My thoughts after the last few episodes: ”Wow, that was a rollercoaster of emotions! And it actually turned out to be more like a contemporary Magical girl anime”.
As of late, the Magical Girl genre has given us anime like “Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica” and the “Selector WIXOSS” series. Joining their ranks is “Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru”, an anime that shares many themes with the aforementioned ones. The primary theme, of course, is the power created by friendship. Here, our heroine is Yuuna, a junior high girl whose devotion to Tougou, her paraplegic best friend, is praiseworthy. The two of them are part of the “Hero Club”, members of which also include their senpai and club originator, Fuu, and Fuu’s younger sister, Itsuki.
The Hero Club is a supportive group in Sanshu Middle School – Their duties generally include volunteer work and providing assistance to the other clubs. When everyone first joined the club, Fuu had them download a special app that contains hidden features which are activated when they’re summoned to a surreal forest by the Divine Tree. Unbeknownst to everyone except Fuu, the members of the Hero Club are the next in line to protect the Divine Tree against monsters called “Vertexes”. Should the Vertexes (Vertices?) reach the Divine Tree, the world as they know it will be destroyed. And if they’re up to the challenge, they’re able to use the app to transform into heroes who are aided by Pokémon-like fairies. However, any damage that results from battling Vertexes is reflected as collateral damage in the real world.
It seems like a conventional good-VS-evil story, right? That’s how it starts out, but there are several revelations unloaded in the second half that’s more reminiscent of Madoka. What has basically been subtext in similar anime is the main focus here. There’s a heavy emphasis on what it means to be a hero and what one is willing to sacrifice to that end. Heroes aren’t perfect – they go through trials and tribulations like any normal person. With that in mind, several of the girls experience doubt and begin to question whether or not their efforts are in vain. That kind of exploration is the real appeal of contemporary Magical Girl anime, and it’s also all you need to know from a plot standpoint. And even though comparing this to Madoka might be a spoiler in and of itself, it works better going in with the knowledge that this isn’t a sugary, saccharine Magical Girl anime.
As I alluded to, the second half provides startling answers to any questions you may have about the characters’ purpose. But the first half sets the rules, characterizes the girls, and establishes what’s at stake should they fail. You know, aside from the obvious end-of-the-world setup – namely, their personal goals and keeping everyone together. Seeing the interaction amongst the girls gives you a warm feeling in your heart. The feeling manifests even more when you see how they welcome a lone wolf-type into their group. Their bond in the real world is strong and it never wavers once the battles get underway. Most of the time, they wins battles through support and sheer determination. As for the battles themselves, outside of “Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works”, “Rage of Bahamut”, and “Garo”, Yuuna has some of the best choreographed battles of late 2014. The colors are clean and bright, the characters move gracefully, and the Vertexes have that otherworldly look that Madoka captured so well.
Likewise, the transformations are stylish and gorgeously animated, but I couldn’t help but notice how slyly the anime tries to insert gratuitous fanservice. The fanservice is not restricted to their transformations either, as on occasion, the director shoots the girls from suggestive angles. The anime wants to portray these girls as paragons of purity, yet conversely takes time out to say, “This girl has a tight body” or, “This girl has huge boobs”. I don’t know for whom this level of fanservice is directed, but there’s not enough to satiate those who crave it and it’s distracting to those who actively avoid it. However, from what I hear, the fanservice is toned down from other Yuuki Yuna properties, so I can somewhat accept it as a compromise that leans more towards my sensibilities.
“Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru” is an anime with an unassuming beginning that artfully raises the stakes as the series progresses. Despite the homogenous character design, the entire anime is exceptionally drawn and animated. The music is at times delightful, energetic, and ominous. And as a final note: The character of Yuuna is one of the kindest, most dedicated female characters in recent memory. I mean, she’s stubbornly dedicated to – not only her friends – but her ideals. Characters like her can come off as cloying, but in the second half, her hopeful nature is very reassuring. Even when the situation is at its bleakest, you can count on Yuuna to display true heroism. Those who like Magical Girl Anime with a tinge of darkness to it should give this a try. After all, you’re likely to succeed (finding a good anime) if you try.
