CUTE HIGH EARTH DEFENSE CLUB LOVE #1 -- Special Review

We're sampling all the new pilots this Winter. Check out our thoughts on...

• JOJO'S - BATTLE IN EGYPT ** ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM ** DEATH PARADE


• MARIA THE VIRGIN WITCH ** YATTERMAN NIGHT ** THE ROLLING GIRLS


• THE TESTAMENT OF SISTER NEW DEVIL ** THE IDOLM@STER ** KANTAI COLLECTION


• ABSOLUTE DUO ** YURI KUMA ARASHI ** UNLIMITED FAFNIR ** WORLD BREAK


• SAMURAI WARRIORS

In the interest of full disclosure, I feel I should say right off the bat that as the owner of a “Y” Chromosome, I was probably the wrong person to watch and review this show.

The only thing I can say about it is, looking at this series in a larger objective sense, I suppose it’s only fair that after decades of putting out shows featuring scantily-clad females, running around having all sorts of skimpily-clothed adventures in order to appeal to a male audience, Japan is finally beginning to produce shows like this (and also “Free”) which feature shirtless and scantily clad boys in order to appeal to their female audience.

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander after all. And if shows like this end up attracting more female viewers, and make the world of anime a more diverse and inclusive environment…I suppose in the end I can only see that as a good thing.

== TEASER ==

Objective assessments aside, how did I personally feel about the show? Well…what can you say about a show that starts off by showing two naked guys sitting in a hot-tub, only to have a talking pink wombat from outer-space come splashing down into the water and inform the boys that they need to form a superhero team and defend the Earth with the power of love?

I was totally…on the edge of my seat when it was revealed that the boys’ upperclassmen in the snobby standoffish student council are secretly an “Earth Conquest Club” ruled by a talking green hedgehog. (Well, I was physically sitting in a chair anyway.)

And when the 5 boys the pink wombat selected to be superheroes transformed into magical love soldiers, and defeated the evil…soup condiment monster that the Earth Conquest club had created by shooting the monster with…”Love Showers” from their magical “Love Sticks”…I…well… look…in the end, all I can say is that, while I’m pretty sure I fall well outside the intended target demographic for this sort of thing, there are a lot of people out there who might genuinely enjoy something like this.

If you’re a person who’s been secretly crying out inside your heart for a show where guys dress up like the Sailor-Scouts and defeat enemies by hitting them with rainbows and love beams and the occasional fist in the face, then Cute High Earth Defense Club Love is the answer to your prayers.

Now that I’ve finished episode one, I’m going to celebrate by going out and getting some Japanese food. (And when I do, I will never look at the Japanese condiment “Chikuwabu” the same way again.)

Watch this pilot and you’ll understand why.

Kaita Mpambara works every day to try and create shows, stories, and characters that are as exciting, energizing, and entertaining as the very best works that have been given to the world by both the western and eastern animation industries. Keep up with his musings on life, the universe and everything by following him on Facebook.

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