Seitokai no Ichizon – 01
OP Sequence
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OP: 「Treasure」 by 本多真梨子, 斉藤佑圭, 富樫美鈴, 堀中優希 (Honda Mariko, Saitou Yuka, Togashi Misuzu, Horinaka Yuki)
Watch the OP!: Mirror 1, Mirror 2, Streaming ▼
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「駄弁る生徒会」 (Daberu Seitokai)
“Chattering Student Council”
There appears to be quite a bit of buzz going on the Internet waves regarding this new series. I’ve been putting it off, but I guess it warrants its own post after all.
As luck would have it, I’ve been “fortunate” enough to have someone bringing all the chatter in the anime-websphere to my attention since I never really visit forums and such myself. With regards to anime, I like to decide for myself what I want to watch and not be influenced by what others are saying. That, and the fact that things can get pretty ugly in anime forum discussions much like they do here at times. So from that small blurp, all I wanted to get across is that my opinions here are rarely outside-influenced — I like what I like, I don’t what I don’t. I just tend to like more than I dislike. Nothing new right? For Seitokai no Ichizon though, I’d like to make that clear upfront. It somehow feels like you can get burned at the stake for saying something about this series one way or another.
As many of you probably know, Patrik wasn’t a big fan of the light novel that this anime adaptation is based on. From his review of it, I was actually keen on seeing the anime since it sounded like something I might enjoy. For a comedy series, the character descriptions alone put it in a good light. As for the descriptions themselves, I’ll take an excerpt from his post. “These five [characters] are: student council president Sakurano Kurimu (cute loli type), secretary Akaba Chizuru (cool beauty type), vice-president Shiina Minatsu (sporty tomboy type), accountant Shiina Mafuyu (sweet and shy type), and finally the guy who’s decided they will all be part of his harem — vice-president Sugisaki Ken (perverted otaku protagonist).”
The four girls are voiced by new, upcoming, female seiyuus, whereas Ken is voiced by Kondou Takashi who has a bit more experience than the rest. They all do a really good job playing the personalities for their particular role, with Takashi leading the forefront with his take on the openly-perverted, sole male member of the student council. Aside from that, the girls also perform the opening and ending themes so it looks like they’re getting thrown into character songs already (for better or worse). In short, the characters are interesting and amiable, and the seiyuus play the roles well (meaning you should expect them in upcoming shows). The character designs I’m not too big on for proportional reasons, but they’re actually done by the same person who did Akane Iro ni Somaru Saka‘s — one Horii Kumi. (You could’ve fooled me though.)
Under the direction of Satou Takuya, whose work includes Ichigo Mashimaro (which I loved), Seitokai no Ichizon really has a lot going for it. However, the first episode had me on the fence about the series going forward even in light of all the upside mentioned above. To be fair, I knew there would be a lot of meta-jokes and references to other series. In addition to poking fun at themselves, they also made mention of Lucky Star, Suzumiya Haruhi, Kuroshitsuji, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Evolution (ick), Higurashi, and Umineko among various others. There was also a predominant gag around eroge (and otaku lingo in general) since Ken wants to make the student council his very own harem. That’s all fine and dandy; I can appreciate it all for what it is. The jokes were funny at times, not so much at others, but that’s how comedy in general tends to play out, so I wouldn’t knock the series for that.
On the other side of the fence, I see this series as a stand-up comedic routine that takes place in one room with four girls and one guy. If these type of jokes are indeed the selling point of the series, they’ll probably grow old on me fairly quickly. I enjoy my comedy series very much, but I need some sort of plot to tie things together regardless of how sparse it may be. Whether this is a guy who transforms into a girl and has to compete in random battles or a guy who’s deathly allergic to cats but has to help them, I need something there even if it’s over-the-top gimmicky. The idea of a bunch of characters chatting away in a room about anything and everything under the sun and referring to anything and everything that’s been popular in the anime world (surprisingly) isn’t gimmicky to me. That said, who knows… the anime may show some progress in Ken’s harem-making process or one of the girls will geniunely fall for him. From the sound of the light novel though, I don’t see that happening.
When watching an anime series, it’s always cool when they add easter egg references that are neat if you notice them, but don’t heavily impact your enjoyment if you don’t. Evidently though, that’s the niche this series is going for, so I would imagine that it can impact your enjoyment a fair bit. Even then, my objective side still thinks it’s fine if you don’t get all the references since I never really got all of the ones in Hayate no Gotoku! either. That said, it’s hard (if not impossible) to farily judge this or any series on its first episode alone, so I’ll need to check out a few more before I can decide if it’s something I want to continue watching. At this point, I’m wary that the jokes will grow old on me, but various anime series have surprised me when I least expect it so maybe this one will too.
* Just for the record, I actually watched this episode several times in an attempt to be objective as possible — a few times in Japanese and even once with subs to see if it comes off differently in English. (It didn’t.)
ED Sequence
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ED: 「妄想☆ふぇてぃっしゅ！」 (Mousou☆Fetish!) by 本多真梨子, 斉藤佑圭, 富樫美鈴, 堀中優希 (Honda Mariko, Saitou Yuka, Togashi Misuzu, Horinaka Yuki)
Watch the ED!: Mirror 1, Mirror 2, Streaming ▼
October 5, 2009 at 5:45 amAnimeniac
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looks good and first
October 5, 2009 at 5:48 amSimon
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http://randomc.net/image/Seitokai%20no%20Ichizon/Seitokai%20no%20Ichizon%20-%2001%20-%2014.jpg
reminds me of higurashi series…lol
October 5, 2009 at 5:52 amuatafak
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it didn´t what…?
October 5, 2009 at 5:54 amhurin
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I did not have high hopes for this, but this was really funny. The ‘approved’ ‘flat chest’ routine was hillarious. That’s originally from an old Bugs Bunny cartoon.
I don’t think it needs to have a plot to be succesful, Azumanga Daio didn’t. But hopefully there will be some expansion of the scenery.
October 5, 2009 at 6:13 amStuff
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I liked it. For the references and because there’s no indecisive lead character.
October 5, 2009 at 6:28 amkitari
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Haha. I actually liked the first episode of the anime. Really better than that of the manga and the light novel which was well.. crap. I can’t blame Patrik at all for hating the light novel. However, I guess this was a pretty okay start for the anime. I just hope that the jokes won’t get too old on me.
October 5, 2009 at 7:00 amChaos
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With all cameo references from K-ON! to Haruhi to Higurashi well, I kinda like this episode.
October 5, 2009 at 7:17 amSailor Enlil
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Lots of laughs. That’s good enough for me. I was absolutely floored by the sudden love confession Ken did to interrupt Kurimu’s boring speech and her subsequent reaction to it (i.e. what happened between http://randomc.net/image/Seitokai%20no%20Ichizon/Seitokai%20no%20Ichizon%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2013.jpg and http://randomc.net/image/Seitokai%20no%20Ichizon/Seitokai%20no%20Ichizon%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2014.jpg).
October 5, 2009 at 7:21 ambane
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@Simon: it reminds you of Higurashi because it is indeed a reference to Higurashi.
October 5, 2009 at 7:54 amEspada
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haruhi? O_o
October 5, 2009 at 7:56 amEspada
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oohhh this is O_O parodies?
October 5, 2009 at 8:11 amBunny
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This is definitely one of those love/hate shows. I’ve read so many mixed reviews that I’m probably just going to check it out myself. I need a good comedy anime fix & this might be the one.
You can’t go wrong with parodies lol.
October 5, 2009 at 8:56 amDonBob
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Completely agree with you there, Divine.
To me this first episode wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t convincing either when it come to the decision if I should put my time into watching this.
I’ll watch at least one more ep to decide on this.
October 5, 2009 at 9:06 amZenzen
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Series of the season confirmed.
Also Divine you need to get back to how you blogged HnG, too long, don’t have the time to read this one now ;<
October 5, 2009 at 9:34 amNinja Penguin
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I found this really amusing, first episode definitely put a smile on my face with the jokes and references. It’s also refreshing to see a male lead who openly admits to be aiming for the harem ending lol. :D
October 5, 2009 at 9:55 amLithium
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Nothing special, and I’m not into ecchi harem stuff, so I’ll give it a pass.
October 5, 2009 at 9:58 amKinny Riddle
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I noticed three-quarters of this episode all taking place in the Student Council room.
While this format of various comedy sketches/gags taking place in one room may work well in a 4-koma like comic strip, but adapted into a medium like TV, it suffers.
Lucky Star (which this episode also lampooned at the beginning) took place in many places around Konata’s life, and so doesn’t suffer from that, and grew better and better as time went on, as writers are able to easily think up new locations without being confined to any place.
While Hayate no Gotoku (the first series at least) had plenty of 4th-wall breaking references, it still has a plot to keep things going smoothly, even though it may be “over-the-top”, as Divine would put it, it’s still better than no plot.
October 5, 2009 at 10:23 amendy
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good laughing stuff.And I liked the protagonist.
October 5, 2009 at 10:29 amDethril
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Absolutely loved this. Only thing I didn’t like was how some of the references were explained… Kinda killed the joke there, but even so I will be looking forward to seeing more of this show.
October 5, 2009 at 10:37 amV2
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somehow it reminded me of luckystar’s 1st episode.
its nice but if they keep it that way it’ll definitely be boring.
October 5, 2009 at 10:44 amtaker
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I don’t know where this is coming from but i need to do some revision on genshiken back.
October 5, 2009 at 1:03 pmdivine
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Zenzen:
That kind of hurts to hear since I lost some sleep getting this post out. *sniff*
For first episodes, I tend to get on a train of thought fairly easily and just start writing from there. I’m often surprised by how lengthy the post turns out, but I try to make everything coherent enough to warrant a read. (My cheap plea to not pass this off as a tl;dr.)
For future episodes of any series though, I definitely plan to keep things much briefer… for my sake and yours. =P
October 5, 2009 at 1:07 pmKaitune
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Character design is a huge factor for me in this kind of show, and I don’t dig this show’s design (especially the fugly school uniform, and I though my highschool’s one was bad…) I also have hoped for the girls to have some more quirks. They are way into their roles as generic harem girls for my taste. The main guy is funny though, if they would keep him in that light.
October 5, 2009 at 2:30 pmKaisos
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I think a lot of people are missing the point of this show.
Yes it’s entirely set in the council room. Yes, this is a terrible idea. That’s why it’s funny.
This is an adaptation that’s aware it’s an adaptation. Genius.
October 5, 2009 at 2:36 pmChimasternmay
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Ef U compare-ers.
its was fun to watch, the dude is tight this time.
October 5, 2009 at 4:42 pmferslayerx
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Akane iro Chibi XD
October 5, 2009 at 6:48 pmstarss
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Looks cute, especially with the pink-haired one. But never ever try to copy the Haruhi dance!
October 5, 2009 at 8:22 pmMearex
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i guess the book is not enough so they milk it even more.
October 5, 2009 at 11:59 pmMoelitist
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The references were amazing, kept me laughing the whole night. Second favorite thus far this fall seasons, of course first is To aru kagaku no railgun.
October 6, 2009 at 2:19 amKen
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They are trying so hard to do those parodies, unlike how Hayate the Combat Butler does it, it’s more natural and properly inserted in the scenes. But I’ll be keeping this on my lists of downloads.
October 6, 2009 at 7:38 pmMearex
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it’s almost faith, what are the chances of this making to be a show after you posted not long ago, it’s almost like me picking a wallpaper out of 700 of mine and still only pick the same familiar ones.
October 6, 2009 at 7:50 pmdivine
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If you’re referring to Patrik’s post on the light novel and now mine on the anime, news that the anime was going to start airing this fall was already known then. i.e. This isn’t just a mere coincidence. =)
October 6, 2009 at 8:46 pmMearex
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hum didn’t know
October 6, 2009 at 9:39 pmAnimeniac
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hidden parodies…
- the stating of keion club that need castanets… and got approved XD
- there is one more and my mind got blank… gonna post that later
October 7, 2009 at 8:00 pmCHIBI
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OK they reference K-ON!
But this show is junk…where is K-ON! season 2?????????
October 8, 2009 at 1:30 pmahbonk
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i kept watching that petanko petanko petanko scene over and over!
October 9, 2009 at 11:01 pmSplash
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After watching this 1st episode I hated it. Gonna pass on this one.
October 10, 2009 at 9:36 amPork
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@Animeniac: Also, in the scene with the K-on! parody, there is a mask on the desk that is very similar to Sawako’s mask.
October 10, 2009 at 8:27 pmHado_Gei
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toooooo many parodiesssss haha.. but still very funny especially the suzumiya melancholy N DBZ referrences. hopefully there’s an actual plot to this rather then jus take place in one room (-_-”)
October 13, 2009 at 9:53 amJia Yu
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i think Seitokai No Ichizon is really funny and i think its a show thats worth the time watching as its a parody in a parody. However, if you are not exposed to many animes, i think you should not watch it as u will not get to know the comedy =) Some animes u may try watching are Akane Iro Ni Somaru Saka, Lucky Star, Death Note, Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya =) there are much more to watch first =)
October 20, 2009 at 3:31 pmAster
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it wasn’t dragonball Z is was Dragonball Kai. Ken said “Kai!” when he goes super saiyan in http://randomc.net/image/Seitokai%20no%20Ichizon/Seitokai%20no%20Ichizon%20-%2001%20-%2003.jpg
October 20, 2009 at 4:08 pmdivine
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The kanji for “kai” in Dragon Ball Kai is 改, which means “revised”. The kanji for the “kai” Ken said there is 解, which means “release”. It’s not uncommon to hear the latter in Dragon Ball when they release their powers.
March 2, 2010 at 2:53 amHonda Prelude
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March 2, 2010 at 8:33 amHonda Prelude
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Ooh fiddle stick i just typed a big comment and as soon as i pressed enter it came up empty! Please tell me it worked right? I dont want to submit it again if i do not have to! Either the blog glitched out or i am an moron, the second option doesnt surprise me lol.