Here be dragons!
One thing can always be certain when it comes to anime these days, and that's the inclusion of at least show about anthropomorphised creatures of some sort every season. Many people will already be familiar with humanoid cats, foxes, dogs, etc, and with the "popularity" of the types of anime that normally include such characters, it's somewhat surprising to find dragons thrown into the mix.
Now this isn't a new thing, especially as these giant fire breathing lizards have appeared in works of fiction for many, many years (and it's even longer when we start talking mythology - but we won't go there). From
...
tales of steel clad warriors going toe to toe with something that sees them as canned food, to the stylings of Anne McCaffrey's Dragons of Pern series where humans live and work with the creatures, dragons have long been a source of inspiration, fear, admiration, majesty, and many other things besides.
But aside from their appearances in certain anime, nobody has ever called them cute (or tsundere - more on that later).
Dragon Crisis is, first and foremost, a light novel series by Kizaki Kaya that spans eleven volumes, all of which have been published under Shueisha's Super Dash Bunko line, and as with any reasonably popular written work, it was earmarked for an anime adaptation, this time by Studio DEEN.
Oh goody. More adaptations.
The story is about Kisaragi Ryuuji, a seemingly normal high school boy whose life is suddenly thrown sideways by the return of his treasure seeking cousin Nanao Eriko. She persuades him to join her on her latest venture, but things don't turn out the way she plans when instead of treasure, they find a girl in a suitcase.
Throw into this various other anthropomorphic beings (generally female), magical treasures called Lost Precious, and a very familiar comedy angle and what do you have?
That's right. It's another supernatural harem romantic comedy.
The main issue with the Dragon Crisis is the lack of explanations. There are any number of interesting aspects to the story that really could have been expounded upon, but in the typical manner that is common these days the viewer is expected to simply sit there, accept what they're given, and not want for anything better. The lack of any real detail about The Society, dragons and the Lost Precious puts a strain on the storyline that becomes more pronounced as matters progress.
That said, the plot is actually paced reasonably well, but that's simply based on the even scattering of tokens throughout the series (usually one per episode), and it's pretty clear that a great deal of thought wasn't expended on making the story interesting. Instead Dragon Crisis relies on stereotypical comedy and the generic methodologies applied to almost every other harem rom-com in an effort to move things along, and because of all of this the whole show is about as predictable as the sunrise.
Visually the series isn't bad, but it's not brilliant either. The reliance on generic character types is very obvious from the get-go as it's not something that can really be hidden by changing clothes (or school uniforms), hairstyles and eye colours. That said, the characters are emotive to a degree, and it's nice to see that efforts have been made to allow a bit more expression that one might initially expect from this type of show.
Sadly the typical anime reliance on the European style dragon once again rears its head, and this time they're coloured (which brings into question the issue of dragon racism, but that's a matter for another time).
On the plus side the series features some nicely detailed backgrounds that, although somewhat generic, are also rather appealing. In addition to this there are some well choreographed and interesting CG effects that give the action sequences that little bit more flair, and the quality of the animation is stays at a pretty decent level over the course of the show.
When it comes to music, Dragon Crisis has a range of tracks on offer to suit almost every occasion, from foreboding techno beats to melodic piano pieces, and there are also some rather nice audio effects throughout the series. Unfortunately there are occasions when the two clash, and although the timing is pretty good, this isn't enough to salvage the resulting cacophony.
The opening theme, Immoralist by Horie Yui (who plays the role of Maruga or Margerite, whichever you prefer), is a rather dramatic J-Pop number with martial overtones that feels a little out of place with the concept of Dragon Crisis. As for the ending theme, Mirai Bowl by Momoiro Clover, this rather more playful piece also doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the anime, but that may be due to the rather whimsical beginning to the song.
So, on to the acting, and oh look! It's Kugumiya Rie playing yet another clone of Louise/Shana/Taiga, except this time her role is far less tsundere so hopefully the industry will stop typecasting her at some point. Even with that though, she is able to inject a likeability into the character of Rose that is nice to see. Shimono Hiro and Yukana also play their respective roles (Ryuuji and Eriko), passing well, and while the overall series may be tediously generic in many aspects, it's nice to see the seiyuu still working hard to deliver some decent performances.
The unfortunate part is that there's only so much a voice actor/actress can do in certain situations, and this is one of them.
The reliance on genericism severely stunts the characters in certain fundamental ways that prevent even the best seiyuu from delivering a stellar performance, and while part of the problem stems from the anime, the majority of it comes from the source material itself. The simple fact is that each character is designed to deliver a specific plot token into the story, and this makes them objects rather than people. Because of this there is the appearance of development over the course of the series, but in truth this is nothing more than a veneer that covers some truly lazy characterisation. That said, Dragon Crisis does feature some diverting interactions and relationships, and while there is little in the way of real growth, the series does maintain a degree of enjoyability due the inoffensive nature of the characters.
One thing that is a little puzzling though, is the decidedly human nature of the dragons themselves. While this could easily be explained away by stating that they're anthropomorphic creatures who have lived alongside humans and adopted their personality traits, this information has to be extrapolated by the viewer, and this brings up the issue of why they have to act like humans. It would have been far more interesting to see humans and dragons learning to cope with the problems presented by modern day society from the perspective of the dragons. Likewise the prospect of watching the characters adapt to the daily problems faced by each species would have offered some completely different insights, yet still left room for situational comedy.
Dragon Crisis offers little in the way of innovation, but that's pretty much expected from supernatural harem rom-coms these days. While the original concept may have been interesting enough in the beginning the execution leaves a lot to be desired, and there's a mechanical feel to the show due to the "fill in the blanks" approach to the story, and the fact that this is essentially a "production by numbers" (hence Kugimiya Rie in a typecast role).
The series does have its good points, and there are some enjoyable moments to see, but ultimately Dragon Crisis is yet another example of a wasted opportunity, only this time its not the fault of the anime as the source material is to blame.
Alternative Titles
Synonyms: Dragon Crisis!
Japanese: ドラゴンクライシス!
Information
Type:
TV
Episodes:
12
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Jan 11, 2011 to Mar 29, 2011
Premiered:
Winter 2011
Broadcast:
Mondays at 01:30 (JST)
Licensors:
None found, add some
Studios:
Studio Deen
Source:
Light novel
Duration:
23 min. per ep.
Rating:
PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Statistics
Ranked:
#60502
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#1354
Members:
172,295
Favorites:
283
Available AtResourcesStreaming Platforms | Reviews
Filtered Results: 36 / 38
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Your Feelings Categories Mar 29, 2011
Here be dragons!
One thing can always be certain when it comes to anime these days, and that's the inclusion of at least show about anthropomorphised creatures of some sort every season. Many people will already be familiar with humanoid cats, foxes, dogs, etc, and with the "popularity" of the types of anime that normally include such characters, it's somewhat surprising to find dragons thrown into the mix. Now this isn't a new thing, especially as these giant fire breathing lizards have appeared in works of fiction for many, many years (and it's even longer when we start talking mythology - but we won't go there). From ... Apr 1, 2011
Dragon Crisis! is a below average to borderline horrible action harem anime that has been done dozens of times before, and done much better. I continue to be perplexed why tripe like this continues to sell and gets made into anime. And I thought Hollywood had hit the bottom of the barrel when it comes to creativity and originality.
The story concept for Dragon Crisis! has been repeated ad nauseum. An ordinary school boy with average looks and the personality of an anvil is suddenly thrust into a secret world of the supernatural including, as the title suggests, dragons. Of course ... Jan 25, 2011
Dragon Crisis Review Version 2 (UPDATE)
Here comes another harem anime! Now including dragons! Ok so the main theme here is about Forbiden love between Humans and Dragons.. Right... Incest and Bestiality.... The two most common theme in anime... Oh how I love you Japan... (Oh and I;m not mentioning BL as forbidden love because otherwise a bunch of fangirls will come after me) So yeah, the story is about Dragons, lost precious (which are treasures) and of course harem. Boy meets dragon girl, dragon girl gets kidnapped by another dragon, guy comes rescuing girl, bad guy mysteriously disappear. All of that in the first three episodes! ... May 10, 2011
I didn't like this show and I wouldn't want anyone to waste his/her precious time watching this. So that's why im going to review it, hopefully I'll save someone before it's too late. I'll try to be brief too.
"Dragon Crisis!" Judjing from the title, you would think "This is going to be an exciting show, full of epic battles, firebreath, swords and flying beasts".... Think again. If i could summarize this show in one word, it's would probably be "Dissapointing", and I'm going to tell you why, but let's start with the few good things this show has. The Good Art/Animation The char designs are very well done, the backgrounds ... Feb 17, 2014
Ah, Dragon Crisis. The title is a little strange considering the fact that the phrase itself is only used once in the series, and it's never really explained when mentioned. For me to find an anime about anthropomorphic human-like people usually means that I'll watch it, to some extent. Whatever the case, onto the review.
Story (6.47/10): Story...isn't exactly Dragon Crisis's strong suit. The beginning is very Angel Beats-esque, where the audience, and the main character are thrown into these set of circumstances without any explanation whatsoever for the sake of moving the plot. Usually, unless there's the mystery element to ... Feb 23, 2011
Throughout mythology, dragons are depicted as fantastic creatures whose significance dwarfs that of the mortal human. These dragons represent strength, power, and any other virtues a biker gang with dragon tattoos would respect. Dragon Crisis introduces a new type of dragon: dragons that are cute and loli and scream, "suki" and "Ryuuji" over and over again; the moe dragon.
That's right: the MOE dragon. Can dragons be moe? Yes they can, but only while in their human form (or unless there are fringe fetishes that I dare not dabble in.) Meet Dragon Crisis, an anime which casts Kugimiya Rie as Rose, a character who is *gasp* ... Jan 10, 2011
First episode review:
What seemed to be another harem surprised me by actually being interesting. First thing i have to say is that the plot moves fast, this is a good thing as it keeps getting more exciting. Gunfights, magic (well i guess this is an exception) and car chases are not typical for a first episode of Harem so this will keep you on your toes. (Side note: its very refreshing to see an anime without a tsundere character, originality hells yea.) I dont want to give any surprises away but long story shot, boy meets girl, and another girl, and a third who i apparently ... Apr 10, 2011
I don't quite understand why people rate this (and every other series) down just because it doesn't have an "original" story. People don't seem to understand that making an original story is impossible anymore, everything has been done already.
The storyline in general was great but it left a lot of open holes, and it proceeded a bit too fast if you ask me. Also I don't like it when the fights are based on one special skill and when that's used the battle is over and the results are obvious. Even though I love seeing clichés and going through general storylines with different settings, basing ... Dec 12, 2014
Well, I must say, while this anime isn't a masterpiece I feel it deserves better than it's getting. Also... this is going to be my first review so forgive me if it's not that great XD.
First things first, I'm going to try to keep this short. Second, I will refrain from any spoilers. Third... I loved this anime. While the situations and characters may not be the most original, they work, and because of this they make a truly enjoyable viewing experience. Story 6/10 It's been mentioned by other reviewers and I'm going to mention it again, If you want explanations and depth this is not your ... Mar 29, 2011
Whenever a new season rolls around I'm sure many of us go over a chart or list to see what series are coming out. While performing this seasonal task I'm sure there are a number of us that came across Dragon Crisis. Being a series that I've never heard of, I didn't know what to expect (other then the fact there were going to be dragons)
Our main protagonist, Ryuuji seems like another average teenager attending highschool but there is more than that. It turns out that he is a level 10 "breaker" which is pretty strong considering it is the highest level there is. ... Jan 27, 2011
I read the first 2 most popular reviews and thought to myself "do these people even know what a harm means?" This anime is not a "harem" anime. It is more like an action anime. The first episode you have a classmate who has a crush on the main character, then an older cousin of the main character pops into the scene, but there is obviously no love interest on either side there. Then you have a dragon girl who falls into their hands and that's where the real relationship and story is.
Now for the review. The story I thoroughly enjoy. Stories are made ... Nov 3, 2011
One of the better things I can say about Dragon Crisis! is that it has more than enough good points not to be labeled a guilty pleasure. That said, I write with the precarious position of liking this show more than I probably "should".
The setting is one with potential, and sometimes it shows, but mostly it's just used as a setting for yet another supernatural harem show. It's world where magical artifacts, called Lost Precious because it sounds sort of cool, are common enough to be well-known (and classified on strength) but only a few people can use them to their full potential. These people ... Jan 13, 2011
At first glance you might not think much of it, but looks can be deceiving. After watching the first episode i was impressed on how it develops how fast it does which is better because if you go on with the plot fast you get to fights and the climax faster and its not to fast were they just feed you info it has a good pace but since its only the first episode we'll see how it progresses, But i have high expectations for it already and after seeing the preview for the next episode i'm sure it excites you as much as it
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Jun 11, 2011
Dragon Crisis isn't a show that I would call good or really recommend, yet it still gave me entertainment as I watched it.
The anime starts with the main character Ryuuji being pulled out of school by his "cousin," Eriko to go search for a Lost Precious, ancient artifacts imbued with some magical power, that she believes to be stolen from her. So they drive to the docks, where they then sit there for hours because the people who are arriving with the Lost Precious aren't arriving until very late that night (so why the heck did she pull him from school?). Moving on, ... Oct 10, 2015
Ah~ An anime about a dragon girl, it doesn't sound bad, ¿does it? Because we all needed a loli dragon, sure. Lolis are cute and dragons are badass, doesn't seem to be a good combination but both are good... BUT IT'S NOT A GOOD COMBINATION, JUST NO.
I got AIDS after watching this, so I feel like I need to warn people. Story: Oh, a guy finds a little cute dragon girl, now he gets powers and has to defeat evil guys. I gotta admit it's original, you don't find a dragon in a box everyday, but that doesn't mean it's good. It is a sad excuse ... Jun 27, 2011
Dragon Crisis is a tale of Ryuji, a high level magician, and Rose, an infatuated dragon. Of course, she is not the only one because this has.. Oh wait, it doesn't have a harem tag. I guess there is what one could call feelings of affections form the male lead, but he is still surrounded by plenty of women. As you will find that plenty of shows on my list are harems, you can trust me that I didn't give it any demerit for that. What usually happens though, is that it gets in the way of the shows progression, and well you don't
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Mar 28, 2011
Alright, I just finished the series a minute ago and I'm gonna tell you the main problem, I had with this anime. Purely and Simply this anime to me has not a single piece of originality, from the character personalities to the story it self it seems pretty much based of of other good anime series. But,(because there's always one) I won't tell you not to watch it because it's ok to watch if you just need a small laugh or wish to kill some time. Only if your a person who has seen a lot of different anime just be aware that you may
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Jul 18, 2015
Dragons.. Dragons.. DRAGONS!!!!!. How could i hate this anime? Despite the few cliches in this anime, I could sincerely say with a good heart that you aren't wasting when watching this anime.
Story: Good 7/10 The story follows Ryuugi and Rose as we watch their relationship grow through facing struggles and enemies. After watching this anime i can say that it was very thrilling and that was because it had a great concept to develop on. They developed on a concept of dragons and magical relics which made up for the mediocre vibe that was coming of some episodes. What i also liked about the concept was ... Jan 24, 2011
To begin with I found the story to be OK nothing special or creative but not terrible.
The art is probably the best thing about this series. The art is well made not something extraordinary but better than average. What really made me think I had to write a review about this series was the protagonists character. In most harem animes the main characters almost always share some of the same elements but in this series the protagonist takes the most overused and cliche qualities in anime (an not the good ones) and bases his entire character off of them. An since the protagonist is important ... May 23, 2011
I've just finished watching Dragon Crisis!. A very good fantasy anime, I must say. I don't usually dive into the 'harem' side of Anime. I find it very unappealing and unrealistic for me. But this one had enough fantasy element's to keep me interested all the way through the end. In the series we follow a young 15 year old boy. Called Riuji, and a Dragon girl called Rose. They fight together and stuff.
Overall, what I liked most about the series it's it's fantasy, romance element. It was a nice break from all the Werewolf, or Vampire stuff, that has been going around lately. You ... |