Cheating Craft

In a world where academic success decides your entire future, the exam room becomes a ruthless battlefield. Passing the exams guarantees a successful future. Failing dooms you to live a cruel life, tormented by suffering and despair. Only the most intelligent—or cunning—students make it out alive. These are the two strategies of combat: spend your entire life studying for the test, or perfect your cheating strategy. The students who dedicate themselves to studying are called “Learning Type” students, and they are forced to collaborate with a “Cheating Type” student in order to battle their rivals for the top grades.

The cheater Zhuge Mu Ming and studious academic Qiao Yi Huang decide to team up against the exams. However, the allies are soon divided, becoming bitter rivals. Will they be able to make it on their own? And if so, who will survive the challenge and emerge victorious?

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Zhuge, Mu Ming Main

Yamaguchi, Tomohiro Japanese

Huang, Qiao Yi Supporting

Kugimiya, Rie Japanese

Jun Supporting

Ikeda, Junya Japanese

Liu, Bai Jiu Supporting

Ueda, Reina Japanese

Zhou, Lun Yu Supporting

Namikawa, Daisuke Japanese

Xing, Li Supporting

Hikasa, Youko Japanese

Wang Supporting

Mitsuishi, Kotono Japanese

Motonaga, Keitarou Director

Iwahata, Gouichi Storyboard

Kusuda, Aina Theme Song Performance

Watanabe, Shio Theme Song Lyrics

Reviews

Dec 21, 2016

3xTripple

Recommended

Cheating Craft is the definition of an absolutely brilliant mediocre anime!

You might be thinking, "How could you give this mediocre series a ten, especially when you only give tens to three percent of anime?!" Well, it's actually a six, but hear me out for a second...

(TL;DR at end)

If you've already watched this show, you probably already know that it's really not THAT great. However, have you ever seen another series like this...? The answer is probably no, and that's where I feel this anime shines the most.

Anime is supposed to be the genre of artistic imagination, yet we're constantly bombarded with the same concepts ... repeatedly. However, Cheating Craft goes against the norm by being a short, 12-minute parody series that makes fun of some popular anime concepts with a fun twist. Every episode contains a comedic and dramatic story, where all you know is that the main character will somehow cheat to prevail over a test in a dramatic way using his family's impossibly diverse Shokatsu techniques. It has a linear plot and moves at a really great pace towards the single end-goal of living a life of luxury by graduating from their prestigious school.

One of the characters in this series really stood out to me, and that's Kou-chan (or Huang, Qiao Yi). Kou-chan is is voiced by Rie Kugimiya, otherwise known as the "Queen of Tsundere Voices". Kou-chan stands out to me because she's: smart and nerdy, but not shy; simplistic, but not average; unusually focused, but laid back; she's confident, rude, sarcastic, perverted, bl-loving--- in other words, she's a very unusual and lovable character. In fact, I think she may have one of the more unique (unrealistic) personalities that I've seen in the anime genre (let me know if you agree). I think she's a worthy favorite if you like her enough.

I strongly believe that Cheating Craft should be praised for its unrealistic and bold concepts, like using supernatural abilities for the sole purpose of cheating to pass exams. It's a stark contrast to most other anime because the teachers are actually the main "villains" of this supernatural school tale. Hell, they might as well have just studied with all the effort that goes into cheating each episode! To add to the humor, you have a disclaimer every episode that says "cheating is a wrongful act, do not imitate." Note that it is physically impossible to imitate almost anything that happens in it, which makes it even funnier! Then, to finish it off, you have the hilariously dramatic episodes and backstories of the main protagonists.

This anime does not even try to take itself seriously, which adds to the mediocre brilliance. It may be extremely mediocre, but it is honestly the most enjoyable mediocre series that I have ever seen.

TL;DR
This series is masterfully mediocre.

Story: 5 - Linear, good pacing, rather average story.
Art: 6 - Fluid, Dramatic, Good Enough.
Sound: 9 - This actually threw me off... There's not usually great music in a mediocre series...
Character: 5 - All are archetypes except Kou-chan
Enjoyment 9 - Surprisingly entertaining, despite having no intellectual value.

I highly recommend that you watch it! If you don't like it by the 3rd episode, then you probably won't like it.

Overall: 10 out of fucking 10.

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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Apr 1, 2017

Thakamura

Mixed Feelings

Are you bored with no ideas? Do you want to see a low-rated anime? Do you like to waste time? You no longer feel that feeling: "How Dragon Ball fillers are good."?

If your answers were "Yeah" so far, then watch "Cheating Craft". I would not recommend this anime even for my enemies.

Let's talk about topics:

1. History. Totally rushed, with more holes than cheese and totally and definitely able to give you Bugs and Tilts in the brain. It turns well until the 2nd episode. Where to start from there begins the "shooting" to leave holes. Missing explanations of why such thing was done, how things ... happened and even, I do not know if it was a spoiler or a sheer sneer of the anime developers, but in the middle of the anime ... the story of a meaningless jump! We look like "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED HERE?" And suddenly things return to "normal" but with the previous effects of history that have jumped. Completely confused this anime. And the end? Gives that pain that they wanted maybe a second season (or still want). It is almost a torture to imagine that there may be another season to leave me sleepless worried that so spending money and time in it.
2. A comedy. The comedy itself is well made and thought out, this is the best of the anime. As much as the story is unstructured, you can have fun with the anime. What made me more comfortable after watching it was the comedy, because nothing else is useful.
3. Characters. Good but at the same time misunderstood. We have a very unique protagonist, but he's not that stupid character. The others are a little confused ... When it comes to romance, friendship and coexistence. And the worst is that some really are unnecessary at one point.
4. The "Antagonist." Do not expect an antagonist so early in history, can forget it. While he does not appear, he can stay there trying to find an anti-hero as meaningless as the story.
5. The design. Yeah, there's nothing to deny, the anime has a good character design, the skills are well described and well illustrated. It looks like a "My Hero Academy" with no history.
6. Sound effects. Yeah, there's so much to complain about too, it's that non-differential pattern.

This anime really does not make sense. I think if they did something more fluid, 24 minutes per episode and without history holes; He could be a good, profitable anime. I definitely do not have the slightest desire to recommend it these days. I felt cheated by watching it and realizing that it is just a curse to divulge a manga. I feel totally and definitely stupid to watch even having low scores on My Anime List.
The only reason to see it anyway, is to recognize how ecchis cliches are good compared to this anime. How much fillers sometimes have more logic than this anime.

If you've read this far and still want to see this anime. Congratulations, you have the courage. (Or you want to see only the comedy scenes in an attempt to escape the routine.)

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Dec 21, 2016

Whoahoho

Not Recommended

Ok, if I would describe this anime amongst the character's technique, I describe it as "Suck-katsu Technique" as it in this anime for all of what is expected "TOTALLY SUCKS!!!!!" as one reviewer's comment states, "It becomes a chore than an amusement." Man, just what the fuck was Haoliner Animation League', studio Blade thinking for making an anime out of a Chinese light novel titled Zuobi Yishu by Gemini Xin Luo? Tbh, I have nothing but regrets about allowing myself to subject to such chore of watching this.....thing, where it would have been much exciting to watch 'Prison School" than this, sooooooo:

Storywise, It was ... good at first (ep 1) , but it's plot which was themed after the art of cheating was anything but just too overly exaggerated, that the entertainment side of it starts to wane down, I mean, such plot about cheating on an exam simply wasn't a good fit to use as a plot base, when combine with martial arts, super powers and harem ( since there is a subtle rivalry between Koui Ou and Haku Ryu for mumei's affection), the plot based on cheating really doesn't fit in with the genre, so yes the plot was really a poor 3.

Art, ok so there isn't any panty shots that can be seen with any of them eye candies, but it does have one episode that features Ms. Ou in a hot swim suit and just this last episode , her in a sexy Qi Pao , and that is a fair enough 6. The rest where just too dorky in a fashion sense, like Mumei's pant's that were style to be a chino pants and him sporting white long arm band, Ms. Ou's teacher outfit and her Chung Li's hair style, Kou chan's glasses, Zhou's long hair, Jun's headset and Anri's outfit, where it can be consider as a serious crime of fashion. You if only studio Balde could have added a lot of fanservice around here, then maybe this dorky anime could have been saved.

Sound, I'd probably say that it's a good 7, since the voice did matched the right character's , like Ms. Ou having a matured voice and Kou having a childish voice.

CHaracter, I'd say it was really a Pathetic 1 , thing cu'z the character's themselves, aside from being annoying, really don't match this anime, like :

Mumei Shokatsu, he'd probably should be in Akame ga Kill, cu'z of his Shokatsu Technique. Also, for him to rely on Kou to pass and being this master of martial arts, was really an oxymoron on his role, now he has the time and determination to learn the Shokatsu Technique and even level it up to a Nichirin Shoten, and yet he has a hard time of studying to become a L type and prefers to be a C type, well, if he's a C- type then that simply makes his character as a C as in crooked and cheap, one reason for him being pathetic. since he's very much a double standard.

Koui Ou, is very much a character, where one would probably prefer that she be hostile to Mumei by keeping him off her test paper nd just let him get kicked out, rather than be his tool for passing, let's face it Mumei doesn't even acknowledge her feeling for him, and instead he goes for Haku Ryu, and yet there she still hopes to be romantically involve with Mumei, how stupid was she? If she is to be in the right anime, then she should be in Baka to test.

Anri, we the audience, where left to wonder if she is a C or an L, for the entire episode from 1 to 12 we never see her cheat nor do we see her being smart. Also, letting us audience know her powers was lately introduced in to this anime, she could have been an awesome eye candy if not for her dorky fashion. Too bad she was just limited as another support just like Rinu Shu, if she is to be in the right anime , then she would fit in at Highschool DxD.

Rinu Shu, I'd say he's gaaaaaaay and he should be in Gakuen Hansome.

Bugman, JUN, should be in Shaman King.

Teacher Miss . Ou, ok, at one point she is this 30 something single lady who hope to get marry, and then a 90 degree turn make him same kind of ET who is hired to give the ultimate test of insanity of destroying earth..............LAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!Anime where she should be????????Anywhere as long as it's hentai.

Haku Ryu, is just too sweet and nice to be here and she would be a better fit in "Orange."

Enjoyment, a decent 4, since I just bear with it all along, so.

Overall, it's just an anime of too many oxymoron of the character's, double standards of the roles of the character and with all that anachronisms, this thing is just toooooooo dreadful 2 the max, so no, no, no, I don't give a fuck as to what had happen to Mumei after we heard a BANG, no, no, no to a sequel of what kind.


Whoahoho OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!BANG!

Reviewer’s Rating: 2

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	Poll: Cheating Craft Episode 3 Discussion PhylloNakamura - Oct 19, 2016	35 replies	by RGreatDanton »» Jun 22, 7:08 PM
	Poll: Cheating Craft Episode 2 Discussion Stark700 - Oct 12, 2016	47 replies	by RGreatDanton »» Jun 22, 6:50 PM
	Poll: Cheating Craft Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Stark700 - Oct 5, 2016	93 replies	by RGreatDanton »» Jun 22, 6:41 PM
	Poll: Cheating Craft Episode 12 Discussion Stark700 - Dec 21, 2016	49 replies	by ST63LTH »» May 7, 3:20 AM
	Poll: Cheating Craft Episode 11 Discussion Stark700 - Dec 14, 2016	19 replies	by ST63LTH »» May 7, 3:14 AM