Otaku Digest: Creatures/Idols/Saviours
Welcome one and all to another instalment of Otaku Digest where we take the current anime season and dissect all new to air first episodes of series in that season to see if they are worth sticking with ’til the end of the series. Obvious disclaimer as usual here that these are based on my experience of the episode and if you disagree please let me know in the comments. Continuing with the winter season up this week are Isuca, Tantei Opera Milky Holmes TD and Seiken Tsukai no World Break.
Isuca
First up to the mark this week is action, comedy, romance and supernatural anime Isuca which first aired on the 24th of January. The series follows Shinichirou as he looks for a job so he can pay his rent. After his teacher suggests for him to get a job as a house keeper he ends up working for the Shimazu family and in particular under Sakuya, the 37th head of the family. Not any ordinary family of course, it is Sakuya’s duty to eliminate and exorcise undesirable creatures. While working Shinichirou accidentally unleashes one of the captured creatures, in order to catch it he must team up with Sakuya leading a comedic hunting adventure. Adapted from a manga of the same name which was originally released in 2009.
My first opinion of this anime was a fear of more unnecessary fan service and needless to say there was, I cannot seem to find anime nowadays that has no need of in your face fan service. I won’t be going into those details again but surprisingly even with the unneeded fan service this episode kept my attention for the entire thing although I was very very thrown by the whole “taking life force in exchange for the greatest pleasure,” really anime? Did that have to be in there? I don’t know if that can really be overlooked considering it set canon and will probably continue within the series but I did appreciate the fact that Shinichirou’s powers were kept for the most part under wraps and a mystery to unfold later only hinting at his magical involvement toward the end. The animation had a nice balance of CGI and normal animation so it wasn’t disturbing to watch and for the most part the characters seem to be entertaining, even with that major narrative flaw, in my opinion.
Will I Continue To Watch: Even with the slap across the face fan service (that ending theme, really?) I would give this anime a go!
Tantei Opera Milky Holmes TD
Next to the plate is Tantei Opera Milky Holmes TD a comedy, mystery and super power anime that first aired on the 3rd of January. Based around the concept of ‘Great Eras’ the story follows the Great Era of Detectives where thieves and detectives competed with a power only known as “Toys” has passed and lead in to be the Great Era of Idols, where needless to say Idols shine with chart toppers. It is until song of Idols are stolen in particular the song of super idol Marine Amagi is stolen, a song known as Kiseki no Uta or Miracles Song. The detectives of Milky Holmes are recruited to investigate.
When I first seen the promo for this anime I couldn’t help but dread watching it in a way, it just seemed so childish and over the top. I was pleasantly surprised watching it, it was a fun, bright and vibrant anime to watch. Although there is fan service (I cannot escape!) it seemed more like a joke put there for adult watchers but younger viewers could just watch and enjoy. The story is completely mad and the characters are classic anime comedy bonkers but that is what is so fantastic about this anime, there is no malice in it to a degree is it all fun even when serious things are going down. There is a battle sequence in this episode and they way the milky holmes girls find ways to overcome the obstacles ahead of them is no short of comedic brilliance. Not a series that will take itself too serious and definitely a sit back and enjoy type of anime that you can leave and always come back too when the blues hit.
Will I Continue To Watch: Yes, I found it enjoyable and the right amount of silly.
Seiken Tsukai no World Break
Last up this week is action and fantasy anime Seiken Tsukai no World Break that first aired on the 12th of January. An anime set in a time of ‘saviors’ and based around a private school that brings these special young people together whether they be Shirogane who can harness the Puraana powers from their own bodies to defeat enemies or be the other side of spectrum as Kuroma that influence the Maana powers to wipe out enemies, a power that exceeds physics. Saviours were either Shirogane or Kuroma that is until Moroha begins attending, the first person in history to be both.
The opening of this anime was absurdly amazing to the point of utter majestic brilliance! I cannot even fathom an opening with more beauty and action! The episode itself did not however contain the same majesty, it was far more comedic than I thought it was going to be. The comedic elements were actually kind of entertaining and complimented the narrative nicely against what is really a very powers driven narrative with quite a bit more action that the actual anime leads you to believe. The “powers” aspect is really interesting and well executed compared to similar anime we have seen and believe me this an exhausted story, special school for the gifted, been there and done that but this has a nice twist of the past lives aspect. It brings more drama to the story and twists every which way.
Will I Continue To Watch: Yes, the characters and story are interesting enough to stick with and see through to the end.
What did you watch this week? Worth it? Let me know in the comments!
