Otogi-Jushi Akazukin – Anime First Impressions

Otogi-Jushi Akazukin, or Fairy Musketeers Akazukin, is one of the super cute anime of the season. I had already seen the OVA, and I thought it was good. So how does the TV version of the anime stack up?

Souta, the main character, has a dream about his mom. In it, she tells him a fairy tale about how man had used science and magic to kick monster ass! Does anyone else think the king looks like the one from Burger King? Before he can finish the story, his mom gets attacked by tentacles (no, not how you’re thinking) and taken away. Souta is attacked by a giant bug, but he’s saved by Akazukin (red riding hood).

His childhood friend, Ringo, wakes him up and gives him the obligatory cuteness enhancing toast. They go to school, and Souta stops to wish the flowers good morning. I’m surprised he doesn’t get beat up for this everyday…

On his way back from school, he hears a voice reciting the same story his mom told him. The guy who tells him the story tells him he’s the key of Elde, flips out, and turns into an attack bug! Not again! This time, Souta’s saved by the blue talking dog, Val.

Val and Souta run away, but they’re followed by two bugs! Akazukin shows up and uses her sweet phone to save the say! No, seriously, she calls it a “Sweet Phone!”

After watching the OVA, the TV anime just feels really drawn out. Stuff happened a lot faster in the OVA, and another character was even introduced! The good part is that the TV version was completely different as far as what happened. So I didn’t have to just watch the same thing in slow motion. Next episode, the meganekko musketeer Shirayukihime is introduced. Hopefully it’ll get more interesting by then.

This anime really feels a bit too simple for me plotwise. The enemies are really cliche and remind me of the Power Rangers or something like that. I think if the cuteness levels stay high, I might continue watching this anyway.

The animation is pretty good for what appears to be a kid’s anime. Then again, there’s no clock in the upper left hand corner, so maybe it isn’t for kids…

Otogi-Jushi Akazukin’s character designs are really good, too. All the characters are cute in their unique ways. Even Souta is kinda cute, just don’t tell anyone I’m a Souta-con… Get it? Ha! I made a joke! I also like the design for Ringo and Shirayukihime. Way too cute!

The funny thing about this anime is that I think it’s supposed to be a simple one for kids, yet it so far has the best OP and ED of all the anime of this season. The OP is this cool synth type thing that stays in your head long after you’ve listened to it. The ED has a celtic type of sound. It’s different, and it works really well. I like it a lot.

Download the OP: “Douwa Meikyuu” by Yukari Tamura
Download the ED: “Clover” by marhy

The complaints I have with Otogi-Jushi Akazukin so far are the pace and the lame enemies. If they can avoid dumbing the anime down and keep the cuteness levels high, I’ll keep watching.