Story: 3
Love, Elections, Chocolate tackles each subject in one one way shape or form.
Love appears as how the female characters discover their feelings for the main character. However, like any anime derived from a "route" system, none of the girls ever are fleshed out in their entirety. This has come to be expected from a 12 episode series but even with the episode restriction, the plot and interrelations come off as convoluted and unwarranted. While for a choice few main characters, it is hard to pinpoint why Oojima is a likeable person besides him being shown as caring, charismatic, and driven by his ideals. As a show that attempts to take itself seriously, Oojima's appeal does not make itself apparent with each girl and as a result makes it difficult to be emotionally invested into the character. Many shows can make the main character appear to be powerful and attractive beyond belief as the reason for their harem, but as a show with an emphasis on the character's believable personalities, the show definitely falls short.
The short's elections element is proven to be interesting and unique to separate this show from the pack. The elections and its backstory try to emulate real political strife with underhanded tactics within a show focusing on a boy scoring quite a few ladies. Here, Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate is just as laughable as it sounds in that regard, with the dark tones and gritty story failing to leave an impact on the audience if we see the main character both trying to stop the corruption within the student governing body as well as make more ladies that he can count fall for him. Not to say that a innocent looking show cannot exemplify dark or more mature themes but the manner in which Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate does this is poor at best.
Finally Chocolate is meant to display Oojima's relationship with Sumiyoshi (Chisato) and how he tackles his identity and relationship with her throughout the story. Cliche as it is, I felt that this portion of the story was honest and quite well done comparative to the rest of the story. It is a shame that some of the gem within the anime were overshadowed by the comically bad mis-mash of story arcs.
Art: 7
AIC build produces yet another well made artwork reminiscent of what they had produced in Oreimo and Haganai. Although the art was well done, it was uninspired and unoriginal with no redeeming value besides aesthetic. I cannot distinguish this anime for many others I have seen which is not helping in Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate's case in becoming an anime that breaks the norm.
Sound: 6
The ambient soundtrack proves to be fitting and true to the scene with nothing appearing out of place. The lyrical portions sang during emotional events in the story were able to pull heartstrings however briefly before they appeared forgettable. Many of the failings in the sound department were due to the joke of a storyline, for which it sadly takes damage for.
Characters: 5
Character Archetypes are cliche as your usual harem style anime.
Oojima is remarkably adept and self aware but his role in the story makes him appear jarring as his switches from one female character route to another. I can however speak to his integrity as a character, which proves above average for the usual male main character.
On the other hand the female characters all are predictable and overdone, coming at exactly face value. What you see is what you get.
Sumiyoshi, Chisato: Needy Childhood Friend who faces the future of her relationship with main character
Shinonome, Satsuki: Proud Confident President to be
Morishita, Michiru: Standard Moe Character who has an edgy streak
Kiba, Mifuyu: Strong silent type who struggles with her feelings
Shinonome, Hazuki: Drunk and wild teacher (A teacher we never had growing up)
Aomi, Isara: Kind girl with a golden heart.
If character can be described so easily in an anime where the story tries to be serious, your characters have failed to be immersive and make it even harder to empathize with when they only have one memorable trait.
Enjoyment: 4
Honestly speaking, quite awful. I feel that if either the story chose to be a gritty school government thriller (hard to do but can be pulled off) or a usual school harem, it would have been a good anime. Nothing likely to rise to greatness but would definitely make it a diamond in the rough. The story, characters, and media translation all had a few positive points, but they were barely enough to keep me watching, much less entertained.
Overall: 5
Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate is a story that tries to have it all, but in the end has nothing. If you choose to watch this anime, try to take the story as seriously as you can (and hold in the laughs when the tension becomes comical) and try to enjoy the few things it gets right. If you expectations are not held too high, the lovable nature of the food research club and its many members begin to rub off on you, and you cannot help to have a good time.
Recommended?: No
Rewatched?: No
