Monday, October 20, 2014

CHAIKA THE COFFIN PRINCESS - AVENGING BATTLE #1 -- Special Review


We're checking out all the newest pilots this season! Read our write-ups on other Fall 2014 offerings like...



The impractically-huge sword needs to be retired as an emblem of Stereotypical Anime. Today, it’s the impractically-huge, heavy caliber sniper rifle that’s far more emblematic - - especially when it’s being wielded by a dainty girl in a French maid outfit.


This already came up earlier in the Fall Season reviews. Sure, it’s all wonderful nonsense at the end of the day, but there’s just something about this particular visual. It’s like the zenith/nadir of gun fetishizing, amped up by the lack of even basic research. And I’d contrast it with GURREN LAGANN, because there was at least some self-awareness coupled with Yoko’s sharp-shootin’ Super Moves. And I don’t sense any intentional humor in these scenes where Chaika’s earnestly reciting magical incantations to… uh… make her sniper shots more accurate, or something.


== TEASER ==

So yes, it’s kind-of corny - - maybe even majorly corny - - and it’s exactly the sort of stuff that can fit the norms’ less-flattering visions of anime. And hey, that probably isn’t a problem. Aside from this, I’ve only watched the first CHAIKA season’s pilot. I thought that was Stereotypical Anime that was actually good, almost in spite of itself, and that assessment applies just as well here. There are all these major hallmarks that induce eyerolls, but all the scenes in between are actually decent.


Hell, there’s even some charm to Chaika, and her broken speech, and her utter earnestness about learning shorter incantations to better empower her sniper shots. The humor’s there - - I just don’t know how much of it is intentional.


Watch this pilot, and decide for yourself. (And much thanks to Takashichea for the screengrab above).






from Anime Vice Site Mashup http://ift.tt/1FsHFjN
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