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I really wanted to like this show. The premise is great, the world has a lot of potential, and there are many things this show does really well. Despite its gratuitious action scenes which are violent without being overly gory, the show never quite takes itself too seriously, and there are plenty of things to laugh about. It also has a typical ecchi harem subplot to add a healthy dose of titillation.

Despite all its good points however, it suffers from a single, major flaw, from which all its weaknesses stem: this story is far too ambitious for 12 episodes.

All the problems of ... this show could have been solved if it extended the same story to two seasons. There would have been more time to develop the characters and learn the motivations behind the various factions. It would also give more room for a few filler episodes so that it would feel like there's a middle to this story and not just a beginning and end.

Story: 3

Honestly, it's way too confusing. Again, this has to do with the fact that there's not enough time in 12 episodes to develop the plot. Also, there are too many factions with various goals. It's not a simple good-guys-vs-bad-guys show (which, admittedly, is to be expected from a show where the hero is a demon lord). Instead, you have various groups vying for power. When they all come to a head in the final episodes, it's hard to know who to root for because you don't know their motivations. Heck, they even introduce some new factions right in the final battle who show up just to add confusion to an already confusing plot.

It all gets sorted out in the end, though. I must admit, I really like the resolution to the show. The hero fulfills his role as Demon Lord better than anyone could have hoped and worse than anyone could have feared, while somehow still managing to remain a good guy. The final resolution is good enough to counter a lot of the problems of the show. Not quite enough to break even though, so I give the whole thing a 3.

Art: 6

Nothing spectacular, but I can't really complain about anything. The character designs are fine. It has a great looking dragon.

Notes on fanservice: There's a little nudity, but too often they employ convenient censorship. I mean, how can you have a girl (Keena) whose magic depends upon her being nude, yet somehow limit her frontal nudity to one brief scene?

Sound: 10

I score it this high because of the theme song. This is the one thing the show does perfectly. Normally it takes me three or four times listening to the theme song of an anime show before I really like it, but this one hooked me right from the very first time.

Speaking of which, let me take just a moment to comment on the opening credits. Totally badass! Easily my favorite opening of any anime. The theme song is great, right from the beginning with the electric guitar introduction and especially where the mana gauge cranks up to max just as the bass starts playing. I like the nightmarish imagery of Akuto running through the city and encountering all the different characters in the show. I get chills when the dragon bursts out of the ground and at the brief closeup of Akuto's red eyes. This is the perfect opening credits for an action anime.

Characters: 5

There's no time to really develop the characters enough to make them particularly interesting. The result is some canned characters that don't have enough time to establish themselves before they're forced to make life-changing decisions in the final episodes. The result is that we don't really understand them, therefore we can't empathise with them, therefore their motivations are confusing. That's not to say the characters aren't likable; they are. They're just not developed.

One other note: Personally, if I were the hero, I would just run away with Keena (after investing in the world's biggest rice cooker). Forget destiny. I know she's a bit of an airhead, but she's the only one who accepts him just for who he is, and doesn't care that he's a demon lord. Can you tell who my favorite character is?

Enjoyment: 5

The show has some strengths and weaknesses. There are some great moments, like the battle between the dragon and the flying battleship, the most absurdly comical resolution to a battle I've ever seen in Episode 3, and "I'm going to betray you all" in Episode 11. If only these scenes were fit into a cohesive plot... sigh.

Overall: 4

Honestly, the confusing subplots ruined this for me. There were some great parts, but not enough to overcome its weaknesses.

The tagline of this show should be, "Just like Strike Witches, but even more so!"

The plot is basically the same, some of the characters look alike, and just to make sure you don't miss the similarity, they hit you over the head with it in the first episode by throwing in a gratuitous scene where the heroine climbs a tree to save a cute little animal. You know, just like that identical scene in the first episode of Strike Witches. Maybe they were worried someone might accuse them of being original.

If the similarity bothers you, don't watch this. As for me, originality ... is way down on my list of important qualities I look for in anime, so I'm fine with it.

Story: 5

Giant robotic aliens are attacking the earth. A group of teenage girls has the power to defeat them, aided by technology created by the father... I mean, grandfather... of one of these magical girls, which allows them to fly around in their panties... I mean, in their shorts... and fight the aliens from the sky. If this plot sounds familiar, you've probably seen Strike Witches.

The main difference is the setting. Instead of a WW2-era alternate history, this one takes place in a near-future utopian society, where all the world's problems have been solved by unlimited access to essentially free energy. Of course, such a setting would be boring in an action anime, so naturally a bunch of alien robots have to show up to spoil everything. How rude of them.

As is typical in shows like this, the traditional military is powerless against these robots, so of course it's up to a handful of teenage girls with high tech weapons and powers to save the world. Take this show with a grain of salt and a double helping of willing suspension of disbelief.

Art: 6

Clean, bright, and shiny, just like you would expect from the kind of utopia the show presents. The character designs are cute, although they're not even trying to hide the fact that Akane is clearly based on Yoshika from Strike Witches.

The "mahou shoujo" transformations have an interesting high-tech flavor to them, reminding you that this is science fiction, not fantasy. Aside from that, they're your typical "superhero costume gradually appears on the girl" transformations.

Notes on fanservice: some nudity, but not a lot.

Sound: 5

Nothing wrong with it, but nothing really stands out either. The voice acting is fine. The theme song is fun but not as catchy as some. Akane's "vroom vroom" sing-songs as she rides her levitating scooter are cute.

Characters: 6

The heroines are all right, though not particularly interesting. They're stereotypical: the cheerful girl, the nice girl, the athletic girl, and the emotionless girl. Each of the heroines is associated with a different color and weapon. They can power up by "docking" with the main heroine in a slightly homoerotic version of the mahou shoujo transformation scene. (Speaking of which, there's a lot of innuendo built into the Vivid system, such as the fact that all the girls' main weapons have "naked" in their names. I suspect Grandpa is a closet pervert)

The most interesting character in the show is the villainess, but then I've always been a fan of sympathetic villains. In fact, you could even make the argument that she's the main character, despite not having as much screen time as Akane.

My main complaint is that the aforementioned grandfather's transformation into a stuffed animal serves no purpose in the show. It just feels way too gimmicky, like they felt obligated to add a cute critter to the show and couldn't figure out a better way.

Enjoyment: 7

I really like the tone of this show. It has some slightly dark moments, but mostly it's upbeat, cheerful, and exciting. It's an ironic mixture of a plot that you just know can't end happily for everyone, and a tone that makes you believe it will somehow all work out in the end. Spoiler: it does. Admittedly, there's a bit of deus ex machina to resolve one of the main subplots, but at least it has a happy ending.

Overall: 6

If you're not looking for something original, this is a fun and entertaining anime. Worth watching if you're not expecting the greatest show you've ever seen.

There seems to be a lot of hate for this anime, and the other reviews almost make me wonder if I saw the same show as everyone else, because I got a completely different impression from this anime than they did. In my opinion, Rail Wars is better than everyone makes it out to be, but I'll admit you absolutely will not enjoy it if you go into it with the wrong expectations.

Rail Wars is not an ecchi harem anime. Let me repeat that. It is not an ecchi harem anime. There's a minor harem subplot and some brief nudity, but ... this is really more a light adventure show, something akin to a police drama. You don't even have to be a fan of trains to enjoy Rail Wars, as long as you understand what it is.

I'll admit, it didn't grab me right from the beginning, but with every episode I watched, I found myself liking it more and more.

Story: 7

The show is about a team of interns in a railroad security force. The majority of the episodes deal with the kinds of adventures you might expect, such as bomb threats, terrorists, runaway trains, even a couple of kidnappings. Nothing particularly original, but again, if you know what to expect, you can enjoy it anyways. It's fairly episodic. There's the occasional 2-parter, but there really isn't much of a seasonal story arc.

I have to score it an extra 2 points for the emergency run in Episodes 8 and 9. It's like a cross between the movie Speed and the mine cart chase scene from Temple of Doom. Great excitement and adventure here, and you really see the team shine as they work together to overcome every obstacle that gets in their way.

My only complaint is that the last episode is anticlimactic. After all the exciting and adventurous episodes preceding it, an episode where nothing happens isn't how I want the show to end. Still, at least it doesn't leave it with an unsatisfying ending, or worse, a cliffhanger.

Art: 6

Pretty standard for modern anime. As you might expect, the trains are CG, but fortunately they don't overdo it. In too many shows like this, the CG stands out too much, but here it's more subtle, used appropriately for the sleek and graceful movement of the trains.

Sound: 5

The opening and closing themes are fine. The voice acting is all right, with good choices of voice actors for the various characters. The rest of the sounds just mostly get out of the way and let you concentrate on the story, which is all I ask in a show like this.

Characters: 6

The characters are stereotypical, yet likable. The core group consists of the quick-thinking and good-natured hero; the feisty and tough man-hater; the brilliant beauty; and the gung-ho, enthusiastic tough guy.

Individually, they're not all that interesting. Put them together, however, and you've got a team that can handle any problem, no matter how big. Not only that, but they're fun to watch, though perhaps not as entertaining as in shows that are less adventurous and more humorous.

Enjoyment: 6

A fun watch, with some great adventurous moments mixed with just enough humor to keep it from getting melodramatic. One thing irritates me, however. The team doesn't often get due recognition for their deeds. These guys deserve a dozen medals, a parade in their honor, and maybe a holiday named after them, but half the time they instead get a minor reprimand for not following protocol. Whatever happened to thinking outside the box?

Seriously, the one time they received a light punishment for their deeds, I tried my hardest to figure out what exactly they did to deserve it, but as far as I could tell, they not only did everything right, but saved a train full of passengers in the process.

Overall: 6

Worth watching, but not one you'll put at the top of your favorites list.

Ladies vs. Butlers is a typical ecchi comedy, which pretty much sticks to the formula and includes all the standard elements without doing anything that makes it stand out. It's not particularly bad, but then it's not particularly good either. Expect lots of nudity and a few hilarious moments, but no real redeeming qualities otherwise.

Story: 4

A school designed specifically to reinforce the hereditary social hierarchy. If you're from an upper class family, you come here to learn how to be prim and proper. If you're from a servant class family, you come here to learn how to be properly subservient to ... your betters. (Can you tell I'm cynical?) Fortunately, the anime doesn't really hit you over the head with it, like for example in They Are My Noble Masters. The school is just the setting, and the show is about humorous goings-on at the school.

Art: 4

The style isn't as clean as in some others, and something kind of bugs me about the character designs of the girls. I guess they're meant to be "voluptuous" but to me they just come across as chubby. Upon watching it a second time, I figured it out. It's most obvious on Flameheart. Her waist is too high, which makes her look like she has big hips. It's not quite as pronounced on the other girls, but it's still there. Also, I really don't like her "drill hair," but the fact that they turned it into a running gag keeps it from losing another point.

Sound: 5

The theme song is fun and catchy, although not my favorite. The voice acting and incidental sounds are fine.

Characters: 5

I'll be honest, there's nothing special about these characters. They're your standard harem anime characters. I don't like Saikyo's sadistic streak (worst childhood friend ever!), or Flameheart's snobbishness, but neither bugs me enough to lose a point. The principal is funny, and it would have gained an extra point if she played a larger role.

The hero is not one of the two harem anime stereotypes: the misunderstood good guy or the admitted pervert. He's not the pervert everyone thinks he is, but he's no "poor me" whiny brat either. He gives as well as he takes, as evidenced by his insubordinate attitude toward his betters, such as his banter with Flameheart. She gets the better of him as often as he gets the better of her, but his "I don't give a damn" attitude makes him particularly likable.

I do have one complaint, which is that I really don't like any of the girls. Part of the fun of a harem anime comes from choosing your favorite girl, but in this case, I think the hero is better off without any of them. The two main rivals, Flameheart and Saikyo, are each unlikable. The other girls are mostly forgettable.

Normally I would consider this a huge failing in a harem anime, but for some reason, it doesn't bother me too much here. The show is entertaining despite a lack of sympathetic characters.

Enjoyment: 6

It's just plain fun to watch. Don't expect anything deep or awe-inspiring, and don't even expect any particularly interesting characters.

Overall: 5

If you're into perverted comedies, you have to watch this one just to check it off your list. Otherwise, skip it.

Ecchi anime isn't known for its strong plots or deep characters, but this one doesn't even try. The storyline is sub-par, and the writing is awful. Despite that, it's worth a few laughs, and the occasional "They can't be going there!" moments (one word: cake). Despite the amateur quality of its visuals, sounds, and plot, it still ends up being a fairly enjoyable ecchi anime if you don't mind feeling yourself getting stupider as you watch it.

Story: 3

Chizuru the fox-girl tries to get into the hero's pants. Nozomu the wolf-girl tries to steal him away from her. Repeat for twelve ... episodes. Throw in the occasional magical battle and obligatory beach and hot springs episodes, and that's the whole plot of the anime. Yes, it's that dumb.

There are plenty of parts that make you wonder if you missed something earlier. For instance, why is Chizuru so infatuated with Kouta in the first place? And what's with that loli villainess that shows up for a few episodes? It never fully explains some things that seem like they should be important.

But seriously, Kouta should just be a man and take Chizuru up on her offer.

Art: 4

The whole show has a slightly amateur feel to it. The artwork is sub-par, but not so bad you really notice it. For some reason, the hero looks like he should still be in elementary school, not high school. I guess Chizuru and Nozomu have a thing for younger boys. That's right, the fox and the wolf are cougars!

Notes on fanservice: Some episodes employ strategic censoring, some show everything. And some show heart-shaped nipples. (WTF!)

Sound: 5

I like the opening theme. It's nothing special at first, but after hearing it several times, it kind of grows on you. Then there's the tango that starts up whenever sexy stuff happens. For some reason, it makes me laugh every time.

On the other hand, the English dub is pretty lame. Chizuru has an annoyingly breathy Marilyn Monroe voice, and most of the other characters aren't much better. There is one exception, however. I actually like Nozomu's monotone. I know the emotionless girl is fairly typical for ecchi animes, but somehow hearing it in English makes it hilarious, especially when she calls Chizuru names in that matter-of-fact tone.

Characters: 4

Honestly, the characters are pretty dumb. Chizuru is an oversexed magical fox-girl who is constantly trying to seduce the hero, and that pretty much sums up her personality for the entire show. There's really nothing more to her. Nozomu the wolf-girl also has a thing for the hero, though it never explains why except that he tried to do something nice for her when they first met. And she likes his smell.

Enjoyment: 7

Based upon my review above you might think I hate this show, but I actually like it quite a lot. Kanokon does everything wrong, but somehow still ends up being a lot of fun. I think part of its charm is that it's not one you get emotionally involved with; you can just kick back and watch an episode or two without any expectations.

Overall: 5

It has a lot of weaknesses, but its sheer entertainment value makes up for them. Worth watching for the perverted humor, but if you skip this anime, you're not missing much.

The second season of Maken-Ki. Don't watch this until you've watched the first season, because it otherwise won't make any sense. On the other hand, this is about the most generic "magical combat school" anime there is, so that's pretty much all you need to know ahead of time.

Just be warned that this show is half action-oriented and half ecchi comedy. If you're the type of person to be turned off by gratuitous panty shots, cleavage, and frontal nudity with obscenely large breasts, you should skip this one.

Story: 5

I'm not entirely sold on what they did this season. The characters and ... setting are already established, so they abandoned any pretense of having a seasonal story arc and went completely episodic this time around. If these episodes were presented in random order and you had to guess the order, you would not be able to do it, except maybe you might identify the last episode correctly. Maybe. Personally, I like a lot of filler so I'm fine with it, but after the lack of resolution in the first season, I was kind of hoping to see a continuation of the main storyline.

Art: 5

Not much to say. If you watched the first season, you'll know what to expect. I like the fact that Takeru no longer wears glasses. He looked too nerdy in the first season.

If I have one complaint, it's the obsession with Haruko's breasts. I get it; big boobs are kind of mandatory in shows like this, and I like them as much as the next guy. But there is such a thing as too big. In most of the scenes where they're exposed (and there are a lot of them), those udders are so huge that they're more grotesque than sexy.

Don't even get me started on Aki-sensei's breasts. Less screen time than Haruko's, but even more gargantuan.

Sound: 5

No complaints, but nothing extraordinary either. I like the theme song for the first season slightly better. The voice actors are all fine.

Characters: 5

There's no real character development. Different episodes focus on different characters. The hero from the first season is no longer the focus; he's just one of the core group now. You may or may not like that.

They got rid of a bunch of characters, specifically the villains and the "Venus" group from the first season. Since I didn't really like either all that much, I'm not complaining. Paring it down to just the main group gives the major characters more screen time, which is nice. There aren't too many to keep track of.

Enjoyment: 6

What I like most about this show is that it's not threatening. There are villains, but they're always dealt with by the end of the episode. You can just sit back and watch an episode or two without worrying about what comes next.

Overall: 5

A fun watch, if you're into action/ecchi shows. There's nothing spectacular about it, but nothing wrong with it either.

A school for magical combat. A loser kid with a heart of gold has several girls who are interested in him, although some of them won't admit it. It turns out he has a super powerful magic ability. Where have I seen this concept before? Oh, right. Everywhere. The plot isn't original. And the setting isn't original. And the characters aren't original. This anime follows the formula and does not stray from it one bit. If you like the formula, you'll like this anime.

Story: 4

A high school that teaches magical combat. Where have I ... seen this plot before? Oh, right. Everywhere.

It's kind of confusing. I never did quite figure out the rules of the magic system. After several episodes I finally figured out that Makens are magic items that grant their users magical powers. Elements are... I'm still not sure about this. And the Maken-Ki is the school's rent-a-cops, charged with preserving law and order on the school grounds. There are also bad guys, although I don't know who they are or what they're trying to accomplish.

Not to mention all the other sub-plots they throw in then never develop. Most are introduced as if they'll have a major effect on the plot, then five minutes later they're forgotten and never mentioned again.

The ending to the show was weak. Nothing was resolved. Maybe the second season will actually resolve something.

But at least the show did one thing right. It didn't drag out the ending across three or four episodes. The major conflict all happened in the last episode. The transition from Episode 11 to Episode 12 is odd, because it feels like they left out some important scenes, but at least it tells you everything you need to know.

Art: 5

Clean artwork. The character designs are fine, but not outstanding. Decent special effects during the battle scenes. Nothing to write home about.

Sound: 5

The theme song is kind of catchy, but not the greatest. No complaints about the voice acting, but nothing really stands out either.

Characters: 5

The perverted hero. The busty childhood friend. The girl who insists she's going to marry the hero. The gothloli. The idol. Where have I seen these characters before? Oh, right. Everywhere. There are also too many supporting characters. It should have stuck with the core group instead of adding a bunch of needless filler characters, like the "Venus" group that shows up halfway through for no apparent reason. Still, none of the characters are particularly dislikable.

Enjoyment: 6

Stereotypical characters, lackluster plot, not enough humor to make up the difference. It's a fairly enjoyable watch, just not spectacular.

Overall: 5

Upon watching it a second time, I wasn't quite so confused about the magic system and school politics, so I could enjoy it more. Still, there's nothing that makes it stand out from all the other magical combat school shows and harem comedies. For an anime that screams "mediocre" I can't justify giving it anything but a mediocre score.

PMS the Series... I mean, Freezing... is a show about busty teenage girls with super powers getting into petty fights with each other because they got their fragile egos bruised. Then a bunch of aliens show up and try to destroy the world.

In short, if you like sci-fi magic combat anime and are willing to turn off that part of your brain that insists that the good guys actually have some redeeming qualities, you might enjoy this one.

Story: 3

I score it this low because of the setting, which drives the plot. WORST MAGICAL COMBAT SCHOOL EVER!

Let me explain. The school claims to ... be run with military discipline. But this is the school's idea of discipline: Upperclassmen can beat up on lowerclassmen all they want, and if the lowerclassmen do anything about it, they get punished. That's right, this school is like three years of frat house hazing. It teaches you to hate people stronger than you and take out your frustrations on people weaker. Throw in the super powers, and the result is clear. The perfect school for creating super villains!

Wait... that's not the goal of the school? It's meant to train superheroes instead? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! You're kidding, right? What's that? You're serious? Wow. That is just soooooo lame. If this is where they train the heroes who are going to defend us against the alien invaders, then I'm rooting for the aliens.

I wouldn't mind so much except that this drives the plot for most of the show.

I score it a 3 and not a 2 or 1 because of the occasional tender scene between Satellizer and Kazuya. He's like her very own bad luck charm, but if you can ignore the fact that he inadvertently ruined her life, their relationship is kind of sweet. Plus I have no complaints about the battle against the Nova toward the end. Normally I hate it when a show suddenly introduces a new conflict toward the end, but in this case I was so tired of the girls fighting each other that it was actually a relief to see the Nova show up and give them someone else to attack before the school imploded from all the infighting.

Art: 4

Don't get me wrong; most of the artwork is fine. I'm just disappointed by the half-hearted job they did on the nipples when the girls get their clothes ripped off in battle. If they're going to throw out interesting characters and plot in favor of a bunch of boobie shots, they should at least make the boobies look nice.

By the way, in this case there's a perfectly valid explanation as to why the fights involve clothes vaporizing. The clothes are maintained by the Pandoras' powers. The benefit is that they can regenerate their clothes instantly after the battle. The drawback is that when the Pandoras get injured, their clothes take damage too. Think of the clothes as a kind of video game health bar.

Sound: 6

It mostly gets out of the way and lets you focus on the fights. +1 for the eerie howling of the Nova. Very alien, and very creepy.

Characters: 3

I can describe these characters in one word: unlikable.

A really cool nickname does not make an interesting heroine unless she can back it up, which apparently, Satellizer can't.

Kazuya is fine, although he's so forgettable that you could swap him out for any other hero in any other anime ever made and it wouldn't hurt the show. Actually, in most cases it would probably improve it.

The supporting cast is composed of whiny brats who have all the emotional maturity of a bunch of 5-year-olds. They need to be taken out of high school and sent back to kindergarten until they can learn to play well with others.

Enjoyment: 3

Look, I get it. Bodice-busting cat fights sell DVD's, and I have no problem with that. I'm not one of these morally upright types who get offended by the sight of a bare breast. But I want to watch interesting characters, not walking temper tantrums with boobs.

Overall: 3

Okay, I'll admit I'm not a big fan of serious combat anime, but I try to judge a show on how well it accomplishes what it's trying to do. By this standard, PMS the Series... I mean, Freezing... fails miserably. With mediocre characters and a plot that doesn't convince me that what the people are fighting for is worth it, this is one of the few animes I wish I hadn't watched.

But hey, at least they show a lot of boobs.

First, let's get this out of the way. "Begleiter" means "squire." i.e. a knight's assistant. But just like a caddy in professional golf isn't just a guy to carry clubs, a begleiter doesn't just handle the knight's equipment. He helps with strategies and tactics.

Set in some kind of alternate universe (I guess. It never explains it) that merges medieval and modern, this show takes place in a school for knights and squires. There's a rather unusual harem subplot, with all the girls not necessarily attracted to the boy, but more interested in his talents as a squire.

Story: 5

I have ... mixed feelings about the plot. There's a great underdog story in the early episodes, then the main plot doesn't just get put on the back burner, it basically vanishes for six episodes. Don't get me wrong, I actually like a lot of filler episodes, but in this case the balance was all wrong.

Fortunately, it picks up again in the last few episodes with the tournament. What I really like is that even though there can be only one champion in the end, the others manage to achieve something even when they lose. If I have one complaint about the ending, it's how the final match is presented. After the exciting and intense previous matches, the last one is anticlimactic.

Art: 7

The best part of the show. Let's start with the setting. Much of the show takes place outside, and it doesn't hesitate to take advantage of it. Lens flares and sparkling sunbeams add a touch of a dreamlike quality during the day, and there are plenty of sunsets full of warm colors. You're treated to scenes of green fields under blue skies, pink cherry blossoms, lazily rotating windmills, and lush gardens full of colorful flowers.

The character designs are fine, although nothing to set them apart from other animes. I'm tempted to subtract a point because I like girls with long hair, so it's kind of disappointing when Mio cuts her hair in the third episode. But she still looks cute with short hair, so I can't really complain.

All of that, however, is nothing compared to the jousting scenes. There's definite CG involved, but it blends well with an overlay of traditional animation. In fact, it kind of reminds me of old-school rotoscoping. The scenes have a certain kinetic energy and fluidity about them that is breathtaking to watch. It's not just objects painted over a static background; some shots feel like every frame was drawn and painted individually from scratch.

Notes on fanservice: A LOT of innuendo, skimpy outfits, and strategic censoring, but only a few nipple shots.

Sound: 4

This is probably the weakest part of the anime, although admittedly it could be because the visuals are so stunning that in comparison, the sound is disappointing. For the most part, it's just fine. The theme song is okay, and the voice acting is acceptable. My one complaint is that the internal music doesn't always fit the scenes well. This is especially noticeable during humorous scenes, where a poor choice of music or a lack of music altogether tends to slow down the pacing and ruin the timing of the jokes. For example, Episode 7 would be hilarious if the music didn't detract from the absurdity of it all. As it is, the episode is just worth a slight chuckle.

Characters: 6

The characters are all pretty typical for this kind of show. The pink-haired airhead, the beautiful and elegant student council president, the rich girl with her groupies, the emotionless loli, etc. etc. etc.

What I like, however, is how well the characters get along. Technically they're rivals in the upcoming tournament, but they're also friends. Even when they have conflicting goals, they support each other. And after the final tournament in the end, they can still all get together to have fun.

Enjoyment: 7

Walkure Romanze is a perfect example of what I call "marshmallow" anime. There's not much substance to it, but it puts a smile on your face regardless. In this case, it comes from the upbeat, feelgood tone, with its themes of friendship and taking time to enjoy the game instead of getting too focused on winning.

Overall: 6

Despite this being a sports-based anime (jousting is a sport, right?), it doesn't really get bogged down in competitiveness. There are no villains, and only friendly rivalries. It has a lot of weaknesses, but it's fun to watch. Plus, it has a great moral: winning isn't everything.