We’ve seen a bunch of stuff so far on this blog. From disgusting video game bosses to weird music videos, there’s been a lot that’s made us laugh (Or at the very least chuckle/snicker). However, videos games & music aren’t the only sources of humor: anime has plenty of shows that are absolutely hilarious (Unintentionally or not). The subject of today’s review is definitely on the funny side, but there’s plenty of action, and even a hint of seriousness on top of the bounteous amounts of fanservice to be had. So let’s train, go to school, and enjoy a look at season 1 of Maken-Ki. Let the review begin!
Story/Setup
Taken from the back of the DVD cover:
“Magic Is Their Breast Defense!
Takeru enrolled in Tenbi Academt because the girl to guy ratio is, like, three girls for every guy. But this bevy of bombshells is actually a school where teens beef up there combat skills using a magic power thingy called a maken. Reheads with wicked high kicks, shocking blonde bullies, and aggressive brunettes are everywhere. And every time there’s a brawl, their clothes tend to disintegrate.
Distracted by all the bouncy brawlers, Takeru has a hard time concentrating on his training. Things get sticky when the hornball can’t figure out how to use his maken. If he doesn’t find his mojo quick, he’ll be dumped by the school of his dreams-or destroyed by an attacker who’s after his magic power thingy!”
Right away, you’re probably smacking your head going “Oh god, another fighting fan service show!”. This really isn’t a surprise, as the director of this show also worked on Ikki Tousen: Dragon Destiny, and while I’ve never seen that show, I can tell you that by looking at art from that series......yeah, you shouldn’t be surprised by what you’re getting into here with Maken-Ki.
However, if you can get past all of the jiggling chests & numerous upskirt shots, Maken-Ki has a surprisingly good story behind it all. Sure, a lot of it comes across like a typical Shonen series, and there’s elements that seem like they’re ripped from Ikki Tousen, but there’s actually a little more going on behind the scenes than you’d realize. The series starts out stereotypically, but overtime the story unfolds into something that deviates from the typical formula of a show like this. Not completely, but enough to where it feels somewhat against the grain.
Animation
Personally, I think the 1st season of Maken-Ki looks really damn good for a series that came out around the start of this decade! Sure, there’s some moments where things look a little older than they should, but overall everything looks fantastic. The characters look great (especially the girls/women), the setting & backgrounds look nice, and there’s a nice amount of fluidity to the movements of everybody that’s on screen.
Voice Acting
Equally as good as the animation is Maken-Ki’s voice acting. Though the main cast definitely puts out a better effort, everybody puts in good voice work overall. Ian Sinclair does a great job of bringing out the kind & noble yet incredibly perverted nature of Takeru, while Monica Rial is absolutely perfect in her role as Haruko. However, like I mentioned earlier, it’s the main cast where the most effort is placed. Much of the secondary cast, while still good with their work, aren’t putting in as much effort. It’s not offensive by any means, but it’s definitely noticeable to people who can hear these kind of things.
Characters
As with the story, if you can get past how fan-servicey everything is, the characters of Maken-Ki are really interesting. They start out liked you’d expect in a fan-service fighting anime, but they begin to unfold in ways you wouldn’t expect. For example: Takeru is definitely a standard pervert in most aspects, but he’s not stupid. He can handle his own in a fight, and while his defense of girls against guys is incredibly stereotypical, it actually comes from a place that’s pretty dark. Pretty much every main character (and some of the side ones) starts out like normal, but has parts of them unfold overtime, and thus exposing more of themselves to the rest of the cast & the viewing audience.
Availability & Pricing
Though the original Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack is older & considerably more expensive (New Copies fetch around $79.99 on Amazon), the S.A.V.E edition of Amazon is considerably cheaper, as new copies start around $14.21. The S.A.V.E. edition is easily your best option, as you’re basically buying the same product as the original combo pack, just as a cost that’s easier on your wallet. The only reason you’d buy the original pack is if you’re interested in being a collector, or you’ve got way too much money to spend.
(I bought my copy at Connecticon in 2016 if I remember correctly, and at a cheaper price as well if I’m also remembering right)
Overall Impression & Rating
Maken Ki: Season 1 is just a fun show. It knows what it is, and just rolls with it regardless of what anyone says & thinks. The fan-service is over-the-top, the fight scenes are impressive, and the story & characters are surprisingly engaging. This show definitely is not for everybody, but if you’re in that right kind of mood, then the 1st season of Maken Ki is for you.
Maken Ki: Season 1 gets a 9 out of 10.
So that was the first season of Maken Ki. An over-the-top fighting anime, filled to the brim with fan service, and all too aware as to what it is. I personally have a load of fun watching this show, and once I get my hands on the second season, I’ll have fun with that as well. April Fools Day month is just about over with, so I’ll see you soon for some final comedic goodies.
(Sorry for getting this up a little late. Had stuff come up last weekend, and wasn’t able to finish watching the show till earlier this week. To be honest, I didn’t complete this review till a few minutes ago. Again, sorry for the delayed posting.)
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