Jul 16, 2010
Seikimatsu Occult Gakuin, aka: "Occult Academy", is fairly new, with only 2+ episodes aired. And because it is so new, I can't say I have much to base the storyline on. I gave it a "10", mostly to show my high hopes for it. Having said that, they managed to fill the void of two episodes with enough plot twists to drive me crazy (in a good way). And they managed to fit in a lot of background without having to resort to a narrated picture show that explains. Nope, instead, they did it the better way. Through hints and scenes and flashbacks; very entertaining.
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And I love the Mystery/Suspense-Thriller feel to the show (it just made me want more!).
Art: The art was really beautiful, I have to say. I hadn’t expected its attention to detail to be so well done. In most anime’s all you get is plain, standstill images behind moving characters, but in Occult you had very detailed settings complete with an overgrown forest and the palace-like building in the center of it. The characters themselves have a very realistic way of walking, not the usual bouncing-and-moving-legs you see in other shows. I was impressed, to say the least. 10
Sound: The music was very beautiful, setting you up for suspense or awe, Tanaka (sound director) did a great job picking out the music. The sound-effects weren’t bad, but they weren’t drop-dead amazing either. They resembled a computer game actually, with the echoing footsteps and sounds that disappeared when you change camera angles (birds, fountain, etc). 8
Characters: They wasted no time in introducing the tuff-love protagonist, Maya Kumashiro. And after only the first episode you have a clear look at her persona: intelligent and resourceful, with a deep hatred for the Occult, easily irritated and could care less about what other people feel or think. And while her fashion sense is a little too riskay for my taste, she’s still an interesting character. 8
Enjoyment: You wouldn’t think there was much that could happen in 2 episodes, right? Wrong. Already they’ve thrown you into ‘Occult Academy’, tossed in a time-traveler, thrown in two near-death experiences and a possible conspiracy, and none of this is even the driving storyline of the show (if that was considered a spoiler, I’m sorry). Very fun. While it IS on the perverted side, it’s not filming something awkward every minute of the episode. The humor is somewhat serious, but it’s enough to hint that the comedy will get better through the anime’s progression. Definitely a Mystery/Thriller with SOME (slight understatement) blood and gore, and tons of suspense. 10
Overall, I enjoyed it. I recommend Seikimatsu Occult Gakuin, and while I normally can’t say I recommend animes to guys (I usually watch Shouji), this should have everyone glued to their computer screens.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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