First Impression – Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu Love!
It’s time for Love Making!
Nope, I’m not reviewing some soft porn today rather it’s an anime in answer to all those magical girls shows. Really, I’m not a big fan of the genre personally. I would like to find symbolism and meaning in supernatural/thriller series rather than sparkly transformations but hey, if you add some bishies with a nice seiyuu cast together, I’d at least take notice. So, as promised in the Winter Preview, this one is for the fangirls.
Accidentally in Love
What is this? Thermae Romae? But that was basically the opening of the series with a mysterious pink wombat diving into a bath out of nowhere. Anyone would be alarmed and run the other way. I don’t blame En and Atsushi in running like the wind. However, as it happens in such stories, the boys encounter the wombat once again in their school to their chagrin. But the second encounter becomes quite fatal due to the involvement of an airhead and his countless cuddles. The Earth Defense club is taken over by the blubbering wombat, when things escalate to the point of no return after a random student is transformed into a Chikuwabu monster…
From the cute tattoo on it’s butt, I suppose the wombat’s origin is planet Love. Since he blew across our screens, he has talked about nothing but love and love making. Seriously, you would think he should get a job as a Kama Sutra instructor but nope, his targets are unsuspecting high school boys, who really have nothing much to do but pass their time. This could’ve been another GJ-bu or even Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou, but the twist is of magical powers granted by the wombat in question. The staff has broken all typecast barriers in naming not only the Love Stick (lol), but different poses and attacks for the five stars of the show as per their personalities. Cue in ridiculous transformation and you have a Magical Boys show to bedazzle you and fight a random food-related monster. Really, the transformations were heart-filled and questionable due to camera angles in many ways but I can’t complain as I’d rather see this than that. But the icing on the cake was the Care-Bear-like love shower in the end along with fabulous sparkles, healing the Akira Ishida voiced student, leaving him with a spent glow. Love making is tiring indeed.
Love is All You Need
But of course, there has to be an opposing party and as per my guess, due to the Kamiyaan factor in play, who has voiced Kinshirou, the elite boys are revealed to be the culprits behind the random discord. They have been activating students’ internal discord, which transforms them into monsters, as we saw with Chikuwabu and Chopsticks monster. And like the love wombat, the elite group has a green porcupine of their own, voiced by the deep-voiced Yasumoto Hiroki (this fact alone is lulz worthy). They are the clear evil of the show and must be destroyed! Unless they too are care-beared and loved to death by Battle Lovers by the end of the series.
However much fun I make of the show, the beginning was not so bad. The blondie is annoying but the much needed moe factor, a staple for Magical themed anime. The five boys are your stereotypical school boys but definitely grew on me with the second episode. The comedy element is the lightening factor that has made this watchable. I was quite dubious of this original material but then discovered that this is being directed by Shinji Takamatsu (Director of many Gundams but most importantly Gintama, School Rumble and Nichibros). If anything, this guy should make things quite interesting as per his record. The third episode preview was quite fabulous with almost Free! like feel so keep watching if you like something random and funny with magical boys. After all, you can’t win against fabulousness!
Extra Magic!
<3
Click for more Show ▼
From the moment, this original anime was announced, ridiculous was written all over it. And that has to be your mindset while watching this or else just skip it. For an experiment, this show has amassed quite a female fan-following on tumblr and if seiyuu-events are an indication, this show would run successfully for its fangirl audience. I’m pretty sure many guys would enjoy this as well due to its comedic and silly elements. Whatever you say, the transformation of both good and evil sides were quite something. I haven’t watched many Diomedea shows except for Gingitsune but this wasn’t too bad. The direction will matter a lot for the continuation but for now I’ll keep watching for the comedy-factor.
I have to mention that the cameos till now has been quite impressive. Not everyday you can hear Akira Ishida (Katsura in Gintama, Kaworu in Evangelion, Mikage in Kamisama Hajimemashita) and Katsuyuki Konishi (Kamina in Gurren Lagann, Takano in Hatsukoi, Bulat in Akame ga Kill), as random monsters. Also, the characters have distinct personalities, which are consistent for now. As this is directed by Gintama’s director, I can’t help but draw parallel due to character trait similarities with Gintama. So, En is Gintoki, Atsushi is Shinpachi, Io is Catherine, Ryuu is Kagura, Yumoto is Sadaharu and Wombat is Gorilla. Do you see any other series resemblance with Magical Boys btw? And how did this title fair in your opinion?
Preview:
So fabulous that even the towel couldn’t take it…
About Kyokai
The Boss lady of Metanorn, who makes it all happen. An animanga enthusiast, who watches/reads almost anything that strikes her fancy. Just beware of her Death Perception and always keep her happy. Regularly found at @KyokaiTM & #[email protected].
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
I like the red shota. This was wonderfully ridiculous.
This has the Shotacat seal of approval!
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
As much as ppl (or at least one particular user) like to call out on ppl who like this “gay” anime, it really wasn’t that “gay” to begin with. Your regular magical girl anime has way more homoerotic subtext than the first 2 episode IMO (if we ignore the entire magical boy thing). We shall see if the 3rd episode will include the obligatory homoerotic subtext in it.
So far, the gender reversal and the toying with magic girl genre/tropes sold me on the show. The main casts personalities is pretty entertaining as well. The best parts are definitely the magical boys segment though, my damn sides.
Casting Mugihito and Yasumoto Hiroki (everytime that green hedgehog speaks, all I hear is Elfman voice) is brilliant. Also did anyone else noticed that Kusatsu look very similar to Hamatora Art right down to the same seiyu?
PS Gero and/or Nagisa from AssClass is probably the best trap of the season.
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 83 comments
Yes. The similarities in designs are undeniable.
Blonde – Nagisa from Free! (he even jumped into the bath!)
Glasses guy – Rei from the same show
Brown hair – Lockon from Gundam 00
Kamiya’s character – Art from Hamatora
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 83 comments
I’m loving this show right now. It’s overflowing with ridiculousness and wink-wink nudge-nudge self-awareness.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Definitely a silly and fabulous show. Honestly, this season is dripping in FABULOUSNESS. I hope this opens the doorway for more magical boy shows. I’d even be down for a serious one. But what we have here is a pretty good start. Not amazing, but decently funny and full of magical hijinks.
I share the exact same birthday as the (kinda annoying) hyper blonde guy. Can I become a magical girl now?
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Man, I should not be enjoying this show as much as I am, but I love it.
I’m one of those people who usually can’t stand the magical girl genre. I never got into Sailor Moon or Cardcaptor Sakura. I always found them grating and annoying shows, even as a kid.
However, there’s just something about if you took boys and stuck them in the exact same position as the girls and changed nothing else–that just makes it so enjoyable and hilarious.
I loved the adorably evil green hedgehog and I love that the Earth Conquest team is all into it. (They also have swell uniforms as well…) And yet, the Saving Earth team is pretty lazy and whatever about it. It’s really funny stuff. Even their monsters of the week are kinda cute.
I also like the way they keep their secret identities and how that plays into the tropes as well.
One of the few shows this season that I’ll be keeping up with, I really enjoyed it.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
The “random stuff” conversations between the club members are surprisingly true to real life.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
I am guilty of watching and actually enjoying this so far even as a magical girl fan I can tell this is generally a parody on the genre like having some of the boys as planets? Sailor moon much? Also the silly precure like monsters? It mostly comes off as off the wall crazy! I mean sure it will never beat Kore wa zombie’s magical boy transformations but it was damn close.
Dead teacher used as a puppet for a magical pink wombat and evil student council commanded by a green hedgehog that uses his quills to turn students into monsters? Now that is a insane plot I can follow!
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
FKYA Magical Boys!
POWUH: 600-699 with 691 comments
Can’t.Stop.Laughing! OMG this show is strange but so incredible, the best show in the season until now, sure the poses and speeches are suspicious…but the show is great, i laugh at it from beginning to end…i hate the small blonde though