Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem

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Hakureiryou high school provides students enrolling in its servant education program a fully paid scholarship. Students in the servant-ed group are trained up to be proper maids and butlers under their superiors in the upper-ed program. The upper-ed program is comprised of girls from affluent families. Akiharu Hino, having recently lost his parents, has entered the academy to have some place to stay. There are only 5 boys enrolled in the academy as of episode two.

Akiharu runs into Selnia Iori Flameheart on the path to the school. She marks his as a strange and suspicious person, berating him while he tries to walk away, and the eventually charging after him. They collide and land in an classically inappropriate one-hand-grope position. Selnia then begins to chase Akiharu across the school hurling insults and epithets. Akiharu clumsily gets himself into more trouble with more girls as he tries to find his freedom. Its only when Tomomi Saikyo intervenes that the girls stop chasing him.

It turns out that Tomomi knows Akiharu, and worse yet, used to bully him in elementary school. Akiharu overcomes his initial terror at this realization and attempts to fit in with the others in the servant-ed program. Selnia, unwilling to forgive what happened, attempts to make Akiharu as uncomfortable as possible. She arranges for him to serve her during tea; havoc ensues. A clumsy maid pours hot soup on Akiharu; shower scene and unintentional groping ensues. Que sera sera…

There have been both censored and uncensored versions released to various outlets. I leave it up to you whether you wish to watch a scene that is 80% obscured or 100% over-the-top unnecessary. The reason I ranked this series a C was due to the funny situational comedy that surround Akiharu PULLING the rating back from a D due to stooping to a lowest common denominator to get a fan(service)-base. Without the excessive nudity, but still keeping the outright ecchi themes and situations, this could have ranked higher.

Maybe companies should have more confidence in their writers; allow a STORY to develop, not just a few extra boob shots to make their rent.

Overall Hook Rating: C

Genres: Comedy, Romance, Harem

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With a self debasing swath of humor, the student council of Hekiyou Gakuen kicks off its fully tongue-in-cheek animated parody of…. itself? Well, it also takes shots at Dragonball Evolution, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, H-games and harem series in general. Their school’s method of electing the student council members is by popularity, so naturally some stereotypical female roles spring up in the 4 core members. the fifth member, known as the blue-chip seat, is filled by the highest scoring student academically.

Kurimu Sakurano is the runt of the group, but also holds the position of president of the student council. By her side is Minatsu Shiina, the council’s vice-president and sister to Mafuyu Shiina, the treasurer. The fourth female member is Chizuru Akaba, the secretary. Ken Sugisaki, the only male in the group, fills the blue-chip seat. Fortunately for him, and most unfortunately for the group, he is a massive h-game fanatic and sees the council as his harem. In fact, nearly the entire first episode revolves around his images of the group as his harem.

Into the second episode, Kurimu is dealing with the fact that her grades are the lowest of all the members of the student council. She spends most of the study time they arranged snacking, pleading and whining about her difficulties. When the results come in, no one is surprised to see she performed horribly. One by one they take turns bashing her for wasting their time and efforts. Its only afterward when she asks Ken for help after a meeting that she shows his serious and caring side.

In the last few seconds we see a blond girl plotting outside the student council room. Perfect timing for a hook, and it seems to have done the trick. It’s a good time to pick up a new comedy as my recent viewing has been far too serious for the holidays. Have a good holiday people!

Overall Hook Rating: B

Watch the beginning of episode 1 after the break…

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Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem

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Teppei Kobayashi has a simple, predictable life. His family lives in a modest home near a railway line, he practices with his sword, and is happily unaware of the events spiraling toward him. The news on TV shows stories of affluent families who are dying in mysterious auto “accidents” that are anything but accidental. At dinner his father asks him what he would do if he found himself in that situation. Teppei brushes this off, as it doesn’t apply to a simple person like him, but says he would do what he had to do.

Teppei leaves for school, and notes in the voice-over that it was the last time he saw his parents alive. Saying his last goodbyes, he sets off to live with his grandfather. On the way to his grandfather’s offices he saves Charlotte Hazelrink, a princess, from attackers like those most likely responsible for his parents death. They share a small uncomfortable moment (well, maybe a little too comfortable of a moment) after they are safe, then go their separate ways. Later at his new school, the Shuuhou Gakuen academy, they will meet again in much the same way.

In the interlude, he learns that his mother, Kanae, was heir to the Arima family. His parents “accident” fits the others he had watched on TV; Teppei is filled with a desire for vengeance. His grandfather, Isshin Arima, adopts him as his new heir… warning him to temper his anger and wait for his enemies to make themselves known.

After Teppei (who has now taken the Arima family name) has been announced as the heir and escaped the social scene there-after, he runs into Maria van Hossen, a skilled fencer. He decides that the best thing to do while uncomfortable is to let his mind rest with a little sparring. They briefly match swords until his grandfather and Maria’s father let them know that they are engaged in an arranged marriage.

Teppei’s reactions to the sudden social status upgrade, the new school, personalities and quirks of his status are quite humorous. The underlying seriousness of the situation hides under the tide of perverse humor and general social uneasiness. While not a huge fan of the general harem genre, this one has its own merits.

Overall Hook Rating: B

Watch part of episode one after the jump…

Continue reading…