms.
CHARACTER:
At this point any info about characters we want to know is revealed mainly through Gatchmon via his magnifying glass because he's a search app and can look up any info; he's this show's 'Data Collection/Digimon Database' to provide the viewer insight. *Gatchmon, AppMon of Search Engines, is a curious Appmon who is starry-eyed about the Real World given he only recently exited the internet; he has a "go get 'em' attitude" and supportive of his human buddy. *Haru is suppose to be an introvert with only one best friend and loves books but that so far is only made known via other characters, but he's seen to be very studious with research and pleasure reading. He's a low key guy who 'sees himself as a side character' and doesn't want to stand out, but when prompted by the the Appli Drive and Gatchmon Haru decides he is in fact a 'main character' and becomes more assertive, especially when it comes to the stopping the infected AppMon. (By the end of episode 1, episode 2 he's out of the gate to look for his crush and stop the rogue Appmon.) *Eri using her 'idol persona' is a bit eccentric, haughty, and spouts catchphrases (I'll punch my way into your heart!) but can be calm, awkward and unsure since she's new to AppMon (despite having an AppDrive 6 months before Haru); she's part of an idol group that's obviously inspired by AKB48 (she's member #470). *Dokumon, AppMon of Action Games, and Eri's buddy is a loudmouth but earnest and loyal AppMon who just wants to see people smile. *Torajirou "Astra" is an energetic and almost impulsive kid who is an AppTuber star who spouts "Will I? Or won't I?" catchphrases as he can be eccentric in his videos as an escapism from his obligation to be his family successor. *Musimon, AppMon of Music Players, is supportive and energetic like his human partner, often saying "No Musimon, no life!" and looks for the music in one's heart.
For the record Eri and Astra are eccentric but can be calm, but they contrast Haru with their quirky star personas and huge star egos. (So far Rei's brief appearances have been shady and foreboding.)
SOUND
The music can get funky at times and rather repetitive. Especially when doing the Appli Link, the voice goes over and over again and there's this sorta clap beat when it happens. Not to mention it gets a sorta eurobeat as the voice starts to get sped up to the point of sounding warped and high: App Link! GACCHI! GACCHI! GA-GA-GA-GACCHI. (Note this happens for all the Appmon, like DOKA! DOKA!) Otherwise there isn't much of a soundtrack past the action sequences and the opening and ending. So far it's only been during App Realize, Appli Link and Appli Fusion. All with the overly dramatic voice that says English words oddly like ATTENSHION PLEEEEZ~
ENJOYMENT
If you stop comparing it to past Digimon Seasons (which can be hard given it has the Digimon name in it and if you're like me and seen all the seasons), it looks like it can be an enjoyable show to just kill time. I wouldn't bank on a ton of character development but one can hope or else this is just 'come as you are for an adventure' type deal. The main character Haru doesn't really standout but can relate to anyone who feels average, just blending in and not standing out. Hopefully given his choice to change to be more proactive in episode 1 is actually impactful; but given we only had like 5 minutes to see his former self before being throw into the Appmon drama and finally make his choice in the end, that might be hard. Also we have a sibling situation reused from Digimon Fusion/Xros Wars which gives one character their motivation to act and act the way they do; which is points down from me since that was just used in the last Digimon series.
OVERALL: So if you look at the basics: Kid/boy meets AI made of data, gets device to symbolize and empower partnership, helps AI partner grow stronger via higher/combined forms, fights opposing AI forces (and some humans), saves our/real world AND digital/AI world... you got the typical Digimon set up. Just toss in some non traditional designs, different species and characters, and hip if not questionably annoying music/sound effects and you've got a new show. The tone and silliness of the show clearly show who the target audience is from ages 6-11, the young Millennials since the main Appmon human cast is basically a Youtube star and a young Japanese pop singer and the one who's "ordinary" (meant to be the viewer's intro into the series/world as just a normal person becoming extraordinary) and then the brooding hacker who stands on his own. There is some drama but nothing like in previous series that had light moments and darker, this so far (as of ep 15) it's just "silly and light", "background bad guy", "minor accidental opponents", "one of us is aware of the real threat but doesn't always show up" and "something sinister is a foot but meanwhile we'll deal with malfunctioning apps causing havoc while looking for a way to stop the bad AI, Leviathan."
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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