In some strange alternate universe Japan, the Tokugawa Shogunate is still alive and well. Served by their loyal samurai minions, they have fended off every evil aggressor that's tried to soil their country, including those pesky Americans. Their samurai class is so powerful and strong, the country has apparently never felt the need to develop modern firearms and artillery, even though they have Internet and digital cameras. Luckily, they are forever served by the perpetual reincarnations of dead warriors, like Yagyu Jubei, who shows up at the end of the episode in the form of a cute girl.
Our protagonist is Yagyu Muneakira, a samurai in a long, noble line of warriors who have served the shogunate for centuries. He's transferred to a new private school, but when he heads to the dojo, he's confronted with two naked girls. They're naked because that's what fanservice dictates, and because it has to launch a whole series of jokes about one girl's lack of breasts. From then on, all the stereotypes just pile up like bricks. There's a feisty girl who's self-conscious about her flat chest, her busty attendant who prefers the breezy feel of a fundoshi to pants, and some angry little glasses-wearing maid who has a serious lesbian crush on her boss.
And of course, there is copious amounts of fanservice. Except in Samurai Girls, they try so hard it's almost awkward. There's no reason for half the fanservice to exist, other than to milk in as much bare flesh as possible, lest the ravenous masses disapprove. But unlike your typical hot springs scenes or your accidental shower scenes, the nudity in this series doesn't happen organically. It's like someone went into the script and forced in naughty bits, like the part where the maid gives implied cunnilingus to the princess. Did it have to be there? No. Is it even titillating? Hardly. It's just awkward.
The visuals in Samurai Girls are gorgeous enough that it doesn't need fanservice to be appealing. The backgrounds are beautiful, occasionally resembling Chinese brush paintings or pencil sketches. The characters are outlined with heavy brushstrokes, creating a contrast that really makes them pop out of the flat surface. With that kind of artwork, it almost seems a waste to have a breast dripping into the corner of the screen, because it takes viewers out of the scene. Though to their credit, every time they want to hide a nipple or a crotch, they censor it with an ink splat. It's a cute touch for something that's otherwise unnecessary.
Whether or not this series will end up being worth the time and energy may require a few more episodes to figure out. The premise of powerful warrior incarnates is a fun one, albeit not entirely original, and if they can chop up planes like in the opening sequences, it could provide some delightful action scenes. Now it's just a question of whether the show can move past these ridiculously trite stereotypes and focus more on the story.
episode 2 review :
In this alternate version of 21st century Japan, “master samurai” can only achieve their full super-powered potential by making a pact with the General, which means that they are, by default, under the direct control of the Tokugawa government. The newly-arrived Jubei demonstrate just such an overwhelming level of power, however, and only Muneakira's entreaties seem capable of staying her hand. Once the battle is over, however, the menacing Jubei becomes a sexy, amnesiac simpleton, however, and Princess Sen, who was childhood friends with Muneakira, is left to sort out the ensuing mess. While Yukimura and Hattori squabble, Muneakira wonders about the mysteries and potentially dark truths which might lay at the bottom of Jubei's identity.
As weighty as this synopsis may sound, the second episode is no less the sexy, samurai-themed harem romp that the first episode was. It starts with a pulse-pounding action sequence before retreating into more typical squabbling, interpersonal interactions, and lurid antics. None of this will disappoint anyone who's normally a fan of such fare; in fact, what it's trying to do it does very well. The traditional Japanese musical themes and a hyper-stylish art style which gives the impression that the whole series was animated on old scrolls lets this one challenge even Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt for the most distinctive-looking and sounding series of the season, and it doesn't shirk on the appealing character designs and fan service, either. The ink blots are still around for some self-censoring, though they also get used to transition between scenes. The nice animation is still around, too, and the writing even milks the material for a few laughs.The samurai style with two sword, she's very cute..:)
Basically, episode 2 merely confirms what episode 1 revealed: that this is the sharpest action and fan service-oriented title of the new season.
Watch Streaming episode at animedreaming.com
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