SoniAni: Super Sonico The Animation

Super Sonico is a clutzy, adorable, and well-endowed 18-year old girl. She's a complete sucker for anything cute, especially stray cats, all of which she giddily adopts. However, though Sonico should be enjoying a carefree and simple lifestyle as a young college student, her life is really anything but easy: she must balance being a professional model, working part-time at her grandmother's restaurant, and practicing guitar and performing concerts with her friends Suzu Fujimi and Fuuri Watanuki in their band, First Astronomical Velocity—all while attending college. SoniAni: Super Sonico the Animation follows Sonico as she faces daunting challenges in her search for her place in the world, even when her days are brimming with love and happiness.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Super Sonico Main

Yamamoto, Ayano Japanese

Fujimi, Suzu Main

Gotou, Mai Japanese

Watanuki, Fuuri Main

Ozaki, Mami Japanese

Kitamura Supporting

Takeuchi, Ryouta Japanese

Leila Supporting

Inoue, Kikuko Japanese

Kinomoto, Sayaka Supporting

Toyoguchi, Megumi Japanese

Tomano, Kyouko Supporting

Itou, Shizuka Japanese

Satsurikuin, Ouka Supporting

Kanemoto, Hisako Japanese

Joujouji, Kabuko Supporting

Tanaka, Atsuko Japanese

Komatsuri, Hibiki Supporting

Murakawa, Rie Japanese

Iwasa, Gaku Producer

Oosawa, Nobuhiro Producer

Doi, Yoshinao Producer

Nishikawa, Kazuyoshi Assistant Producer

Reviews

Apr 22, 2014

Bacon_Party

Recommended

This is the first time I've written a review on MAL, but I feel the need to because I think all people see when they look at this anime is Super Sonico and all that she and her merchandise implies and automatically discard it. While I can't really blame them for that because the merchandise implies a lot, I gave it a chance and was pleasantly surprised. While it's no masterpiece, the fanservice was mild, the characters outside of Sonico were actually interesting and engaging, the soundtrack was excellent, and overall it was enjoyable to watch.

---Story 7/10---
The anime was fairly episodic, and it didn't ... leave much for the fairly simplistic overarching plot of Sonico coming into her own as a band member and a model, but it was still well executed and the episodic subplots were well done and all contributed something to the base plot.

---Art 7/10---
It got across the point that it needed to and it didn't detract at all from the anime with too much 3DCG, low quality BGs, etc.

---Sound 8/10---
The music in the show was excellent and always fit the mood very well. The OP and the multitude of EDs were all well done and Sonico's band, First Astronomical Velocity, had quite a few catchy and well orchestrated songs. With the premise of the show being musical in nature, the good soundtrack gives it a good boost and made it fun to watch.

---Characters 8/10---
This is I think where this anime shines, and interestingly enough not because of the main characters, but the supporting characters. Every episode Sonico would go through some kind of ordeal that involved a side character that would develop throughout the episode and end up being affected positively somehow by her. They all had interesting backdrops to their scenarios and were given ample characterization in the small amount of time they were featured, and each one in some way or another contributed to the overall plot of the anime. There were also a few side characters that were in the background throughout the series that saw gradual development such as a chubby girl that came to terms with how she looked and even learned to embrace it through Sonico.

The anime was made fun with the high quality soundtrack and the color saturated visuals, and each episode had an interesting premise with engaging side characters. It's not a must watch, but if you're looking for something to just casually watch that you'll enjoy for its simplicity and episodic nature, you won't be disappointed.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Sep 4, 2016

CodeBlazeFate

Mixed Feelings

This is interesting. This is the first time I'll be really playing defense for something which most people here hate (you can argue SAO II but even that doesn't have such a low MAL score like 6.27). Nonetheless, this show deserves a little more credit than it gets. Not saying it's perfect or even all that great, heck I gave it a 7, which means it's in the decent-good range, but it's definitely not as bad as other shows with this unfortunate MAL score (like Blazblue Alter Memory which got the backlash it rightfully deserved). Now, why is that? Why is it that so few ... people care about this show, and why is it that I am willing to stick up for it? Well, let's find out, shall we?

STORY: 6/10

This is an episodic series about the daily life of Super Sonico as she makes new friends while being a college student, working at her grandmother's restaurant, being a model, and being the lead guitarist of an indie band known as "First Astronomical Velocity". Sure, these encounters tie back in during the final episode, but you can watch the rest of the series in any order before the finale. Sadly, some scenarios are much more tolerable than others. Episode 6 decides to make people kind of like zombies despite that that can't work in a slice of life. Episode 8 makes a tedious mystery episode that bait-&-switches and wasted our time for a coincidental accident and an ending that's meant to be the final fake-out. However, other scenarios, can be either tolerable and semi-acceptable (like episodes 9 and 10) or downright heart-warming (like episodes 4, 5, and 11). First and foremost, this is the daily life of Sonico & friends. What saved the whole thing was the finale they tied everything together throughout the events that took place over the course of a year. A lovely ending that made things better overall.

CHARACTERS: 6/10

Sonico is adorkable. She's clumsy, horrible at waking up in the morning, and apologizes to absurd degrees. However, not only does she have a very positive personality and the drive to make things right, but she manages to juggle 3 different jobs and her college life! Sure, she gets embarrassed often, but she's definitely strong despite that. Her manager, Kitamura is a protective manager, trying to make sure that she isn't over-sexualized by her job to NSFW degrees, and in episode 3, during a show when an actor has to portray a squid harassing Sonico (the manager was as outraged by the scenario as you probably are right now), he beats the crap out of him and chased him with a sword (I won't reveal be ultimate punchline of that). Suzu is the leader of First Astronomical Velocity, and she is both a great manager and planner, and someone willing to go a bit too far in trying to sexualize Sonico for the audience. Fuuri is a loyal and cheerful member of the group, but has a fatal flaw: gluttony. Most others are very supportive and friendly people, but there are only 2 important people to talk about. Sayaka is a bitter newspaper writer and a failed book writer who has to observe Sonico for a few days, and the final conversation they have is probably try most heartwarming moment in the series. Back when Sonico was a middle-schooler, she met a girl named Kyouko Tomano, or Toma for short. She was a mysterious yet kind girl who taught Sonico how to play the guitar, and even passed down the "daydream" to her. Now, she makes mysterious appearances during key moments to write something related to the events for Sonico to presumable see and be happy about (it makes sense in context). Overall, the cast isn't really developed, and it takes a while to flesh some of them out a bit, but it's still a pleasant cast overall.

ART: 7/10

For most part, Studio White Fox did a pretty good job with the animation department, mediocre CG aside (most of the EDs, have that 3D CGI). I especially love the eyes and how they do them. When the art needs vibrance and shine, they do that very well, like during the final concert. Otherwise, the series still looks pretty good. Too bad they use CG to pretty weak effect. Another problem is with how most of the early episodes over-sexualize Sonico, and I'm not referring to the modeling scenes where that's acceptable. No, I'm referring to whenever they try to shove Sonico's body down our throats during scenes, especially ones of exposition or distress. Hell, some of the later EDs try different styles, and most of them work really well, except for the terrible stuff in episode 8. If only the CG was better, or just plain replaced with more hand-drawn stuff. Well, the OP at least has some great visual flair.

SOUND: 7/10

Sonico's songs vary in quality, by most of them are at least decent. Most of the songs are used as EDs, with episodes 6 and 10 having some pretty great ones known as "Nightmare Buster" and "Affection" and episode 12's "SuperOrbital" being undoubtedly the best. The ED for episode 8 really sucks though. They can't all be winners, but at least 11/12 are decent and some of them are great. The OP is pretty decent as well. The dub is a bit mixed. Kitamura's and a few others' VAs do a pretty good job, and Jessica Nigri does a pretty decent job as Sonico, and it weirdly fits despite being a lower tone than that of the original Seyuu, even if the fact that she's not too experienced is rather clear at points. Monica Rial has a wierd one as Fuuri, and I don't think it really fits. I dunno, maybe that's me. It's overall, a kinda solid dub.

ENJOYMENT: 6/10

I already mentioned that episodes 6 and 8 suck, so I'll get that outta the way real quick. Most of the episodes are pretty decent and make for OK entertainment. It's episodes 4, 5, 11, and 12 (plus the last part of 3) that really sell it for me despite everything with how heart-warming and satisfying they were. Episode 12 is very lovely, sentimental, and brings everything together for a satisfying and flashy finish. Hell, if episodes 6 and 8 didn't exist, and they didn't over-sexualize Sonico during the first half, I'd have enjoyed the show even more. Plus, some episodes were kinda boring. Nonetheless, this was pretty serviceable.

This is a very upbeat show with some heartwarming moments to it, even if it has some real sticking points. I struggle to call it nearly as bad as most others say it is, but I acknowledge that there are still problems. Basically, if you want a show about a cute girl balancing school life with rock and other stuff, and can't find K-ON anywhere, then this might be a suitable pick for you. With all that said, I bid you adieu.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Mar 28, 2014

GonzyChan

Not Recommended

What do you usually get from something inherently a marketing ploy for an animation studio, no more minor, for an anime? Most people don’t think of it much and go with the flow while they’re suckered into the gimmick. Not that there’s anything wrong with that at all. When the marketing has something to show for it with lots of fun creativity mixed in to make the experience worthwhile, it can be conceived as quality entertainment for the masses. Now take most of those qualities away that make the show quality entertainment, and you have Super Sonico the Animation.

Showcasing the boobilicious Super Sonico, the mascot ... of the company Nitroplus, the show is mainly existing to appease the fans of Sonico to have her show where she is the main star. I never really knew much about this particular character outside of being part of some April Fools joke that Nitroplus put out in the ONA for Madoka Magica until I saw the poster for the Winter season and showed it to her in nothing but a tight slim bikini. Likewise, I was intrigued to see where Nitroplus was going with this angle of giving their mascot some much-needed life into her to make her more than just something purely for aesthetic beauty, for better or for worse. By the time I was halfway done with the show, I couldn’t help but wonder how a show like this can’t seem to get down the crucial steps of making a character endearing and charming.

When you get right down to it, this show is mainly about Sonico, and the show doesn’t even try to make the rest of the characters slightly exciting or entertaining. Sonico must have enough charisma to carry the show forward to keep the charm looking fresh on the eyes and pleasant to listen to with our ears. Unfortunately, the amount of personality is almost second to none because she’s not a fleshed-out character. In the sense that whenever I look at Sonico, It’s not that she’s a bad character because her only reason for existing is that she has big breasts. It’s just that all I see from her archetype is a mascot. Throughout the majority of the time, they do absolutely nothing to make her seem like more than just a mascot, and we watch her do everyday activities without any significant growth.

There’s even an episode where they give Sonico some material that makes her more of a human character that involves her interacting with other people and learning about what they do and how they live out their lives. As most people would expect, it does not include any fanservice shoved down our throats. Now, this becomes a big problem in the form of a question: What is this show supposed to be? Is it a pure fanservice show? A slice of life show? An all-girl rock band show? Or is it a zombie horror show? These genres mixed in an episodic fashion, badly, I might add, make Super Sonico a show extremely puzzling to figure out what it wants to be. It can be frustrating for me, who wanted a fun fanservice show only to have around 3 to 4 episodes entirely devoted to it. The rest are only partially present, and even those aren’t that titillating to even be acknowledged.

To extrapolate my point about Sonico being a flat character, many might see that her cheery personality and optimistic nature fuel her as likable and charismatic. You can have someone like Sonico just fine with those qualities, but you can’t just rely on them alone because it makes her a person with no humanity. Since she’s nothing more than a mascot character, I can never see her as anything else but that unless she’s been given enough development for me or anyone to care about her. Sadly the number of scenes shared with Sonico and her friends wouldn’t be enough to see Sonico as anything but bland.

As you might already know, Super Sonico’s music consists mainly of your standard J-rock compositions that play from the Opening, Ending, and some concert scenes in some episodes. These are some of the best qualities of Super Sonico. The opening theme is rhythmically fast, and a fast vocal performance that compliments each other. There’s always a different ED song in each episode that is always welcomed, especially with a show focused on music. Despite the rather average CG animation on the characters, the concert scenes are pleasant to listen to, thanks to the top-notch vocals.

The technical aspects of the show do have some high-quality art to make the show look pretty by the animation studio White Fox, who’s no stranger to animating some of Nitroplus’s more well-known original works such as Steins;Gate. Not to say that Super Sonico achieves that same level of quality as that show, or even White Fox's other recent effort Hataraku Maou-sama. Sonico is drawn nicely with her firm thighs and nice breasts complimenting her well-endowed figure. I’ve briefly mentioned the CG in the concert scenes, and that’s probably the weakest aspect of the animation. Don’t come here and expect Angel Beats quality concert animation with this one. There were several moments when the drummer’s playing style wasn’t syncing correctly with the music and even with some of the guitar playing.

I could consider this show as somewhat of a disappointment, but on the other hand, I wasn’t expecting much either. There may have been some good ideas in giving some decent fanservice for the season, but I kept looking at the clock to see if the episode was almost over. The show just kept dragging on and on over really simplistic characters that aren’t all that enthralling or entertaining to look at. It’s far from the worst. It would just be best to listen to the OSTs of the show and have fun with those than the actual fanservice. When even that becomes more memorable than the titillation, that’s not a negative to be taken lightly.

Grade: D+

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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