Spring Anime 2014 (Part 7)

Title: Mekakucity Actors
Release Date: April 12, 2014
Studio: Shaft
Genre: Supernatural, Sci Fi, Action/Adventure, Comedy, Mystery
Premise: Based on the series of Vocaloid songs. A series of incidents on August 14th and 15th draws together a group of teenagers with eye-based powers.

Verdict: Jesus Tap dancing Christ that was pretty. It may not be clear what exactly is happening by the end of the first episode, but it's certain that Mekakucity Actors is a feast for the eyes. For the uninitiated, the show is based on a hugely popular series of music videos using the popular Vocaloid software. Each song deals with members of a group of gifted teens who call themselves Mekakushi Dan (lit: "Blindfold Gang").

It is probably due to the established fandom that the first episode dives right in with little exposition. The first character introduced is Shintaro Kisaragi, a NEET shut-in with a mysterious AI , named ENE, living on his computer. After a mishap involving an open soda bottle and a keyboard, Shintaro works up enough courage to venture into the outside world and off to the nearest hardware store. Things go smoothly for Shintaro's first day back in society...until a terrorist group attacks the same hardware store and holds everyone prisoner. Things only get more interesting for there.

As mentioned above, Shintaro's world and its wonderfully weird goings-on look absolutely amazing. Shaft is still fond of playing with colors, painting the locales with a bright, vibrant palette. Director Akiyuki Shinbo, already winning this year with the super-fun Nisekoi, seems to be having a lot of fun teasing viewers with hints of the craziness to come. And I can't wait to see more.

Spring Anime 2014 (Part 4)

Title: Hitsugi no Chaika (Chaika the Coffin Princess)
Release Date: April 9, 2014
Studio: Bones
Genre: Fantasy, Action/Adventure
Premise: Based on the light novel series by Ichiro Sakaki. Toru Acura has lost all purpose in life, wandering the countryside in search of work. When he stumbles across Chaika, a coffin-toting, gun-wielding wizard, Toru and his sister, Akari, join Chaika on a quest that will affect the whole land.

Verdict: From the opening scenes, I found myself drawn into this world and its fantasy/steampunk atmosphere. The show is a heady mix of swashbuckling swordplay, magic rifles, Victorian clothing and, interestingly enough, carnivorous killer unicorns (more on that later).

After a brief monologue wherein our titular character is given a cryptic task that will set several things in motion, we are introduced to wandering worker-for-hire Toru Acura. A retired soldier who fought in the wars that led to the fall of the Gaz Empire prior to the series, Toru has lost all motivation after leaving the military. While scouring the mountain he calls home, Toru encounters Chaika, mistaking her for a rabbit. Their encounter is interrupted by the arrival of the aforementioned unicorn.

An entertaining chase and subsequent battle ensue, allowing Studio Bones to show off its prowess with slickly animated action sequences. Both Chaika and Toru display some visually impressive fighting styles, eventually triumphing over their not-so-cute-and-cuddly mythical prey. After a short trip into town and a humorous run-in with Toru's unemotional and hyperviolent sister, Chaika finally reveals her quest to the Acura siblings: the retrieval of a highly sought after magical artifact from the home of a local war hero-turned-aristocrat. Things head in an interesting direction from there, as the mark for the heist seems to be expecting unwanted visitors.

Hitsugi no Chaika is spinning an interesting thread so far, with intriguing characters and hidden plots aplenty. Keep an eye on this one if you like your fantasy violence mixed with a bit of mystery and intrigue.

Spring Anime 2014 (Part 3)

Title: Black Bullet
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Studio: Kinema Citrus
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci Fi, Comedy
Premise: Based on the popular manga by Shiden Kanzaki. It has been 10 years since the Gastrea first attacked humanity. Now, mankind fights back with pairs of Initiators, girls born with Gastrea DNA, and Promoters, agents tasked with watching and handling their Initiators. A young Promoter, Rentaro Satomi, and his Initiator, Enju Aihara, face off with a mysterious man who vows to destroy the world.

Verdict: Hyperviolent prepubescent girls haven't looked this good since Gunslinger Girl. There's something to be said about Japan's obsession with cute-as-a-button moeblobs who can utterly destroy opponents several times bigger than them. That's a subject for another post, however. Despite the use of such a tired character archetype, Black Bullet is aiming to please with a heady mix of mystery and sci fi action.

Things get rolling quickly with a brief prologue segment; a young Rentaro witnesses the beginning of the Gastrea invasion, watching in terror as a hideous creature falls from the skies. The show then jumps ahead 10 years, catching up with a grown-up Rentaro who lives as a Promoter. His day-to-day consists of hunting the Gastrea, giant monsters that infect and transform any person they touch, with his overly affectionate (and jealous) Initiator partner, Enju.

Rentaro is in the middle of investigating a Gastrea attack when he encounters a strange masked man who vows to destroy the world. Although he fights valiantly, Rentaro is hardly able to put a scratch on the guy, who proceeds to jump out of window and vanish. The rest of the episode is devoted to exposition and introducing secondary characters, including Rentaro's fiery boss at the civil security agency, Kisara Tendo.

The pilot serves as a simple introduction to Rentaro's world, and leave plenty of questions to be answered. Who is the man in the mask? What is the secret behind Initiators, born with Gastrea DNA but unaffected by it? Will Enju ever stop trying to jump Rentaro's bones? Even with a short track record, fledgling studio Kinema Citrus has done a solid adaptation job so far.

Spring Anime 2014 (Part 2)

Title: Soul Eater Not!
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Studio: Bones
Genre: Supernatural, Action, Comedy
Premise: This series returns to the halls of Shibusen's weapon meister academy with a new central trio of heroes: Tsugumi Harudori, Anya Hepburn and Meme Tatane.

Verdict: I have a general rule about not reviewing sequels or second seasons of established series, but spin-offs provide a nice loophole. Although set in a familiar universe, they give audiences a chance to experience a brand-new story or revisit past events from a new perspective. Set before the events of the original series, Soul Eater Not follows Tsugumi Harudori, a first-year Shibusen weapon with the ability to become a halberd.

When her weapon abilities manifest during an accident in her apartment, Tsugumi decides to hop on a plane to America, beginning studies at Shibusen. Joining her are a pair of first-year meisters: air-headed Meme Tatane and aloof rich girl Anya Hepburn. Together, the trio of female leads tackle their first day of classes - attending orientation, picking weapon/meister partners and even battling a few unruly classmates.

There are a few pleasant cameos by regulars from the original series, but it's doubtful that they will turn up again if the show plans to spin a separate narrative.

The gang's all here! ... But only for five seconds at a time!

Although the faces are new, Studio Bones' A-list production talent is instantly recognizable. Director Masakazu Hashimoto appears comfortable at the helm, deftly handling the emotional beats of the three female leads. Even after four years, Shibusen still feels like a lot of fun.

Winter Anime Season (Part 10)

Title: Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecil
Release Date: January 12, 2014
Studio: ARMS
Genre: Supernatural, Law Procedural, Action/Adventure
Synopsis: In 2018 Tokyo, humans and wizards live side-by-side; criminals who use magic are defended in special courts by public servants known as wizard barristers. At 17 years old, Cecil Sudo is the youngest wizard barrister to ever practice magical law, and her arrival at Butterfly Law Offices is sure to ruffle some feathers.

Verdict: Anime is especially good at genre-bending, usually by applying extraordinary circumstances to familiar settings (The Devil is a Part-Timer - the Lord of Evil flipping hamburgers) or vice versa (Planetes - a workplace dramedy in space). Wizard Barristers is, at its core, a criminal defense drama...but with magic. It makes for a far more action-packed legal drama than, say, Law and Order or The Good Wife when the typical case includes a defendant who killed a bank robber that arrived on a metal dragon. Studio ARMS, which usually produces fanservice-heavy series like Ikki Tousen, has outdone itself here, seamlessly blending 2D and CGI animation during magic battles. Director Yasuomi Umetsu, who also directed last year's Galilei Donna, seems to have hit Strong Female Lead pay dirt again with Cecil Sudo. An early scene with two magic-phobic police officers serves as a perfect introduction to her character; sweet and a little bit ditzy on the outside, but a formidable debater when the situation calls for it.

Don't let her size fool you.

The rest of the cast is not lacking in character development either, whether it's Cecil's quirky new cohorts at Butterfly Law or sultry, chain-smoking Inspector Quinn. Everything is adding up to one unique law procedural series. With only one episode in the books, Wizard Barristers is already gunning for the top spot this season.

Winter Anime Season (Part 8)

Title: Sekai Seifuku: Bouryaku no Zvezda (aka World Conquest: Zvezda Plot)
Release Date: January 11, 2014
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy
Synopsis: Precocious little girl Kate Hoshimiya is the leader of a mysterious secret society composed of social misfits and odd characters. Their goal: world domination.

Verdict: From the anime that started it all, Osamu Tezuka's Tetsuwan Atom (aka Astro Boy), to last year's break out hit, Attack on Titan, successful series have usually been based on popular manga, video games or light novels. However, although anime began as a means of adaptation, every once in a while a completely original work will come along and blow your mind. In the late 90s, it was Shinichiro Watanabe's Cowboy Bebop. In the mid-00s, it was Imaishi's Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. This year, it just may be Bouryaku no Zvezda.

Bow to your new (adorable) lord and sovereign!

Everything about the show is bursting with originality and inventiveness. Studio A-1 Pictures, which was behind 2010's Anime no Chikara (lit, "the power of anime") series, is right at home developing an original project. Director Tensai Okamura, whose given name translates to "genius," has helmed several successful series over the course of his multi-decade career (including original series Wolf's Rain and Darker Than Black). To complete the production trifecta, scriptwriters from dojin circle-turned-industry giants Type-Moon have designed a colorful cast of characters to fill out Zvezda's roster.

Gathered here for a group photo.

Apart from their chibi-sized leader, the society's ranks include a hulking skeleton with a penchant for military dress and cake; a scantily-clad scientist and her robot sidekick; and a crass, katana-wielding femme fatale. Second-year middle school student and runaway Asuta Jimon rounds out the rogues gallery after finding himself caught up in the gang's latest skirmish with the JSDF. Just how Hoshimiya and company plan to take over the world remains to be seen, but, with the personnel involved, it's sure to be an exciting romp.

Winter Anime Season (Part 6)

Title: Hamatora
Release Date: January 7, 2014
Studio: Naz
Genre: Detective, Action/Adventure, Supernatural, Comedy
Synopsis: Friends and business partners Nice and Murasaki are the joint leaders of Hamatora, a freelance detective agency operated from inside a bar. Each member of Hamatora possesses a type of Minimum, or a special ability that activates when certain conditions are met.

Verdict: This may only be the second ever project for studio Naz, but it is already making the case for being one of the most fun and exciting series of the year. The pilot serves as a nice introduction for each member of the team and his/her special power. Nice, the scatterbrained leader, has the ability to see sound waves; much like his namesake, he often takes jobs that will allow his to help others. This often puts him at odds with the more practical Murasaki, who blames Nice's predisposition for their inability to pay the bills. To drive this point home, two jobs, one well-paying and one well-intentioned, arrive simultaneously; thinks go about as well as you'd expect.

Not pictured: Two rational adults reaching a consensus.

Meanwhile, their coworkers and fellow Minimun users, Birthday (yes, that's his real name) and Ratio, leave to work a third job as bodyguards. This allows veteran director Seiji Kishi (Seto no Hanayome, Angel Beats!) to highlight each character's separate strengths and, when a lead reveals that the cases are all related, how they work well together. By the the time the loose ends have come together, Hamatora is firing on all cylinders. The team members each have their own personal charm, and, more importantly, their own set of sweet moves to bust out when they activate their Minimum. Nor is the story lacking; the solution to the cases is unexpected (and amusing), and the first hints of an overarching villain are introduced as rumors of a Minimum user serial killer begin to spread. Between the winning cast, slick visuals, jazzy score and enticing plotlines, Hamatora is looking to be a fun watch.

Winter Anime Season (Part 5)

Title: Toaru Hikuushi e no Koiuta (Love Song for a Certain Pilot)
Release Date: January 6, 2014
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Action/Adventure
Synopsis: Sibling pilot trainees Kal-el (seriously) and Ariel Albus join the Aerial Division of Cadoques High, seeking love, friendship and the mythical End of the Sky. Based on the light novel series by Koroku Inumura.

Verdict: Holy shitballs, that was pretty. It's no secret that a lot of time, love and care has gone into crafting each detail of Inumura's world, and, in spite of some on-the-nose romance scenes later in the episode, a compelling story seems to be taking shape. Set in a fantasy world dominated by aviation, the story begins with "Kal" and Ariel's induction ceremony.

And you thought your first day of school was stressful.

After sharing a tearful goodbye with their sisters and father, the brother and sister jump in their plane and fly to their new home - Cadoques High, a pilot school built on the flying island of Isla. Once there, Kal sets about the arduous task of settling into his new life and getting to know his fellow trainees - including an odd but friendly girl named Claire Cruz.

Let the shipping begin.

There's plenty to like here. As anyone who knows me could tell you, I'm a huge sucker for flying islands in fiction, and this anime is no exception. The stunning visuals aren't exactly a surprise considering TMS Entertainment's storied history, but that doesn't make breathtaking realism of each scene any less awe-inspiring. The story also seems to be developing at a good clip, with plenty of interesting questions being raised by the time the credits roll. Is there class conflict between the trainees of Royal birth and the commoners? Who is Nina Viento, and why does Kal flip out at the sight of her? What is the End of the Sky and why did Kal promise his mother that he would find it? What happened to his mother anyway? Why is Ignacio Axis such a frigid asshole? Why is the main character named after Superman? All of this and more remains to be seen, and the next episode can't get here soon enough.

Winter Anime Season (Part 2)

Title: Noragami
Release Date: January 5, 2014
Studio: Bones
Genre: Supernatural, Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Comedy
Synopsis: Up-and-coming god Yato finds himself down on his luck when his Sacred Treasure, a type of living weapon, tenders her resignation. He resolves to fight evil by himself until a chance encounter with a high school girl changes his fortunes.

Verdict: This could be an early candidate for best anime of the Winter season, if not the year. Studio Bones has a successful track record as long as my arm, so the world of mangaka Adachitoka springs to life with vibrant colors and smoothly animated action sequences. Phantoms, supernatural ripples caused by strong emotions, come in all shapes and sizes; the first episode alone finds Yato facing down a giant red snake born from the malicious competitive spirit of exam week and a towering, gluttonous neon blue frog. Playing opposite Hiroshi Kamiya's Yato is Maaya Uchida as Hiyori Iki, a spunky, MMA-loving high school girl who finds herself caught up in the fledgling god's world after saving him from getting hit by a bus. Hiyori serves as a fitting stand-in for the audience since she often balks at the bizarre nature Yato's swashbuckling lifestyle. Although it looks like this is Kotaru Tamura's first turn as director, so far he seems to be doing a good job of balancing the fantastical with the everyday. After learning that her new companion fancies himself a god of immeasurable power, Hiyori's initial reaction is to call the police. Light moments like these sprinkled in between impressive supernatural action sequences make for an engaging viewing experience. If Noragami doesn't turn out to be one of the best series of the year, it'll still be one of the most fun to watch.

The Fall Anime Season is Here (Part 8)!

Title: Kyousogiga
Release Date: Oct. 10, 2013
Studio: Toei Animation
Genre: Fantasy, Supernatural, Action/Adventure
Premise: A monk whose drawings come to life and his anthropomorphic bunny wife create and inhabit a fictionalized version of Kyoto for several years before disappearing. Some time later the monk's son, who has taken his name, encounters a young girl - the first human to cross into the "other" Kyoto in several years.

Verdict: Every once in a while an anime comes along that is so original, so wildly creative and ambitiously different, that it demands to be seen. At the turn of the century, it was FLCL. In 2010, it was The Tatami Galaxy. And when industry powerhouse Toei Animation trotted out the first Kyousogiga ONA roughly two years ago, I had a feeling that another masterful experiment in animation had come along. After viewing the first episode of the series proper, that feeling is quickly crystallizing into certainty.

Serving as a prologue of sorts, the first episode sets up the origins of "Kyoto" (spelled using the characters for "Mirror Capitol" and pronounced "Kyoto"). We meet Kyoto's creator, Myoe, a monk whose enchanted drawings become real. Myoe's unique talents get him relocated to a remote village in Kyoto, where he is immediately shunned by the superstitious town folk. Lonely, he draws a bunny with black hair and red eyes for companionship.

The bunny, named Koto, begins to develop feelings for her creator, and her love is noticed by a bodhisattva residing in a nearby Buddha statue. The bodhisattva offers to give Koto a human form, so that she may express her feelings for Myoe more clearly, and she obliges. At first reluctant, Myoe gradually warms to his bunny wife, eventually starting a family with her: Yakushimaru, a human boy, Kurama, a boy born from Myoe's drawing, and Yase, a demonic girl with bouncy blonde curls. When disdain continues to pour in from the outside world, Myoe and his family decide to depart to a different Kyoto that has been created from his drawings.

In this separate dimension, the family lives out many happy days until Koto reveals the unfortunate truth about her human form. Although she was given a human form to express her love for Myoe, she was supposed to relinquish it the moment her feelings were returned; although Myoe has loved her back for quite some time, she has selfishly remained in her form, not wanting to return to the world outside. Touched by her devotion, Myoe agrees to leave Kyoto with her, leaving his son Yakushimaru with the title of Myoe and appointing him to watch over Kyoto in his absence.

The story then jumps forward several years, when a fully grown Yakushimaru, now going by the name "Myoe," notices a disturbance at the entrance to Kyoto. Thinking his father has returned, he rushes to the source...only to find a magical hammer-wielding teenager named Koto and her twin younger brothers.

What brings Koto to this dimension, her connection to Myoe, and the whereabouts of the original Myoe and Koto remain to be seen. All that I know is that I'll be along for the ride. Despite the heavy exposition, newcomer director and series creator Rie Matsumoto is able to string together beautiful image after beautiful image. The streets of Mirror Capitol Kyoto are colorful, bizarre and teeming with character; Matsumoto has created an interesting world for her characters to inhabit, and if Koto's sudden arrival is any indication, it might not be the only one out there. I will definitely be tuning in to find out.

The Fall Anime Season is Here (Part 7)!

Title: Galilei Donna
Release Date: Oct. 10, 2013
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy
Premise: Three estranged sisters, who happen to be descended from Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei, are thrown into an adventure when a secret organization attempts to abduct them one day.

Verdict: I'll admit this one slipped under my radar, but after watching the first episode I'm glad I gave it a chance. Add in the futuristic sci-fi setting, the involvement of studio A-1 Pictures and director Yasuomi Umetsu, of Kite and Mezzo Forte fame, and I'm surprised I made it this far without hearing about it.

When the episode begins, the shock of the abductions hits you as suddenly as it hits the three protagonists. Hazuki Ferrari, 20, Kazuki Ferrari, 17, and Hozuki Ferrari, 13, are all going about their lives with little regard for one another. Hazuki, a jaded law student who is failing out of her program, skips classes to go drinking with her friends. High schooler Kazuki is also skipping class (the lesson included a group exercise and she's a serious misanthrope) to lounge in the nurse's office and fawn over a picture of her crush. Hozuki avoids school altogether, tinkering in her garage and wandering the streets on her collapsible motorized scooter. The peace of their idyllic lives is shattered as men in sunglasses attack Hazuki and Kazuki, while a UAV drone swoops down and begins pursuing Hozuki through the streets.

All three sisters manage to beat back their would-be abductors - Hazuki with her words, Kazuki with her fists, and Hozuki with her invented gadgets - and show off their different personalities and talents in the process. Each has her shortcomings, but all three sisters are brilliant in some way. We are also introduced to a colorful cast of secondary characters, including the girls' dysfunctional divorced parents,  overbearing Sylvia and easy-going academic Geshio, and a flashy sky pirate captain named Cicinho. It's never made clear what the mysterious kidnappers are after, but it's still early enough in the game to leave those answers for later.

There's already plenty to look forward to with this one. I'm eager to see how the girls' different skills, Hozuki's brains, Kazuki's brawn, and Hazuki's smart mouth, will work together. Not to mention sparks are already flying between Cicinho and the hot-headed Hazuki, whom he has affectionately nicknamed "Bambina." There are a lot interesting pieces at play already, and with A-1 Pictures' track record, this might be another home run original series.

The Fall Anime Season is Here (Part 3)!

Title: Kill la Kill
Release Date: Oct 3, 2013
Studio: Trigger
Genre: Action/Adventure, School Life
Premise: Wandering transfer student Ryuko Matoi has just arrived at Honnoji Academy in search of clues to the identity of her father's killer. Immediately clashing with domineering Student Council President Satsuki Kiryuin and her four elite underlings, Ryuko unwittingly kicks off a civil war for control of the school.

Verdict: The only acceptable reason not to be watching this show is because you are reading this blog entry about why you absofuckinglutely must watch this show. For those of you who don't know, I like director Hiroyuki Imaishi, like, A LOT. His previous effort as series director, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, is still on a lot of people's Top 10 lists, and all of those people (myself included) jumped for joy when it was announced that he was starting his own animation studio. And boy, Trigger's debut project sure doesn't disappoint.

The tone is set from the opening sequence, as Head of the Discipline Committee Gamagori exposes, confronts and lays the smackdown on an unruly student.

Pictured: The Mother of All Smackdowns

The poor chap ends up ass-naked and embedded in the outer wall surrounding the courtyard, and everything about Honnoji Academy, from the overbearing oppressive atmosphere to the clearly defined villainous role of Sastuki Kiryuin, is made abundantly clear. Honnoji Academy is made up of a strict caste system, and Satsuki, whose father runs the school's board of directors, is alone at the top; even the school's principal recognizes her authority. Social status is determined by the school's special Goku uniforms, which grant special powers to the wearer. The higher a person is ranked, the more stars their Goku uniform has, with general students designated as no-stars, exceptional students as one stars, and Satsuki's chosen elite getting uniforms with two or more stars.

All white? It must be a bitch keeping stains out.

Into this delicate balance comes Ryuko, wielding half of a pair of gigantic scissor blades. She is searching for the owner of the other half, claiming that this person is responsible for murdering her father. Her blatant disregard for school customs quickly sets her at odds with the school's elite, prompting the captain of the boxing club to put Ryuko in her place with his Goku uniform's ridiculously over-sized boxing gloves. A defeated Ryuko returns to what remains of her house and finds, of all things, a living, talking school outfit which imbues her with powers of her own...WHEW! Still with me? Good.

In the hands of nearly any other creator this would be gobbledy-gook, but with Imaishi's trademark over-the-top action-oriented style it feels fluid and, more importantly, fun. There may be some well-warranted gripes about the skimpiness of Ryuko's outfit, but I'm still glad to see a show with not one but two solid female leads playing off of one another. The 24-minute episode blazed past, and seasoned Imaishi veterans know it's only likely to get more crazy from here on out. If you pick one series to watch this season, this is the one show worth "trying on."

The Fall Anime Season is Here (Part 2)!

Title: Kyoukai no Kanata
Release Date: Oct 3, 2013
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Genre: Action/Adventure, Supernatural, Slice of Life, School Life, Comedy
Premise: Easy-going high school student Akihito Kanbara's peaceful life is interrupted when he thwarts the suicide attempt of Mirai Kuriyama. When Mirai rewards Akihito's bravado by stabbing him through the heart, he, an immortal half-human half-youma, and she, a Spirit World Warrior sworn to hunt youma, find their fates irreparably intertwined.

Verdict: A surprisingly pleasant first episode. This one initially swept under my radar because of the cliche setting ( high schoolers dealing with supernatural powers? again?), but the writers have created an interesting dynamic between the lead characters. After their initial encounter, Akihito does his best to avoid Mirai's constant after school ambushes. The last scion of a special clan of Spirit World Warriors with the ability to harden their blood and shape it into weapons, Mirai is something of a pariah in the Warrior community. She has yet to kill her first youma, and has resolved to use the immortal Akihito as target practice. Akihito's childhood friend (and fellow literary club member), Mitsuki Nase, also happens to be the daughter of the most prominent local family of Spirit World Warriors. She warns Akihito not to become further involved with Mirai, although it is not clear whether this is out of concern or flirtatious jealousy (since this is an anime, it's probably both).

Studio Kyoto Animation has a significant track record of "school life with a twist" series under its belt, having previously released such classics as Full Metal Panic and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and their experience is apparent here. Lighthearted segments of everyday high school life are peppered with dazzling bits of smoothly animated supernatural fighting action, and the transitions between the two feel very natural. Writer Jukki Hanada has done a good job of whetting my interest and setting up some intriguing questions to be answered in future episodes. This remains one to watch.