And yet another interesting anime series is brought down by a prepubescent obsession with breasts and panties.
I really wanted to like this one. Funimation’s “Rosario + Vampire” sounded like it could be fun. And it has great music — very “Addams Family” in places with the harpsichord.
It’s about Tsukune, who gets rejected by every high school because of his poor grades on the entrance exams. He mysteriously winds up with an acceptance to Yokai Academy, which, it turns out, is a school for monsters. In fact, as a human, he should never have been able to breach the secret barrier and get on campus.
There are two rules that wind up keeping him safe: To better learn to integrate into human society, students are to remain in their human forms at all times and never reveal their monster forms to other students.
He quickly makes friends with Moka, a super sexy young vampire who develops a taste for his blood who told him her about her monster form before they knew the rules.
It starts out kind of cute. It is a high school comedy, after all, so I expect a little fan service humor (and the TV-MA rating gives you a clue). It’s a fun, fish-out-of-water premise. Plus, there’s an intriguing arc behind everything regarding Moka’s true vampire form, which is kept in check by a rosary she wears, and the fact that Tsukune, a human, is able to attend the school at all. I also suspect his cousin Kyoko, whom he frequently refers to, will be important later on.
Things start going the harem route when Tsukune also draws the attention of a sexy succubus and a young witch, much to the chagrin of the other male students.
That’s when things start going down hill. I made it through about half of the fifth episode and just couldn’t take any more. Especially when Yukari, the witch, who’s supposed to be about 10 or 11, gets involved, I just felt kind of dirty.
So if lots (and lots and lots) of bouncing breasts and faux nudity don’t bother you, enjoy the show. I’ll sit this one out. Which is too bad, because it’s really a show I thought I could like.
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