Black★Rock Shooter (OVA)

On her first day of junior high school, Mato Kuroi meets Yomi Takanashi. Though Yomi is initially taken aback by Mato's straightforward personality, the pair quickly becomes friends and begin to spend time together daily. As a sign of their friendship, Mato gives Yomi a cell phone charm—a blue star, identical to her own.

However, when the two enter their second year, their relationship starts to change. Placed in a different class, Mato begins to spend more time with Yuu Koutari instead, a girl she met through the basketball team. In fact, the former best friends drift apart so much so that Mato cannot find Yomi anywhere, as if she had disappeared entirely.

Elsewhere, Black★Rock Shooter is on a quest to vanquish the Dead Master. These two, while opposed, bear a connection not unlike Mato and Yomi. As their stories begin to cross, it seems Yomi's disappearance may have to do with the blue star-shaped charm and the legendary gunslinger herself.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Black★Rock Shooter Main

Hanazawa, Kana Japanese

Dead Master Main

Sawashiro, Miyuki Japanese

Kuroi, Mato Main

Hanazawa, Kana Japanese

Takanashi, Yomi Main

Sawashiro, Miyuki Japanese

Strength Supporting

Asumi, Kana Japanese

Black★Gold Saw Supporting

Koutari, Yuu Supporting

Asumi, Kana Japanese

Kuroi, Hiro Supporting

Kuno, Misaki Japanese

Kuroi, Mother Supporting

Nakamura, Hiroshi Assistant Producer

Yoshioka, Shinobu Director, Script, Screenplay

Kikuta, Hiromi Sound Director

Tanigawa, Nagaru Script

Reviews

Oct 26, 2023

THE_VISION_OTAKU

Recommended

I just finished making an AMV on this Anime. I have created this review to make a formal note of my thoughts on the show itself...

A Visually Striking Journey into Adolescence: Black★Rock Shooter (OVA)

This OVA is a unique and visually striking experience that can immerse viewers in a multifaceted narrative weaving together the complexities of teenage friendship and the enigmatic battles of a parallel world. This review delves into the aspects that make this OVA a noteworthy watch. (︶ω︶)

Story (Uniqueness and Predictability):
This adaption of the "Black Rock Shooter" story is undoubtedly unique in its approach. It combines elements of real-world drama with an otherworldly ... dimension where the mysterious Black Rock Shooter fights in battles with powerful foes. While some may argue that the storyline is somewhat predictable, especially if you're familiar with this genre's setup, it doesn't take away from the overall enjoyment. What makes this OVA stand out is the seamless integration of these two worlds, creating a narrative that explores the emotional struggles of its characters in a distinctive manner.

Art Style:
The art style in the OVA is one of its key highlights. It's visually striking, offering a unique combination of surreal and detailed character designs. The contrast between the real-world setting and the dynamic, action-packed battles in the alternate world is visually captivating. The art style adds depth to the characters and the story, making it a fitting and essential component of the overall experience. (*´꒳`*)

Character Development:
The characters in the OVA are well-rounded, each with their own set of strengths and flaws. Yomi and Mato, the central characters, navigate the ups and downs of adolescence with relatable imperfections and growth. Black Rock Shooters' parallel world serves as a representation of the girl's inner struggles. It's both ambiguous and yet a powerful connection. This balance between the characters' humanity and the supernatural elements creates a compelling dynamic that keeps viewers engaged.

The Realism of Character Reactions:
The OVA excels in depicting realistic emotional reactions to the challenges and events that the characters face. The emotional depth and vulnerability of the characters make their reactions authentic, making it easy for the audience to connect with and understand their journeys.

Audience Enjoyment:
Whether or not you'll enjoy Black Rock Shooter or this adaption of it. Will depend on your preferences. If you appreciate an anime that combines slice-of-life drama with intense battles and a touch of psychological exploration. Then, this OVA will likely resonate with you. It offers a unique experience that strays from conventional storytelling, providing an emotionally charged and visually memorable journey.

However, some viewers may not find the blend of genres as appealing. It's an acquired taste, and those who prefer straightforward narratives might not connect with the series.

In summary, Black Rock Shooter OVA is a visually captivating and emotionally charged anime that explores the complexities of adolescence through an innovative narrative structure. Its unique blend of genres may appeal to most viewers, especially those who appreciate its artistry and character-driven storytelling. It's a must-watch. The OVA manages to infuse depth into its characters while providing an immersive journey that is both thought-provoking and memorable.

If you read the review and would like to watch an AMV on the show: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLwTLx-OvN4]

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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Nov 17, 2024

AntyVerse2021

Mixed Feelings

I watched a video where a guy, with well-deserved contempt, talked about another guy who urged the shooting of Ukrainians in Poland like a dog.

I watched a video that explained why the game "Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City" came out so awful.

Generally there was a lot of explaining the manipulation of the anti-Ukrainian narrative and comparing, quite rightly, to how Jews in a certain country run by a mustachioed artist were perceived.

Capcom generally initially wanted to do a remake of "Resident Evil 2", but it ended up happening much later, so they used RE 2 as a backdrop for the events in a completely new ... spin-off.

Confused? That's basically the feeling you'll get when watching Black★Rock Shooter (by the way, does it read Black Star Rock Shooter or Black 9733 Rock Shooter?).

STORY ?/10

The OVA is basically two films: one is a quiet crumb of life about two schoolgirls who become friends, the other is action scenes with the titular Black★Rock Shooter. And the two films hardly interact with each other for the entire OVA. It's like if you watch "Clannad" and you get fight scenes with "Gurren Lagann" once in a while, and only towards the end it somehow comes together.

And this is where I have trouble judging the plot, because it's so disconnected. But on the other hand, there is a plot about two female friends whose friendship is sincere, but is also put to the test to a certain extent over time. And the fight scenes with Black★Rock Shooter are genuinely good, although they only account for about one-fifth of the total. Even linking these threads somehow works, but only somehow, because it only adds confusion to the whole.

Therefore, it is probably impossible to judge it objectively. Others will see it as an avant-garde endeavour, while others will see it as simply a big mess pointlessly glued together with saliva and duct tape.

GRAPHICS 8/10

Something I can certainly objectively assess, and positively, is the animation. Everything is nice, even though the two styles contrast quite a bit. The school part of the OVA is bright and pleasant, while the action part is more dark and packed with fluid fights with ok choreography. Both convey the atmosphere of their parts very well.

CHARACTERS 6.5/10

About the characters, I can say less: they are done OK. Don't expect depth of character here like, for example, in Violet Evergarden, but nobody here is annoying. On the other hand: nobody is particularly memorable. Even Black★Rock Shooter can at best be described as stoic, as she appears very little in her own anime (we like to call it "The Witcher of Netflix" syndrome). And that's about it. Surprisingly, it's the more down-to-earth characters, in the form of the two schoolgirls, that are more distinct and interesting, but that doesn't make them three-dimensional. They are easy to like, but not so easy to love. The most important thing is that it is easy to believe in their friendship, which is not, in my opinion, somehow overdone and even comes out naturally.

Provided you are not an introvert: for such an individual, any form of human interaction is an anomalous concept. A colleague of mine who I forced to talk to a woman in a manga shop can confirm this. We aren't friends anymore.

MUSIC 7/10

Funnily enough, it all started with music sung by Hatsune Miku, from which the energy of the early second millennium beats so strongly that I felt like I had jumped into a DeLorean and was listening to the Nightcore version of "Monster" by Skillet again.

The music in the OVA doesn't have that feel, and just as we have basically two unrelated films, we have soundtracks that are different for them. Again: both are done well, capturing different atmospheres, although not brilliantly. It's hard for me to say more than that, so I'll shorten it to "calm music makes you calm, and energetic music gives you a little boost as you walk through the school corridor".

AVERAGE SCORE: 7/10

"Black★Rock Shooter" is a title from which I did not expect such complications when reviewing it. I give it a good rating because there's nothing to fault on the technical aspects, but the story element is so strange and alien that even "FLCL" seems like a generic isekai title. Many years ago, when I was still in middle school and didn't watch anime regularly, on a school trip a classmate gave me an anime about teleporting lesbians to watch (which to this day I still haven't been able to find). This anime was still more understandable to me than "Black★Rock Shooter". Is that bad? No, because once in a while we need to expose ourselves to something completely different from our norm.

In fact, this makes "Black★Rock Shooter" not so much good, but unique. And I will always choose something unique over something done correctly but tasteless.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Jun 1, 2019

Mivquvix

Not Recommended

The characters in the other world look cool but the show mostly is in the real world and nothing is really happening. The slow build leads to a conclusion, lacking a finale. I still don't understand exactly how the two worlds intertwine.

AKA nothing happens
but u can watch the few fight scenes on youtube or something maybe the shows better i donno



Character: Boring

Otherworld Characters: cool, if they had any screentime
...
Story: Boring

Conclusion: This show tries to be deep to be can't excuse the fact that it's boring and stupid


I have nothing more to say how long do i have to make this review

Reviewer’s Rating: 3

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Five Figure Fridays: Black★Rock Shooter

With an anime adaptation, an OVA and a video game, there is no denying that Black★Rock Shooter is a successful franchise. The franchise spawned a fair number of figures, and we are here to help you choose just the right one for your collection.

by rinkya

11,019 views

CollectionCute GirlsFiguresWeapons