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If I were to choose just one word to describe this anime, it would be "pleasant." The episodes literally fly by, they're very easy to watch and easily enjoyable. As someone who's new to the Da Capo franchise, I still enjoyed it very much, so if you've never seen any of the previous installments, do not let this discourage you. The series can be enjoyed as a stand-alone experience, at least I did. This review will be spoiler-free.

The Story: 6
To be fair, the story is not the strongest point of the series, but it's certainly nothing to frown at. The plot progresses at a comfortable pace, and it is a heartwarming tale for the most part. Some events are a bit predictable, but it's never boring, and it doesn't drag on. If you're looking for an epic tale, look elsewhere, but for a harem, it's quite good.

Art: 8
The art and visual are very beautiful. The whole team of sakuras and the lively colors used throughout the series really do enhance the mood. The character designs are fantastic, which is what first drew me to the series. Aesthetically, it is a very pleasant experience. It is a harem, after all, and seeing beautiful women is always a plus.

Sound: 7
The opening theme is very good, I think they chose a very fitting song for the series. The background music mostly good as well, some of it memorable, and some it just blending into the background. I personally thought the ending could have been better, though.

Characters: 8
The characters often make or break a show, and Da Capo was no exception. I already mentioned the wonderful character designs, and this extends to their personality as well as their appearance. The male lead isn't perfect, but he is quite likable for a harem lead. Almost all of the female "contestants" are just lovable and cute, but each of them have their own special charm. Amakase was especially entertaining to watch, a great character.

Enjoyment: 7
It was a pleasant and enjoyable experience. It kept me entertained, and I grew attached to the characters. It is a high school harem, and it's pretty hard to stand out in this genre, but I think Da Capo did a good job of making a show that's both enjoyable and memorable. It wasn't out of this world, but it was good, and I'd recommend it to anyone who doesn't have a strong bias against harems.

Overall I gave the series 7: Good and enjoyable. I'm looking forward to enjoying the second season, and I hope you will too. Thanks for taking the time to read my review and happy watching. read more

Aika R-16: Virgin Mission: A short review.

As guilty a pleasure as one could get, Aika surely caters to those of us who enjoy fanservice. The story in and of itself is obviously far from impressive, but let's be honest, that's not what you're here for. You're here to see some cute, half-naked girls, which the show delivers; as promised. Oh, and more pantyshots than even the most perverted of us could ask for.

Story: 2/10. There's very little to be said here, like the original Aika, this is not the area in which the series excels. It's basically just "make up some excuse to get the show going."

Art: 6/10. The art is an obvious improvement from its predecessor (that's a given, I suppose) and it does look pretty decent, a huge plus since the series if indeed very focused on aesthetics. (Yes, I'm talking about the girls.)

Sound: 6/10. Aika has a good seiyuu, she does a fine job delivering her lines, which really does push the quality of the show up quite a bit. The music and sound effects aren't something you'd remember, though, and some of the minor characters do sound a bit uninspired.

Character: 5/10. Aika is likable. I much prefer the young version to the older, which I really didn't care much for. Her enthusiasm and somewhat silly nature, combined with an ability to kick some ass here and there makes an all-around decent character. Her sidekicks are very generic, though, an Asuka-like loudmouth and a typical silent-girl type.

Enjoyment: 4/10. This is purely subjective. As all enjoyment of art is, of course, but it really comes down to whether or not you like to see sexy schoolgirls fall over again and again, revealing their underwear. There is a bit of comedy thrown in as well, and it might hit home, though I found it a bit bland. On the whole, it's just a few laughs and some ecchiness, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, just nothing to write home about.

Overall: 4/10. I've seen much worse attempts at mindless fanservice. Aika: R-16 Virign Mission does have a bit of charm to it. I can't really justify giving it anything more than 4/10, though, as it's just a random 3-episode-pile of fanservice. I enjoyed it enough to not regret having watched it, if that counts for anything.
I do feel a bit silly, as this is my first review, but I wanted to pick a series which didn't already have 10 reviews written for it. Hopefully it'll help some poor soul make up his mind as whether or not to indulge his ecchi-cravings. read more