Hello everyone,
Let's go ahead with another review, this time of a rather recent fanservice light novel/manga/anime series named Hyakka Ryouran that aired at the end of 2010.
Let's start with a synopsis :
The story takes place in Japan in the early 21st century, in an alternate reality where the Tokugawa Shogunate has remained in power. In this reality, student councils are tasked with oppressing schools. Yagyuu Muneakira is a high school student who rebels against his student council with the help of girls who've had the names of famous samurai heroes passed on to them.
The story while on a futuristic setting follows the Sengoku period in backgrounds and characters showed (a little unrealistic to be honest as except for some hi-tech stuff, most of the houses are like in that period)
When I first started watching this series, I dropped it at around third episode labeling it as "pure fanservice" like Queen's Blade and such series.
After a couple of weeks I returned and give it a second chance, and well after a couple of episodes the story take form and while being clichè attracted me to watch the whole series in a single go.
There are a couple of nice and funny events in the series and I liked a lot the whole story behind Charles d'Artanian with all the angst she endured for her love.
Please note that this series has HIGH amount of fanservice, so if you can't stand it just walk away and ignore it as you'll just get turned off by it.
The characters are few, but well defined and each one with a particular trademark speech pattern/body that makes easy to distinguish between them even in the action-packed battles. There is some kind of growth in some characters in this series (I seriously thought there would not be when first watching it)
My favourite character is Kanetsugu Naoe (the self proclaimed "warrior of love"), I loved her stupid role that lighted up the most dark situations at the end of the series.
Also the backstory behind her was extremely funny, I laughed out loud after watching what was the grudge she had with Yukimura Sanada.
The graphical quality is outstanding, one of the best of the last years. I loved a lot the special effect they used giving a more "book" look at the series even if you'll need an episode or two to adapt to it. The animation was mostly consistent and the battles quite fun to watch.
The sound quality is top notch with any famous seiyuu working on this series like Rie Kugimiya in Yukimura's role, Aki Toyosaki in Kanetsugu's role and many others.
This series isn't the best you can find out there, but the high production values combined with an half-decent plot and lots of girls make it a nice series to watch when you want some mindless fun.
See you soon,
feal87