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I bought this title on VHS in the 90's and remember liking it, but I haven't owned a VHS player in 20 years now and haven't re-watched the movie in all that time. My rating on MAL was based on the hazy memories of a child and so I decided to watch it again. So how does the movie hold up against the fresh eyes of a somewhat more matured self? Well...

- Story & Theme
I can't say I remembered much of the main story and it's easy to see why. The story is good, but it's revealed to us in fragments and chunks and to ... a degree it's actually more of something that happens in the background as the movie focuses on the main characters and their events. The theme is a solid mix of historical fiction and supernatural action and they're woven into each other seamlessly. There's some nudity and a few attempts at sexual violence, but it's not really a theme and doesn't get gratuitous. Huge fountains of gushing blood, however, is a theme and the closest we get to comic relief is the laughable amount of blood that, with an over-the-top sound, sprays out as a body part is chopped off.

- Characters & Writing
The main protagonist is well written and his actions feel motivated and reasonable. Most of the other characters feel the same and they are fairly unique and interesting, but there are a few weak links. The most obvious ones are the main antagonist, who doesn't get enough screen time or development, and the female protagonist, who feels like she doesn't have much of a character beyond 'cursed female ninja'. The script is over-all competent but not great.

- Setting & Worldbuilding
This movie paints an interesting world that is based on Edo-period Japan with a lot of strange humans and seemingly supernatural techniques. We never get an explanation for why or how some people are twisted into these monsters, but there is also never really a reason for us to know. It's just how the world is. I'd like to see more of it and it would make for an interesting setting in a tabletop RPG.

- Style & Presentation
If you've ever thought to yourself 'Gee, I wish there were more pronounced chins in anime' then this is the anime for you. What the style lacks in big eyes and small mouths it makes up for in chins. The style is good and the characters distinctive, but the animation makes it clear that this wasn't a high-budget movie. Plenty of times we are treated to people staring in silence and each time we get a still frame with no movement. Some cels are also blatantly looped and the animation lacks smoothness. There is blood and action in abundance, but most action scenes are fairly short and sweet. Nothing overstays its welcome and the movie keeps a brisk pace even though it has plenty of scenes of silent contemplation or rest.

- Conclusion
This movie is not a masterpiece, but it's much better than one might think. There are flaws for sure but I still stand by my rating of 8, albeit a weak one. With better written female characters, better animation and a more present antagonist this could have risen to a strong 9. Perhaps nostalgia is part of that, but I really do think that what the anime does well it does really well.

Good production, nice design and eccentric characters with a thin but enjoyable harem plot. This has all the hallmarks of a solid 7 star series, but instead I give it only a 3. So why is it that this title deserves to be brought down so far? Well...

- Story & Theme
The story revolves around... Actually, let's put a pin in this and do the other categories first this time.

- Characters & Writing
This is one of those titles where the characters feel more unique than just stuck in their tropes. Also, most of them get a dose of character development which I always enjoy. They can ... get a bit over-the-top with their traits and you're never lured into thinking that this is a realistic anime in any way. The writing is cliché but functional for what it is.

- Style & Presentation
The style is good and looks nice most of the time, although I must say that the animation makes it look like a slide show a lot of the time. Clearly the focus was put on making this look good with as little work as possible. The intro theme is perhaps above average, but not by much and the outro is forgettable.

- Story & Theme
So... The story revolves around a twelve year old boy who ends up in a girls dormitory where he is put in a number of harem situations that are clearly not suitable for a child of that age. What makes this worse is that the girls are actively seeking these situations. Had the age of the protagonist been raised to 18 this would have been an unusually watchable slice of life ecchi harem anime, but now it only comes off as predatory. It's the kind of anime I imagine the voice actors leave off their resumé and only do because they need to pay the rent.

- Conclusion
Yeah, don't bother with this. I dropped it by the fifth episode and feel no need to watch further. Judging from the other reviews it doesn't seem to get better so just stay away from this and find something with a grown up protagonist if you're looking for ecchi.

Not much is different from the previous season so this review will be short and if you want to know more you should read my review on the original. Most things in there hold true here as well. That being said I do rate this higher than the original, but what is it about it that makes me bump it up a notch on the scale? Well...

- Story & Theme
Okay, so the backstory is obviously still the same; the male protagonist is still a zombie magical girl/crossdresser and there are still three girls living with him. This time around the main story feels a bit ... tighter and has a better flow through the episodes. It grows on you through the series in a way the first seasons story didn't. The one drawback is that it isn't really concluded and with this being 12 years old I doubt we'll see a continuation. There's an OVA episode, but it's not related to the main plot.

- Characters & Writing
Most characters remain, but there are a few new ones. The main antagonist is especially interesting and we get to see some character development in the other characters too, which is welcome. The tropes are still there, but they feel more pushed to the background to let the individual traits shine a bit more.

- Style & Presentation
No real change here from the first season, but the intro and outro themes are really good. They were good in the first season too, but there are little things in this seasons themes that make them sound more well produced and less written to a formula.

- OVA episode
Not as much ecchi as the the first seasons, but still not worth watching. A filler episode with a bit extra fanservice.

- Conclusion
If you watched the first season you should go on to watch this, mostly for the character development and better writing. It's too bad that it feels unfinished, it really builds up to a continuation, but that doesn't take away from the good that's in here. You should probably watch the first season before this and with that in mind I'm a bit ambivalent if I should recommend this or not. The first season is fairly short though.

More fanservice than harem, more occasional cross-dressing than gender-bender and a story that isn't all that coherent. So what strengths does this anime actually have? Well...

- Story & Theme
We're told the backstory early on and it's not very complicated. The protagonist dies, is turned into a zombie by a necromancer and is now immortal. In the first episode he is also turned into a chainsaw wielding magical girl and then a vampire ninja becomes his servant. It's an over-the-top take on the harem genre, but for a harem it isn't really played out as one. The main story revolves more around the necromancer and her ... powers, although the first episodes establish the characters rather than have much plot and most of the series focuses on gags and violence rather than story. It's seldom very serious, but it has its moments. It also has a lot of fanservice, especially the two OVA episodes (I will not be writing a separate review on those).

- Characters & Writing
The characters are based on tropes, but they still manage to come through as their own characters. Not too deep or complicated by any means, but enough to make them distinct from other animes. The writing is mostly fun and silly with serious, romantic or over-the-top weird scenes thrown in every now and then. Don't expect a masterpiece of writing, but it's competent and works well for what it is.

- Style & Presentation
The animation and style isn't the best so don't expect anything fantastic. Still, it's not terrible by any means, perhaps with the exception from the few times it uses poorly done 3D. Monsters are mostly large animals with clothes which plays into the weird and silly and the other antagonists look like humans. Every now and then there are scenes with an abundance of blood, mostly when the chainsaw is used, and the action scenes are fairly well directed and do not drone on for too long. You'll see a lot of ecchi moments and they often feel a bit cringe, although at times they're tied into the plot.

- OVA episodes
I'll mention them briefly here because they're just two short episodes with even shorter stories in them. Basically, they are simply fanservice to the point where they're hard to watch, even at their short lengths. The stories aren't very good or interesting and they don't tie into any main plot. You can give these a skip.

- Conclusion
There's no single thing about this anime that is outstanding, but the show is nonetheless entertaining and I'd say the different elements tie together well enough for the show to become more than just the sum of its parts. It did make me chuckle from time to time and the fact that it's not too long also helps. The pacing is good and nothing really overstays its welcome, but I would have liked to see a more clear main story and more character development. It's a good enough anime to watch if you feel like it, but I'm not sure if I'd actually recommend it to anyone. Also, you can skip the OVAs even if you plan to watch the second season.

This is said to be a harem and gender-bender series, but I'd say it's not really harem enough to be a harem and the gender-bender aspect isn't explored a whole lot. So how come I still think this is worth a watch even though my expectations weren't really met? Well...

- Story & Theme
A teachers headache and a teachers pet accidentally kiss and switch bodies. You might think you know how that will turn out, but the series quickly changes into something else and what could have been a predictable story about two different people forced to live each others lives turns into a search for ... others with strange powers and the friendships that are forged along the way. There is an element of romance in it, but it's played out in a way that feels more natural and part of the character development and story rather than what the anime is all about. It's not a deep or thought provoking story by any means, but it's also not predictable or assembled from a blueprint.

- Characters & Writing
There are no real tropes here, which is refreshing, and each time you think one might pop up you're soon treated to a step away from archetypes and each character feels like an actual person. While the supernatural stuff in the story surely isn't very believable the characters are and their behaviour is more often than not quite reasonable. Everyone is likable and relatable and there are a lot of good vibes. The protagonist is a delinquent, but that's not his defining trait and both he and everyone else develop their characters throughout the series.

- Style & Presentation
Animation and design is good and functional, music and sound is the same. You're not going to find anything here that stands out but it's well done and fits into the rest.

- Conclusion
Perhaps the best way to describe this is comfort food anime. It's short, sweet and well done in all aspects. It's not an explosion of flavor or anything exotic or spicy, but it ticks all the boxes for a solid experience. I can recommend this if you want to watch a romance anime with some supernatural stuff and some good character development. What holds it back is that it really isn't anything all that special about it, but in a way that's actually fine. This anime knows it isn't revolutionary and it doesn't try to be either.

Another movie in the series and I guess I shouldn't, but I watched it anyway. At least I know what to expect. So, were my low expectations met or were they delightfully shattered? Well...

- Story & Theme
It's a school trip, but surprise; it's also a training camp, but surprise; another school will also be there, but surprise; there are even more complications. This exposition takes up about a third of the movie during which time nothing else really happens apart from them travelling and talking. You know the old phrase "show, don't tell"? The writers of this didn't. Also, there is no tension at any ... point since the young girls who are attending assassination school do everything perfectly.

- Characters & Writing
The same characters are here that were in the previous two episodes, but we also get a bit of interaction with Thanatos from the earlier series. There are a few new girls from the other school as well. Because apparently only young girls are fit for covert ops. Also they dress as nuns, even on mission. Long wide dresses are apparently good for sneaking around unseen. And their garments are bullet proof. The only thing the teacher hired in the previous story does throughout the movie is to be surprised that the girls at an assassination school talk about weapons and eat chicken. Some characters almost have some development going on, but it's not enough to mention.

- Style & Presentation
Still the same. Fine but not noteworthy.

- Conclusion
This movie advances the franchise from the "cute girls doing violence" genre into the "cute girls doing violence without any stakes" genre. It's OP boring with surface level relationships and a few more tragic backstories that try to fill in the void of not have any interesting characters. So no, my low expectations were not subverted or shattered but instead pretty much exactly what I got out of this.

This is really a movie in two episodes. I thought that I might as well watch it since I'd already watched the earlier stuff and it's only two episodes. So, how did this measure up to this decidedly 'meh' series? Well...

- Story & Theme
After the 'Eden' series events the clandestine government organization that Yuuji worked for was exposed and restructured. As a part of this the school in the first series became a school for new agents. Basically, the idea seems to be that since everyone now knows that the country has a taskforce of assassins they might as well train them in public. Only ... young girls though, for no given reason. Oh, except one guy who I guess you're supposed to identify with. The actual story is a short and simple one that feels like a filler story.

- Characters & Writing
All the girls from the previous series are here. Or, rather, they've created "new" characters by renaming and redesigning the original characters, sometimes smashing two of them together. In actuality, none of the original characters are present and with the exception of a few references to the earlier series this could have been something completely different and I wouldn't have noticed.

- Style & Presentation
Still the same. Fine but not noteworthy. At times the animation becomes badly animated chibi style, but while I get that it's supposed to be humorous the timing isn't good enough to work as a gag.

- Conclusion
What started out as an interesting (though badly executed) premise for a harem has now become a full blown "cute girls doing violence" anime. Apart from that and a few panty shots there is really nothing here to entice any kind of interest. I just finished watching both episodes and I find it hard to remember what happened. It's bland, boring and not really worth your time unless cute girls doing violence is something you like a lot.

The first series lacked a cohesive narrative in a possibly interesting world. The special episode between gave the backstory to the protagonist and this series picks up right after that. All the pieces are in place for an interesting conclusion. So why do I consider this to not really be worth the watch? Well...

- Story & Theme
The protagonist has told his story and the girls at the academy have read most of it. Now he gets accused for a crime and the girls must rescue him. The story is fine for what it is, but it's not anything special. With a greater focus on the ... girls doing stuff without the protagonist we do get less Gary Stu in the mix (at least at first) but unfortunately there's a Mary Sue Deus Ex Machina that shows up to take over a lot of those duties. The whole show is slathered in a faux deep coat of "the world is what we make of it" and a thick layer of gun and violence fetish. The bad guys and the good guys do the same things and I couldn't really spoil the main goal of the antagonist if I wanted to because there really doesn't seem to be one.

- Characters & Writing
I'd say it's a bit late to start letting characters be characters when you're effectively in the second season of a show, but I guess it's better late than never. Seeing the girls interact with each other as people and not just vessels for a tragic backstory is nice and adds some sorely lacking personality to the story. However, it's not long before you realize that the little bit of personality you get in the beginning is all you're going to get throughout the series. There is no development at all here for any person and by the end of the series you really don't care what happens because they're all just tropes, not people. The fact that the Mary Sue swoops in to take away a lot of the agency from the characters also doesn't help. Basically there are only three traits: Simping for Yuuji, wanting to kill Yuuji or being OP. All characters are mainly a combination of those three traits with anything else being whatever made it into the series from previous episodes.

- Style & Presentation
Nothing special here. The animation is fine, the music is fine, the style is fine and so on, so forth. Bland but functional.

- Conclusion
There is a lot that isn't really great about this series, but there are still some entertaining scenes. With better writing and actual characters this story could have been really good and perhaps that missed opportunity and wasted potential is what really gets to me. Well, that and the fact that this anime is clearly made to appeal to a demographic rather than to tell a story.

I normally don't write reviews for single episode shows that are just part of a larger series, but I'll make an exception here since I do have a few things to say about this. So what is it that compels me to write about what is essentially just episode one of the sequel show? Well...

- Story & Theme
One criticism I had about the first series was that it didn't really focus a lot on the protagonist and this time around it's the opposite. This is the big backstory episode where you get to learn all about Yuuji Kazami and who he is. The problem is ... again that the story is just about the story and never really the characters. There is little actual growth or change beyond what is expected and while we get to see many new characters they all fade away quickly from the mind. The protagonist is still a Gary Stu and this time around there is quite a lot more fanservice and implied sex between people of inappropriate ages and inappropriate positions of power. There's a large serving of male fantasy scenarios written for and by people who, most likely, have little to no actual experience with anything like it. The incest vibes are strong too and the bad taste from the first series was quickly replaced with a worse taste from this episode.

- Characters & Writing
Did I mention that Yuuji is a Gary Stu? Because he is such a Gary Stu. He is good at almost everything he does, instantly liked and adored by all women and quickly end up in what seems to be the wet dream of any 13-year old boy. At times he comes off as an autistic savant, but then he is shown to have a good grasp of social interaction and none of the problems. There is no real tention anywhere because of this, coupled with the fact that it's a prequel story so we already know what will happen to him. The rest of the characters suffer from being written only to play up the protagonist and there are plenty of situations where people do things that simply does not make sense.

- Style & Presentation
Nothing special here. The animation is fine, the music is fine, the style is fine and so on, so forth.

- Conclusion
In all, this isn't a great episode and while a bit of background is needed for the next series to make sense it isn't handled very good. Parts of it are entertaining while others are plain boring or just bad. Nothing really stands out here and the pacing and timeline is all over the place. If you want to watch the series that comes next this episode is, unfortunately, required viewing but if you're on the fence I can tell you that while the series that follows is better than this it's only better than the first series in some regards and worse in others.

When looking for light hearted harem animes to watch I came across this one. The review I read said it was a harem with some serious issues being discussed and the idea of a more serious harem with possible interesting character development enticed me enough to have a watch. So how does it stack up to other harem animes and how dark and serious does it really get? Well...

- Story & Theme
The premise is simple. The protagonist is transferred to a school. It's obvious from the start that he has some baggage and that the school, a huge one with only a few girls as ... the students, isn't an ordinary one. As no surprise, then, it is clear that the girls aren't exactly ordinary girls either. The story is less about the protagonist and his background and more about the girls and how the protagonist helps them with their respective baggage. It's fine for a short anime as this one and I'm glad they didn't stretch it out longer or add more girls.

- Characters & Writing
I wouldn't say that the girls are the most unique I've seen, but they do stay away from the obvious tropes. Even the obvious tsundere girl openly admits to being tsundere because that's an archetype she's trying to fill, making it a bit of a parody on other harem stories. But I can't help but feel that the writing and characters are lacking and that more could have been done with them. Especially the protagonist seems like a full on emotionless Gary Stu and not much else. The writing is uninspired and cliché, but not terrible. Some characters give fanservice, but it actually feels pretty natural most of the time and is handled well.

- Graphics & Style
Perhaps it's because it's set in a large school with only a few people in it, but much of the style is empty and boring. It helps a bit with setting a lonely mood that fit with the rest of the show, but it also comes off as lazy. Don't expect anything mindblowing here, the style and animations do what they need to do but not one iota more.

- Bits & Bobs
There are times when the protagonist comes off as an asshole. Sometimes that's just a way of subverting expectations, but sometimes it's because the show is trying to play him off as cool, smart or even caring and the result is a sour taste left behind. After glancing at some of the other reviews it seems like this show was based on a visual novel and that makes it even worse. It's not all the time and it's not by any means as bad, but I get the same sort of vibes here as I did from Redo of Healer, and that's not a good look at all. It can be ignored for the most part though.

- Conclusion
This show is not really a harem and while the story and characters could have been great there is a lot of missed potential here. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants some interesting stories or likes OP main characters doing heroic things. Over all it is a show catering to the male fantasy (so I guess that's the harem aspect they really got right) but only for guys who are misguided about what being a man is about or should be.