T&A ALERT Woah! Boobs and butts! Rate me, please! This review is based on the Chihiro HD fansubs, and now that the R2J DVDs are out, I've viewed them. This review is final, unless they find a way to unfold additional T&A fanservice.
Quick Take: How do you like your fanservice? Shredded panties, perhaps with a side of boing? This quick watch series, directed by Keizou Kusakawa and animated by Seven Arcs (Inukami, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha etc.), features an extra helping of D+cup 6 women, three of which are seriously in need of breast reduction, and a very cute loli who is a sweet sugar stick. The director evidently has a knack for finding new ways to frame a figure! Appropriate for ages 16+ based on copious fanservice and boing.
It's all about Sekirei, super-powered aliens who are caught in a manufactured game of king-of-the-mountain, though for most of this series, it's a standard harem comedy. The violence is strictly for laughs and a chance to show legs, butts, boobs, and panties, and some extremely cute faces. It's remarkably free from actual sex, but the fanservice is pervasive. Woven around this flimsy excuse to watch is an actual story, but it is so slow developing that it will take another season just to get some dramatic tension (the ending episode teases the second season). However, you'll likely watch it for the cute girls.
Animation: The animation is actually very good. The in-betweens suffer in the later episodes (hands appearing abnormally small, some distorted features) but are quite good in the earlier episodes. Action (mostly super-power fighting that is remarkably bloodless) is present in most episodes, and is above average. Backgrounds are quite good, but there are no shots that will take your breath away (unless you are breathing heavily). It's good 2D with a little 3D mixed in, mostly unobtrusively, and in my HD fansubs it's a very pretty show. The DVDs are slightly cleaner in action sequences. I'd give it a 7.5-8 on my animation scale, mostly because of the action, backgrounds, and the character designs which are faithful to the manga and are really quite fetching. In quality and feel, it mostly reminds me of the previous work by the same director on Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's.
Sound: Technicals are very good, on par with the better shows of the season. Foley is rich, ambient noises good (not fully immersive, but better than your average fanservice harem comedy), and the soundstage is full if not completely directional. Seiyū, led by relative newcomer Saori Hayami (Kou in Wagaya no Oinarisama), are good enough to sell the characters and show energy through to the end. I do find some of the character voicings by others to be sometimes lacking in depth, but after all, it is a harem comedy. Voicing the landlady Karasuba is Romi Paku (with too many excellent credits to list), everyone's favorite older woman. I do think it's a good team, and am hoping for a second season for their hijinks and combat. Background music is thematic and uses several melodies you will recognize from the OP and Ed. It's relatively effective, but again, only a slight improvement from the usual harem comedy.
The Opening Theme is "Sekirei (セキレイ)" by the seiyū Saori Hayami, Marina Inoue, Kana Hanazawa, and Aya Endo. I really found this a stirring, hummable tune, and the montage is pretty good too.
Note: A sekirei is a type of bird, and the text (and storyline) refers back to it several ways. I think this is intended.
The Ending Theme is "Dear sweet heart" by Saori Hayami, Marina Inoue, Kana Hanazawa, and Aya Endo, with the exception of episode 11, which is "Kimi wo Omou Toki 「きみを想うとき」" by Saori Hayami. As you can see, the seiyū were busy! I would rate the sound again at 7.5, perhaps closer to 7 than 8, based on the occasional one-dimensional seiyuu voicings and the lack of a gee-whiz directionality.
Story: Minato Sahashi is a failure at passing his college exams. He's working construction and living alone. Suddenly, our sekirei Musubi appears while under violent attack, and with clothes flying she grabs him and runs. It turns out he's an Ashikabi, one of the mysterious set of masters that have the genetic trait that can become partners with some of the 108 cute girls, extremely endowed women, and thin, feminine bishōnen called "Sekirei". Once all the Sekirei have been paired with their Ashikabi, a competition will begin to determine who is the strongest, best Sekirei, and the winner will be allowed to live forever with his/her Ashikabi.
Pure unfettered hogwash, but then again, it's a fanservice harem comedy! We never get to the final battle; that's left for another season. Of course, we never find out how the gals are allowed to destroy public morals, private property, commit mayhem, and throw lightning bolts in the middle of Tokyo, but never mind that, we're watching boobs here!
Maybe it's an excuse to get tens of gals in skimpy clothing, but it works. Not without a dose of suspension of belief, and not always (the last episode is so full of monologues I wanted to slap someone), but it is a clever, interesting way to spend 5 hours. And I have to admit, I looked forward to the bickering between the gals over Minato! Bad point is you never understand the main antigonist's motivation or goal. So, 6 for limited intelligence in the drama, 7 for execution of banter, fanservice and comedy elements, for a result of 6.5.
Character: I really thought it was fun watching the gals fight! They each have a different method of fighting, and it's interesting to watch the costumes they get into/out of (lots of cosplay here, including a bunch of bondage and S&M suits). Oh, don't get me wrong, it's not a fashion show, but it is a lot of fun to watch them bicker. Minato is your standard weak and indecisive main man, and the gals are all strong (including, in her way, Kuu, the loli), and it's really all about the gals.
Do NOT expect to learn anything about the human condition, but do expect to have fun watching. 6 for lack of character development, 8 for character design (do you like huge boobs? If so, 8, and if not, 6-7), for a solid 7.
Value and Enjoyment: Well, I did get the R2J DVDs, but no, it's not something I would buy in R1 DVD, but I would still watch it because every now and then, I like fanservice. Not a great outing, but still a worthy late-evening offering, so I'd give it a 6. On the enjoyment scale, your mileage will vary, but I give it a 7.
Conclusion: Jessica Rabbit has this kind of figure! And that's why you'll watch it.Fun for all guys.
