Absolute Duo

Individuals who can materialize weapons from their soul are called "Blazers," and they attend Kouryou Academy High School in order to harness their abilities. Each student is required to partner with another, in the hopes that one day, the pair can attain the power of Absolute Duo.

Tooru Kokonoe hopes to attend this academy in order to gain power after his sister and friends were slain by a mysterious man. However, at the opening ceremony, he is forced to duel against the person sitting next to him, with the loser being expelled. As Tooru prepares to give the match his all, it is not a weapon that manifests from his soul, but a shield, an irregularity which catches the attention of a foreign student named Julie Sigtuna.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Sigtuna, Julie Main

Yamamoto, Nozomi Japanese

Bristol, Lilith Main

Yamazaki, Haruka Japanese

Kokonoe, Tooru Main

Matsuoka, Yoshitsugu Japanese

Hotaka, Miyabi Main

Imamura, Ayaka Japanese

Tachibana, Tomoe Main

Suwa, Ayaka Japanese

Tsukimi, Rito Supporting

Tamura, Yukari Japanese

Tsukumo, Sakuya Supporting

Horie, Yui Japanese

Nagakura, Imari Supporting

Tomatsu, Haruka Japanese

Tatsuno, Ryuutarou Supporting

Kawahara, Yoshihisa Japanese

Torasaki, Aoi Supporting

Hanae, Natsuki Japanese

Cook, Justin Producer

Oonuki, Kazuo Producer

Itou, Makoto Producer

Kaminaga, Keisuke Producer

Reviews

Oct 28, 2023

Chaoscollector

Recommended

Where is the endgame to getting stronger??? It has a good story. Don't get me wrong. The graphics are phenomenal. But, what is the bigger detail?? Lots of smaller details are referenced and we have a good competitive view, but, why develop into reaching "Absolute Duo" if there isn't a big threat to the world? I haven't seen a good enough reasoning behind it yet. I'm giving the anime an 8/10 because it has a good story and awesome animation. But, it definitely could be quite a bit better. The characters were good considering their circumstances. The situation with miyabe was a good tragedy. It ... was very enjoyable to watch. I just can't get over the underlying question of "why?".

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Jun 29, 2023

Ardee_Uchiha

Mixed Feelings

Introduction:
An intriguing idea of a school where pupils have weapons that have sprouted from their souls is presented in Absolute Duo, an anime series based on the light novel by Takumi Hiiragiboshi. The execution, however, falls short in a number of ways, making for a lackluster viewing experience despite its intriguing notion.

Animations and Visuals:
Absolute Duo's animations and graphics are passable but fall short of making an impression. The character designs are uninspired and unoriginal, sharing many of the same characteristics as those in other anime shows. Even though the action scenes are well orchestrated, they lack the power and flow necessary to be genuinely ... captivating. The scenery and surroundings are comparatively unimpressive and lack the depth and richness required to provide an immersive visual experience.

Characters:
Absolute Duo's characters struggle with being flat and undeveloped. Tooru Kokonoe, the main character, is a stereotypically overpowering hero with a tragic backstory. His relationships with the other characters are superficial and don't make the audience feel anything. His peers and adversaries are equally one-dimensional, frequently adhering to formulaic character archetypes without any development or nuance. The audience's ability to empathize with them and get emotionally invested in their troubles is hampered by the absence of character development.

Story and Themes:
The plot of Absolute Duo adheres to the well-worn formula of a high school setting with paranormal components. It centers on Tooru and his fellow students at the Kouryou Academy, where they receive their training to become fighters known as "Duos." Unfortunately, the story doesn't have any noteworthy surprises or interesting plot turns. The series' emphasis on fan service and formulaic romance subplots obscures the superficial exploration of topics like friendship, perseverance, and self-discovery. Absolute Duo doesn't stand out among other anime series since its topics and plot lack complexity and creativity.

Sounds and Music:
Absolute Duo features adequate but average sound and music. The background music suits the situation just right, yet it does nothing to intensify the mood or lift the emotions. With few exceptional performances that would make an enduring impression, the voice acting performances vary from acceptable to mediocre. Although the action scene sound effects are passable, they do not considerably enhance the overall experience.

Conclusion:
Despite its intriguing idea, Absolute Duo fails to produce an engaging and memorable anime series. The story's overall effect is hampered by the mediocre animations and graphics, as well as the undeveloped and bland characters. The plot lacks substance, and it relies too much on cliches to differentiate itself from similar works. Although the music and noises are adequate, they don't considerably improve the viewing experience. Absolute Duo ultimately falls short of realizing its promise and becomes a forgettable contribution to the wide world of anime. It could be appealing to people who enjoy the typical high school supernatural scenarios, but if you're looking for something more interesting and unique, you should look into other possibilities.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Dec 2, 2023

Sagaiko

Not Recommended

So we're diving into the whole Harem and Ecchi vibe here. Don't expect some epic story or deep character stuff, theres not really a huge development. Its more about chuckling a bit and a fan service party. Not the go-to if you're hunting for a mind-blowing plot or characters evolving into something super profound. There's a cool factor in how the characters throw around their unique talents. If you're all about "cool" visuals mixing it up with some spicy scenes and a bit of a harem twist, this could be something you can enjoy. It's like a slight visual treat with that extra side of ... fan service fun

Reviewer’s Rating: 3

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	Poll: Absolute Duo Episode 5 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) Stark700 - Feb 1, 2015	115 replies	by LordCrueltyV »» Oct 30, 2:56 PM
	Poll: Absolute Duo Episode 4 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) Stark700 - Jan 25, 2015	145 replies	by LordCrueltyV »» Oct 30, 11:47 AM
	Poll: Absolute Duo Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) bastek66 - Jan 4, 2015	284 replies	by Dark__Abysse »» Sep 24, 4:10 PM
	Poll: Absolute Duo Episode 12 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ) Stark700 - Mar 22, 2015	220 replies	by Baka_God »» Sep 11, 7:33 PM
	Poll: Absolute Duo Episode 11 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Stark700 - Mar 15, 2015	99 replies	by Baka_God »» Sep 11, 6:52 PM

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