If there was any studio that stood out this summer season, it has to be Brains Base. In fact, they were completely dominating the entire season. Out of the three seasons they released, Kamisama Dolls was the lesser one. And it still is very good.
Kamisama Dolls’ formula is in fact very simple: you have a storyline with a lot of drama, comedy, action, and a whiff of romance, and put it in 13 episodes. The result is some top notch entertainment that balances those four elements together into a very enjoyable series from start to finish. If you’re looking for something quick and exciting, then this series is a pretty solid choice.
The setting to back it up is solid with the backdrop of a corrupt village that houses ancient fighting machine. The cast too knows what it is, and is accurately developed, fleshed out, and in particular the acting fits the series perfectly: the main cast in particular knows how to keep the balls into the air and keep the story exciting. In fact, this really is a series whose story is dictated by its characters, even though this may not be apparent at first sight.
There are some weaknesses, though. The biggest being that it’s ridiculously incomplete, and another case of “read the manga if you want to know what happens next”, cutting off its story right in the middle. There are also a few characters who bog the show down by being way too over the top, and this show tries to be a harem show and a straight romance at the same time, which really doesn’t fit together: there is an obvious main couple in this series, and yet the creators somehow find it a good idea to introduce a crush on the male lead’s sister and a completely over the top childhood friend. Especially the latter is the worst member of the cast of this series, and it’s a good thing that the pacing of this show is nice and quick, so these things become just minor annoyances.
This show isn’t really trying to be anything deep (heck, the majority of the plot is based on characters acting unreasonable for various reasons), so don’t expect really deep characters, or many attempts to subvert cliches or tropes, but what it does, it does well. It’s nice, straight-forward and well produced entertainment.
| Storytelling: | 8/10 – Ridiculously unfinished, but a nice combination between action, comedy and drama. |
| Characters: | 8/10 – Solid and fun characters, with a few particularly good ones, and a few particularly annoying ones. |
| Production-Values: | 9/10 – Top notch action scenes, well directed and animated characters. |
| Setting: | 8/10 – Its themes have been done before and better, but nevertheless it’s quite solid to support its series. |
Suggestions:
– Narutaru
– Seto no Hanayome
‘and another case of “read the manga if you want to know what happens next”…’
Sadly, at this point, read the manga won’t enlighten you much, since the arc right after the anime ending is still ongoing, and looks to be the finale.
Seto no Hanayome as a suggestion? Surely you can’t be serious.
I really wasn’t expecting much other than a “Dark Kyouhei goes on a rampage till the power of love shines through” wrap up, but here I got a love confession, a kiss and a teaser of what the anime would be like if there’s a second season. Can’t rant about that.
Kyouhei’s “she’s mine” rant straight from bed in the father’s presence? A ripe moment for all kinds of comedy. lol.
what i hate about this is why they had to make Hibino’s breasts so abnormally triangular and large… and this “last episode” was pretty poorly animated as if the animators were being paid $3 an hour.
@FortMan, I went to check the manga, and the latest volume was around the halfpoint of the anime. So I’m asking myself did they actually work their way WAY AFTER? If so, I gotta hand it them. And if so, WTH was all that foreshadowing after the credits? mhmmm!!
The manga is currently at it’s 9th volume… not sure what you’re smoking there.
I haven’t read the manga but the series is solid but for some reason I felt like Hibino was just there and slightly unnecessary through the whole anime series.