First Impressions – Strike the Blood
No blood drinking yet, but plenty of nose bleeds
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Well, seeing how I’m covering DiaLovers this season, I figured I might as well take a look at this as well. Only, this is ecchi and may or may not be a harem (considering all of the female characters shown at the end). …Though nowhere I’ve looked at says that this is a harem, so maybe not. |
The world seems rather interesting. …If confusing. So I guess the demons/vampires/whatever (which all seem extremely powerful and are enough to send people running when fights break out) all need protection, and yet are perfectly fine with living a normal Japanese lifestyle. It seems like humans live on the island too, since Kojou says he was human (though that flashback might mean that he’s a rare case). From the spoilerish ED, I guess Kojou’s friends that were shown this episode aren’t exactly human either. Or at least the guy with the headphones doesn’t seem to be (I accidentally read some spoiler-ish speculation on the blonde girl). So guess I’m just a little confused on what the relationship between races are.
This kind of seems like a set up like Vampire Bund (minus the blonde loli queen …oh wait, there was one of those) where this is a sanctuary for the supernatural, but what I want to know is how the humans all view this situation. I get that there’s some form of fear if Kojou is being monitored, but does that apply to the other supernatural beings? Since there’s a school system and it operates like a regular society, I assume that they’re seen on the same level as regular people. Who even set this up to begin with? Do humans really live there too and what do they think about living in a rather dangerous area? I assume fights are common, if there’s a whole lockdown system in effect. I guess what I’m trying to get at here is that I want to know more about how this island is even run.
As for Kojou himself, he seems really important. …Hell if I know why, or what exactly being the 4th Primogenitor means (I know what the words mean, but what does it mean for the anime/plot?), but the important part seems to be the fact that he’s the most powerful vampire, and it’s ludicrous to imagine that he was once human for some reason. Though I guess the last part makes sense, since in most stories, being a pureblood means that you’re more powerful by default. I guess this means that Yukina is pretty powerful too, if she’s supposed to be the one following him. Unless this is one of those plots that like to send newbies out to do important jobs just because. Kojou’s personality seems okay though. It’s not the strongest I’ve seen, but it has potential and this was just an introductory episode. The fact that Kujou’s choosing to do summer homework over world domination says a lot. Plus he got through to Yukina easily enough once they sat down and talked about things. His past looked rather interesting and certainly needs to be explained in more detail, but it looks like Kojou went through a lot before he became the 4th Primogenitor. …I’m just not going to comment on those nose bleeds.
Also, apparently this was all Shinobu’s fault.
I used to not think too deeply about how young typical anime characters are. …And then my brother reached middle school age and I had this sudden realization that “…these kinds of idiots are the last people I would want in charge of saving the world in every anime ever”. So I’m just going to ignore the fact that Yukina is barely a teenager (and her character design allows for that anyways). Though her age might account for how unreasonable she seems to be. Sure, Yukina seems to be able to hold her own in a fight, but from her attitude, it seems like she’s also liable to start most of the fights she ends up in anyways. Though like I said above, at least she’s not entirely helpless, so that helps with her character. I’ll have to see if she manages to grow on me or not. Maybe since she’s not attacking Kojou anymore, she’ll be more tolerable.
…I really, really hope that they expand on some things here, but the premise seems interesting enough. Silver Link did a pretty good job with the action scenes here and they seem to have gotten most of the important parts of the plot out of the way. I’m still not entirely sure what the Lion King has to do with anything. They’re an organization that does something involving watching Kujou, and that’s all I got out of that. The characters are alright though (so far) and hopefully they get fleshed out at bit. So this wasn’t the best premiere I’ve ever seen, but the action looks interesting enough. Plus the loli character at the end (who was with the monocle guy) looks promising.
These two.
About Karakuri
University student and the one at Metanorn who's known for wearing glasses. Likes blood, insanity and plot twists, but also plays otome games and adores cute romance anime. It balances out... somehow.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Karakuri tackling two vampire animes?! We’ve become even better best friends! 😀 And anyone who wants a vamp series that isn’t like Diabolik Lovers, this is it.
I’m glad the series is at least getting a First Impression. I despaired when the Catalogue stated that no one wanted this. Finally it’s here!! This has been on my mind ever since the announcement in March saying an adaption was green-lit. They say good things come to those who wait and I’ve waited long enough. As I said in the Fall Anime Catalogue, compared to Blood Lad, Strike the Blood is a lot more my style.
By definition, Primogenitor is supposed to mean oldest ancestor but here, they’ll use the term as a replacement for “Pureblood”.
You’ve got to hand it to Silver Link and its work. It’s scenery porn at its finest. While a few semi-important things were cut out and a little deviation was added in, in my opinion, the first two chapters were animated well enough to create the episode. It’s not a harem story so rest easy but I don’t know why there’s an ecchi tag. Other than when those thugs raised Yukina’s skirt, that element is very scarce.
As for the number, I hope this has more than 12 episodes because if I remember correctly, for Japan, there are already 7 volumes of the manga out. The manmade island created to house the co-existence between humans and demons reminds me a bit of Dance in the Vampire Bund but with an Index/Railgun twist.
For the characters, you believe how happy I am to see Kojou and Yukina being able to talk instead of reading their dialogues and both share the spotlight equally. Risa Taneda (High School DxD New’s Xenovia, Kyoukai no Kanata’s Mirai, Shinsekai Yori’s Saki) who has a nice vocal range makes a nice voice to match Yukina’s youth and Yoshimasa Hosoya (High School DxD New’s Michael, Robotics;Notes’ Subaru, Attack on Titan’s Reiner) is subtle and perfect playing Kojou. The best part is that Yukina avoids the typical cliché for female leads obligated to be the tsundere type and shows she’s no pushover when threatened.
The verdict: I’m watching this no matter what! Enough said!
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
I’m still not entirely sure if I’ll be covering this weekly (or in Metafap or something), but I’m holding on to what you said about this getting better. I see you’ve already changed your icon. xD
Oh, okay. That makes sense (kind of). So how exactly do vampires work in this series? Are they all formerly human? Are there purebloods?
That screencap of the city I used, I was really impressed with. The filters during battle were really cool too. I was feeling nostalgia for C3, though they’ve come a long way from that. …I guess the ecchi tag comes from the fact that there was pantsu flashed? The fact that this isn’t a harem seems like good news.
I’ll have to see more of Yukina before I can make a decision of how I feel about her.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I’m sticking to what I’ve said about it getting better. Without a doubt this series deserves to be separate from the MetaFap posts. The story is way too serious for that. Like I mentioned earlier, the “ecchi” parts are heavily outweighed, especially by everything else. Hehehe, it’s for an occasion. I had my avatar changed when Blood Lad was airing as well.
Well, here the vampires run on the basic lore, the Primogenitors are purebloods and they have Familiars. Originally there were three but the fourth was a sudden appearance and with Kojou, it seems they’re able to choose a successor and pass on their essence to carry on their line while they’re free to die. I don’t know the whole story but what happened to him was the result of some wish granted to him.
You’ll come to like Yukina the more you see her. If they continue to follow the manga the right way, you’ll see her backstory.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Was it “primogenitor” or “progenitor”? And does that really make sense that Kojou is the (4th) earliest ancestor since he was an human first and was turned into a vampire only about a few months ago? Also, does this make Kojou the leader of the vampire race? Is that why he stepped in and helped out that vampire whom Yukina was about the kill?
I always thought that would be an interesting story if you had someone who was human, was made into a vampire and became ruler of the vamp people. However, the vampires go to war with the humans and the vampire leader has to protect and lead his new people despite having been a human not that long ago.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
In the manga, it’s “Primogenitor”. Kojou earned the title because he is the successor or “heir” of the previous Fourth Primogenitor regardless of if he was human first. The essence was passed onto him. By rumor, he’s the strongest vampire but he’s not a leader and stopped Yukina simply because he doesn’t like fighting. It’s been three months and he has trouble coping with his current self so he’s keeping it all a secret.
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POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Primogenitor. …Yeah, you’re right. It doesn’t make sense that he’s an ancestor if he wasn’t even a vampire to begin with.
Oh, if they go with your story there, I think I could really enjoy this~
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I don’t know where it is for the Japanese but for those reading the english translation of the manga, the story is still in earnest so it’s anyone’s guess. Right now, there are only 10 chapters out.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
The could have just went with a simple title denoting leadership. The last time I remember a character called “the Progenitor”, was the villain back in Ayashi no Ceres.
Also, thanks, I think up and decipher plots all the time. I’m a writer as well as a scientist. 😀 Hopefully this show doesn’t disappoint.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
Yoooooooo! Strike the Blood first episode was awesome! I love the characters and the Index vibes are all over this because of the city full of demons with powers!? That is cool and I look forward to MC kun going all vampire mode soon…yes….
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Remember Fosh: “Good things come to those who wait”. Can you? 😉
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
So does that mean full vampire mode is coming? That sounds like it will be fun~
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Now I know how you felt during the Danganronpa posts and resisting the urge to throw spoilers out.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Ahaha feel my pain.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Misery loves company, am I right? 😉
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
If Yukina works for the Lion King Organization, then she must be answering to Simba. So I guess later Yukina and Akatsuki must help the Lion King avenge Mufasa. ;D
But seriously, I’d like to see where this show goes. Especially on what history Akatsuki had with the previous 4th Primogenitor, the events that led to him inheriting her powers, and why his memories from then were (forcibly?) suppressed.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
LOL I was totally thinking of Simba, but didn’t want to say anything. …If that or Mufasa is the leader’s name, I’m completely sold. I don’t need anything else from this anime. xD
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Oh gosh, I had to look at that twice too. I was like “What? Is Simba in charge of this organization or something?” You guys couldn’t think of any other name for this group? 😛
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Pfft, that’s nothing but a coincidence. The name of the organization is completely unrelated to that movie.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
The joke’s not as obvious in Japanese though. Cause Disney’s Lion King is written as ライオン・キング (Raion Kingu).
Here the organization name is written in kanji, 獅子王(Shishi Ou), which directly translates to Lion King.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Man, if this wasn’t a vampire anime and it didn’t look halfway decent by the 12 minute mark, I would have dropped this show. The entire plot was very confusing until our silver-haired MC decided to give some much needed exposition. At first I wasn’t sure if the public knew the supernatural beings existed and now it looks like they do, but they are regulated by the government.
And then there was stupid stuff like upskirt shots for no reason, them not really explaining who the 4th Progenitor was or is. And we also see that this new guy was human but gained his powers from the previous 4th Progenitor, but then wouldn’t that make him the 5th Progenitor? And the main girl is from the “Lion King Organization”? Really?
The animation and music are also barely adequate, and things were just not really looking up. However, by the halfway point the show started to pick up a bit and next episode looks good. So I’m giving this show a chance. Hopefully it will get better.
I give this episode a 6.5/10.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
The island is governed by a law that implies conditions for humans and demons to co-exist. That’s why it’s so natural for the public to be aware of supernatural beings.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
It would be nice if they explained that a little bit clearer. You have the advantage of the manga. I don’t read manga of anime before watching a show, unless I had just happened to have read that anime long ago. This show should be able to stand on it’s own feet.
However, it does look as if it’s going to get better, so I’m hopeful.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
I dunno, I got the impression of what BB is explaining even w/out the source material.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
The thing is I read the first four chapters of the Strike the Blood manga long before an anime adaption was announced. It was the same with Dance in the Vampire Bund. The only one where I watched the anime then read the manga material was for Shiki.
Hope is looking good for you right now.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Well, with the fancy lockdown thing they have, I would assume that the government knows. I’m just wondering why it’s not more regulated. They’re obviously dangerous. Unless this is part of the experiment portion of the island.
I’m not a huge fan of ecchi either, so I get you there. …It looks unavoidable here, though BB said that those scenes are rare, so maybe it won’t happen too often. …I just hope they explain more things about the Progenitor instead of throwing the term around in the future. The characters in the story seem to know exactly what it means/entails, so they would be best in letting us know as well.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
I thought this was a decent first episode. It gave us the setting, introduced the two main characters, had a fairly good fight that showed the heroine isn’t a helpless ditz (a type I’m heartily sick of–I greatly prefer competent heroines) and gave us some background info without using an info dump. Sure, there’s plenty left unexplained like the circumstances under which Kojou became the Fourth Primogenitor and what that means.
But do you really expect everything to be revealed in the first episode? From a story-telling point an air of mystery and unanswered questions serve to lure viewers to watch follow-up episodes. And from the viewers’ point, it makes the show more intriguing. Just as long as they don’t keep dangling unanswered questions before us to the point where it becomes frustrating. The questions may be answered a little at a time, but they have to be answered in a reasonable time.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
I like that Yukina isn’t helpless, but that personality… I’ll have to see what the rest of the character interaction is like before I make judgements as to if I like her or not.
No, I don’t expect answers right away, but there seems to be a lot of stuff introduced here that’s common knowledge, but they didn’t bother explaining it. I’m fine with them being extremely vague as to how Kojou is the way he is, but at least tell me what a Primogenitor is for this series. OTL
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I enjoyed watching this premiere. The characters were good, I like the fanservice, and I thought the art was pretty. The plot was pretty standard, but it was good enough to not make me facepalm. I spent a bit too much time comparing it (favorably) to Blood Lad, which I didn’t like much, so this is ahead of that.
I think that Yukina’s definitely got the chops to have the assignment. Maybe needs better judgment to avoid dumb fights, but she’s certainly strong enough. I thought they handled the reveal of the nature of the city well, I thought it was quite a surprise that they were in some sort of Coventry, but I’m glad they revealed it in the first episode.
I also think “Lion King Organization” is not really a reference to the movie or the story that we know of The Lion King (which is 『ライオン・キング』 as a loan word). I think that’s just translators being clever with it. My Japanese isn’t good enough to hear it (私は『しょう』の言葉に苦手です) to translate directly, but I kind of guessed it was “King of the Lions” or something less Mufasa-ish.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
The only thing this seems to share with Blood Lad is the vampire thing. Yukina is worlds away from Fuyumi or whatever her name was.
I hope they go into more detail about how this place functions. I’m more interested in that than the 4th Primogenitor thing at the moment.
Well, yeah. It’s just an unfortunate culture association that comes in the West, which is why I didn’t say anything in the post. xD That doesn’t stop me from making jokes in the comment though.
POWUH: 600-699 and LN Enthusiast with 623 comments
Taneda Risa’s voice makes me all tingly here. There’s something about her voice that’s quite…erotic.
I dunno about the original Kanji but they used Progenitor and from how they say it, they use “Shinsou” which, from my Type-Moon fanboying, means a True Ancestor. Which makes sense now since this is apparently about vampires and he’s walking in broad daylight as well, albeit with a hood. And being feared as the most powerful of all. Though that doesn’t make this premiere better as I found it kind of bland. It’s only the start I guess so I have faith. Then again, this is Yoshino Hiroyuki that’s handling this so I’m not gonna get my hopes up.
Also, good choice in underwear for the girl. For once it’s not pure white, shimapan or black lace. Would have been better if it was strawberry panties.
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 88 comments
I expect the show to “suck” sometime.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I can pretty much guess what you mean by that.
POWUH: Beginner (20-35) with 21 comments
waiting for sentai filmworks’ press release with my fingers crossed >.<
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I hope Funimation gets this instead of Sentai.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
Spammy, return my comment!
This show is filling up the hole formed after the Index movie/Railgun S so I am definitely loving it. Its basically Academy City with supernatural beings and I love it. Plus it have nice action, cool MC and Yukina can kick ass despite her being a bit…. ditzy? Following it!
That villain kinda reminds me of a cross between Makishima Shougo (P-P) and Aureolus Izzard (Index).
POWUH: 500-599 with 519 comments
I think this show looks really promising. The world sounds interesting although I’m confused why the demons need protecting since humans run away when they go all out and stuff but whatever.
I like both Yukina and Kojou which is also a plus. There have been many shows where I only like one or the other of the main protags and that ruins the experience of the show for me. The one thing that annoys me a bit about Yukina(although this is in general in animes) if you don’t want people to see your panties under a short skirt why don’t you just wear shorts underneath!? >_> Like really now. But this is supposed to be an ecchi show so I guess I will let that slide. Speaking of the ecchi, it looks like it will be really light, mostly just panty shots which I am a-okay with.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Because humans are pretty much an unstoppable force. If a group of humans decides to do something, it will get done. It doesn’t matter if it’s against something that’s much more powerful than an individual human. They’ll bring tools and numbers, and beat it. And when you get to the scale of bringing powerful weapons, the power of an individual is not much of an advantage.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
The only way the demons could possibly tip the scale in their favor is if they get some humans to betray other humans and work alongside the demons. Like in the Blade movies, the vampires had infiltrated nearly every level of human society and had government officials and authority figures in their pockets to carry out projects they couldn’t do themselves.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
And the only way that kind of plan works is if they don’t overdo it and get everyone else pissed off or scared of them. There’s a tipping point where it will go bad.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Oh, I don’t know, it depends on how powerful the supernatural creatures are, and how prepared the humans are. I’ve never been a fan of monsters/humans living in same utopian society stories, unless they actually make it work right. I just can’t see humans being calm about living with the things that go bump in the night, especially considering how prejudicial of new things society as a whole is.
Right now I’m been working on a story that deals with humans at war with the nightwalkers, and how in order to protect themselves the different factions of vampires, lycans, and fae have to work together to create an empire of their own protected by magic in order to have a place of refuge against the humans who are extremely prejudiced against them, while meanwhile fighting a war using their magic against the always creative and determined humans who continue to make new weapons against them.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
That story you’re working on. Doesn’t that sound like what would happen in Trinity Blood if people in both the Empire of the True Race and the Vatican weren’t seeking peaceful co-existence? Like the Order of Rosenkreuz, there would always be those trying to cause chaos. It’s always implied that monsters can’t be trusted because they’re not human but if you ask me, humans are the most dangerous and unpredictable creatures on the planet.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Actually yes, it did get influenced by Trinity Blood, even though the Empire is ruled differently (instead of a single Empress, it’s ruled by a council group made up of the vampire lords, the lycan alphas, and the fae royalty), it is just starting, and there are other species in the Empire other than vampires. The story is mostly told from the nightwalkers’ point of view, with the humans as clearly the bad guys. It started off as an idea and then became a story, but then eventually melded into a fanficton story of the series Nightwalker. I might eventually rework it to become an original story again, but I’ll see.
Humans are unpredictable and I wonder if they will pay a big part in this anime, or will it be mostly about the inner politics and fighting between the different demon species?
POWUH: iLurker with 12 comments
I’m kind of the opposite of everyone here right now. I do not know what is wrong with me, but I just…this was something I should have liked and it just felt rather flat. And I wanted to like it. I was trying so hard. I don’t know if I should give the second episode a shot or not. The girl kind of annoyed me actually, but she has the typical personality. It’s kind of generic so far.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Hey, look back at my review, I totally agree. If it wasn’t for the fact that this was a vampire anime, and like I do with mecha anime, I at least give them a look, I would have dropped it early one. The second half got better and it looks as if it will get better by the next episode, so hang in there. Try the 3-episode trial method and see what happens.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Don’t worry, the way you feel now is something like the way I felt about Blood Lad (“everyone likes it, but to me it’s just kinda there”). People’s tastes are different (like with me and Irenesharda, they’re sometimes completely opposite! 😉 ) and that’s why there’s so much stuff to watch.
If you have the time, give the second episode a go. Or do something else if you’d rather. You should enjoy the time you spend watching anime, not feel like it’s a chore that you’re doing.
POWUH: iLurker with 12 comments
I honestly don’t know. Strike the Blood was something I should have liked. Just the name, concept. But I…didn’t like it. 🙁 That makes me sad.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
It was definitely missing “something”. …I just can’t seem to pinpoint what it is. I definitely dropped the manga after the first chapter when I tried reading it a month or so ago. Though I’m told that it gets better, so here’s hoping.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
The island somehow reminds me of that vampire show with this old loli named Mina Tepez, except that hers is especially made for vampires. Ah right, Dance from the Vampire Bund or whatever that crappy SHAFT show is.
It was actually… Unexpected. I’m not the type of girl who would go for harem, but this harem of 4th Progenitor’s seems to be interesting. Plus, the dude also seems to have his woman set already though she’s just a middle schooler… But they said love has no bound, so meh *snort* Anyhow, it’s not that interesting, but it’s not that boring either so I’ll see whether I’ll drop it or not. Can’t believe I already drop one anime already
and it’s CopellionPOWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
It even has an extremely important blonde-loli!
I’ve been told that this isn’t actually a harem. …Which seems weird, considering all of the female characters in the OP/ED/whatever that was. Really? You dropped Copellion? Well, I guess nothing really happened and that HanaKana character did nothing but whine.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Whether it’s the description for the manga or info from MAL, there’s no harem tag among the genres. So your guess about the multiple girls is as good as mine but one of them is Kojou’s little sister.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Oh dear, is she an overly attached younger sister? That might be a warning sign xD
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
No, more like the kind who takes up the responsibilities of the house but sometimes is personally irresponsible and a bit overly kind.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Metanorn's Hime-chan~ with 1758 comments
This actually looks nice. I didn’t plan watching this, but when I read this post I decided to give it a shot, and it’s not bad. Let’s see if this show will overcome Blood Lad in my eyes :3
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Strike the Blood has the capabilities to do so. Already the female lead Yukina is a thousand times better than Fuyumi. At least Yukina can defend herself and not let fate have its way with her (Like being eaten by a man eating plant).
POWUH: Meta Resident and Metanorn's Hime-chan~ with 1758 comments
Weeeeell, I’m kinda tired of tsundere(ish) heroines. Very tired.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
As far as I’m concerned it’s way past Blood Lad cause the characters all look better (although that’s personal preference).
POWUH: Meta Resident and Metanorn's Hime-chan~ with 1758 comments
I personally liked those simplistic, goofy and strange character designs.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Those were alright in their own right but I personally prefer what’s here.