Story: For the most part, it has been decent. It does start off a bit slow (Ep 1-2) and it doesn't help that it begins similarly to Asterisk. However, Silver Link did make a few tweaks for some original flair, such as Ikki stripping to make things "even" after accidentally seeing Stella in her undergarments. The pace definitely picks up starting Ep 3. At times, though, I feel that the anime goes a bit too fast. For the people who did not read the LN or manga, some parts will be a bit confusing. One thing I deeply appreciate, though, is the romance between Stella and Ikki. Ep 6, 9, 11, and 12 do a good job at advancing their relationship in a believable way and the conclusion to the romance is very satisfactory (i.e. not a harem ending). The show improves on the story in Ep 10, as it delves into Shizuku and Ikki's history a bit more. Shizuku also gets some needed character development. Ep 11 goes a bit fast, but I felt that the use of different artstyles told the story effectively through symbolism and undertones. If I were to watch the first few episodes, the story would've gotten a much lower score, but SL really made a comeback to make it decent. It's not exceptional in any shape or form, but it is definitely adequate.
Score: 7
Art: Arguably the anime's strongest aspect. It's definitely not perfect as there are a few hiccups here and there, but Silver Link did a good job at making Rakudai eye catching. Colors pop out and the fight scenes, especially, are hype. The anime does not stick with one palette and uses a wide variety of colors, scenery, and backgrounds. One good example would be the animation when Kuraudo and Ikki execute Yamata no Orochi and Ten'i Muhou, respectively (Ep 8). Ep 10 gave rise to my most favorite fight of the show. The electricity and water/ice animations, as well as the physical combat, were top notch. The art in Ep 11 was quite something. The first half was normal and then, we get a slew of different styles in the second half. It was a little unexpected, but at the same time, it wasn't forced because what wasn't explained verbally was explained through symbolism. It might be off-putting to some people, but it did its job of non-verbal storytelling. The fight in Ep 12, while extremely short, was animated well. I liked how SL paid attention to the little details when they made this scene.
Score: 9
Sound: The soundtrack is, for the most part, very good. The opening is very catchy and upbeat. I will point out, though, stick with the TV size version. The full version actually kinda sucks >_< Silver Link does a good job at using music to enhance the atmosphere such as the piano & guitar soundtrack for the romantic moments or the percussion soundtrack for the fight scenes. What drags the sound back, however, is the ending song. It just doesn't fit. It's not that it is bad, but the ending is so out of left field. One hiccup is that the last episode uses one track twice. Shows reuse tracks all the time, but to use the same one in one episode is a big no-no.
Score: 8
Character: The characters are nothing original. However, that is not a bad thing if the characterization and development are executed well. I will say that Rakudai does that, most of the time. I like Ikki's attitude. He acts very maturely and as demonstrated throughout the anime, he is very knowledgeable. Stella fits the tsundere mold, but unlike, say Louise from Zero, she's friendly to Ikki and cares for him a lot. Ep 9 does a good job fleshing out her character, portraying her to be very forward, outgoing, and honest. If anything, the romance between Ikki and Stella is arguably Rakudai's main selling point. Very few anime of the same genre ever go this deep. Usually the MC of the battle academy genre is denser than diamonds (Ichika, I'm looking at you) or is stuck with a harem.
The supporting characters, for the most part, are alright. There can definitely be some improvement in this department. Alice is very quirky, but he also has great insight on how people feel. I kind of wish he got more screentime. Shizuku is a bit annoying with her clinginess to her brother. However, she gets great development in Ep 10 and by the end, I began to feel sympathetic to her. She continues to annoy me less in Ep 11 as she begins to lose that clinginess. I thought Ayase was done well. The seiyuu did a great job showing off a wide variety of personalities and emotions in Ep 6-7. While Tohka hasn't gotten a lot of lines, I do like how she is such a badass in battle. At the same time, she also has a very gentle, altruistic side as shown in the first half of Ep 11. She also plays an indirect role in Ikki's development.
Score: 7
Enjoyment: The fight scenes are a great pleasure to watch, especially the Lorelei vs Raikiri battle. The comedy is fine, though the fanservice is hit-and-miss. Sometimes, it is very funny such as Ikki stripping or the cabin scene in Ep 9. Other times, the fanservice is out of context. The romance also makes this show very enjoyable because other shows of this genre rarely take it seriously.
Score: 9
Overall: Rakudai does many things right. While it starts off slowly and generically, it does plenty of things to give its own identity. The art and romance are the strongest points of the anime. What drags it back, though, are the pacing and out-of-context fanservice. The show would've definitely gotten a better from me if it didn't start off slowly. However, I was glad to see it rebound and finish on a high note.
I definitely hope that it gets a second season because I believe Silver Link can make improvements and fix the flaws.
Score: 8
