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Sep 7, 2013
What initially drew me to Touka Gettan was Carnelian's beautiful character designs, and I was definitely not disappointed on that front. If nothing else, Touka Gettan is very pleasant to look at.
The bottom line is that this anime is not everyone's cuppa. Touka Gettan is undeniably unique, but it's up to the individual whether that's a good or bad thing. I believe this series will most appeal to someone tired of cookie cutter anime, someone who's looking for something different.
In case you are not yet aware, Touka Gettan aired (mostly) in reverse chronological order. Now, while this is not a new concept, it is a
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rarely used device. As a disclaimer, I watched Touka Gettan in chronological order (episodes 26, 24-1, 25) because of the way my mind works, but despite this I can absolutely see the genius of the proper order.
Touka Gettan was not made and then randomly aired backwards. The order of the episodes plays on the world of Touka Gettan's concepts of time, complementing its lack of linearity. As I was watching, I considered how each scene would have been different and how the impact would have changed if I had been watching the series in reverse order, and I could see how clever it was. The beginning of the series is the end, and the end is the beginning.
So, I can't say that watching it one way is better than the other. Both ways have their positives and negatives.
Among Touka Gettan's unique characteristics is its atmosphere. I would describe it as the strangest combination of gag humor and and morbid seriousness. I'm still not sure how they got that formula to work so well.
It's hilarious in many place, adorable in others, and downright disturbing from time to time. A lot of the elements aren't things I'm normally a fan of, but somehow it all just worked.
A handful of episodes are presented in especially unique ways, and I found this an interesting way to break of the monotony of a traditional linear presentation.
Touka Gettan is not something you can casually watch; there's so much happening, so much depth. I felt like I should have been taking notes in order to keep up. The cast is moderately large, and just keeping track of who everyone was could be difficult at times.
While I was watching, I felt a number of the characters served no purpose, but after I had finished the series I discovered that most of those characters were crossover characters from Carnelian's other series, such as Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito. I think the inclusion of these characters is a questionable choice as it only benefits a viewer if they're familiar with the other series, and they truly stick out in a negative way in this character-driven anime.
The relationships between all the characters are very complex, and are more or less left shrouded in mystery (I'm not sure how much of this is because they're explained in the corresponding visual novels).
So, in conclusion, many things about Touka Gettan are frustrating, but it's arguable whether those things are good or bad. You also don't get the answers to all your questions by the end, which is one of my personal pet peeves. What I enjoyed most about Touka Gettan is its uniqueness.
Overall, I think it's an anime worth watching, but you have to go in being prepared to pay attention.
Be warned that this anime contains: ecchi, homosexuality, gag humor
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 10, 2013
Fujimi Orchestra toes a dangerous line with its subject matter (and no, I don't mean classical music), but unfortunately fails to handle the situation with delicacy or insight, resulting in a plot that just flat out offends the senses.
While the scenario is not entirely unrealistic, the characters' reactions to it are.
And as the cherry on top, nothing is resolved in the end.
The story is presented through a combination of present scenes and flashbacks, with little indication which is which. While the timeline is more clear by the end, I found the first half of the OAV unnecessarily confusing.
This was presumably done to differentiate from
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the manga, but I feel a more linear presentation would have been a better decision.
The art is... well, the art is '98 animation, but poor directing and unnecessary scenes highlight its shortcomings.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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May 3, 2013
A quick note on the shounen-ai aspect of this series: (For those interested in watching Kyou Kara Maou! for the BL and those who hesitate because of it.)
KKM does not truly fall on the BL spectrum. The series was meant to be highly slashable as a source of humor.
Nonetheless, as always, if something offends you even in small degrees, just avoid it.
My initial reaction was to label KKM as a sort of carefree-fantasy; not exactly slapstick, but quite a few steps away from serious, as well. But I quickly found out that it does have its serious moments; there are many scenes that are sad
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or heart-warming, even if they don’t evoke tears. I found myself cheering on multiple occasions. By the end, stuff had gotten real.
I think the best thing about this series is its humor; even though it is a bit silly, it’s nowhere near corny or raunchy. It’s a very accessible kind of humor. A lot of the episodes you do just have to remember to not take things too seriously, though. If a little stretching of logic offends you, this may not be for you.
There isn’t exactly a singular linear plot; it’s more a series of mini arcs that add to a larger picture.
Another plus in my opinion is that while KKM has a lot of threads throughout the plot that all get tied together in the end, there’s nothing overly complicated. That isn’t to say it’s not interesting (I often ended up watching huge chunks of episodes in one sitting because I just had to know what was going to happen), it just isn’t overly intricate to the point your brain starts overloading. Considering the length of this series I think that’s an important aspect.
The characters are all unique and lovable in their own ways and you become attached to them quickly. Even though KKM isn’t a harem anime (a harem being defined as a protagonist hypothetically having his or her choice of a variety of eligible bachelors or bachelorettes), it does have the variety of male characters one would expect to see in one. That aspect of the series I can understand may not appeal to all.
I wouldn’t have minded more backstory about the characters, but the series was long enough and I can’t argue with keeping everything relevant.
The animation is on the simple side but keep in mind the series is over 70 episodes and a budget has to stretch. While it’s definitely nothing detailed or extravagant it really doesn’t prompt any major complaints, either.
While I have no complaints about the voice acting, I also have no high praises; I thought the main characters’ voices were suited for them and that’s about the extent of my thoughts.
The music is always fitting of the scene and I actually really liked a lot of the scores. Thankfully there is a large variety of scores; it’s not the same two playing over and over for 78 episodes. I suppose if I had to have a complaint about the music it would be that it doesn’t sound like a congruent OST.
Overall: Kyou Kara Maou! is something you won’t regret watching even if you end up not loving it. I found it to be an excellent balance of humor and gravity. Sort of a come for the humor, stay for the plot kind of deal. Those who are looking for a shounen-ai might be disappointed, but also might fall in love with the characters anyway. The art suffers from obvious budget stretching but is passable.
Note: I have not read the light novels Kyou kara Maou! is based on, therefore I have no comments based on a comparison of the two. I also cannot vouch for the following seasons.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Mar 15, 2013
I wanted to watch the Angel Sanctuary OAV because I’m a huge fan of the manga, so my review is very colored by my comparison of the two. Also note that my review is based on the original Japanese audio.
My biggest problem with this anime is that it makes much less sense outside of the context of the manga. Even I was a bit confused about what was happening because I completed reading the manga so long ago. (Unlike with some series, none of this is due to a poor English translation.)
I actually feel like it would have been more beneficial to simplify the story
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and focus on what can be fit into three half hour episodes. There are many, many forces at work in Angel Sanctuary, but there was no reason to introduce all of them when they can’t be properly explained in the time allotted.
My problem is not with the plot itself but how it was adapted and presented.
Now the first episode is definitely the worst of the batch; there’s a confusing dose of angel lore thrown at you and about a dozen conflicts are roughly presented. Important explanations are left out or glossed over which also affects the emotional impact present in the original work. The characters are presented in such a way they seem flatter than flat. By the second episode emotions have kicked in and things start getting interesting, as well as a bit more being explained.
On to the more technical stuff.
While the voice acting was reasonable, the sound effects and music were outdated and cheesy.
The animation is decent for a low budget OAV and does have its moments. It’s far from the best (even considering when it was made) and most of it lies along the lines of “functional”, but it doesn’t produce any major complaints.
Overall, I was disappointed as a fan of the manga. I got nothing out of watching it and I'm afraid someone who is unfamiliar with the manga would get even less.
While far from abysmal, I can't think of anyone to recommend this to except Kaori Yuki fans without high expectations.
Note: Those offended by any of the related subject matters flat out shouldn't watch it or read the original series.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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