Sekirei

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to accompany a powerful but gorgeous maiden into the evil clutches of battle? Who knows what the outcome might be, but your place is not to question these things; it is to do as you are expected to. For some, this is a dream come true or even a heroic way to go, but for others, it is the biggest dilemma of their lives. What would your choice be?

"Sekirei" (Wagtail) is the anime adaptation of the Manga of the same name, produced by Seven Arcs, an animation studio based in Japan. The series was directed by Keizō Kusakawa, written by Takao Yoshioka, and produced by Kozue Kaneniwa and Shunsuke Saitō, and the music was composed by Hiroaki Sano.

From July 2 to September 17th, 2008, it aired in Japan thanks to an Aniplex production and a Funimation license. It spanned several networks, including AT-X, KBS Kyoto, Nagoya Broadcasting Network, Sun TV, Tokyo MX, TV Hokkaido, TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting, and Funimation Channel.

Sekirei comprises 12 episodes, each lasting 24 minutes, falling under the genres of action, comedy, and ecchi, alongside themes of harem and superpowers. It is targeted at the Seinen demographic. The anime was rated R+ due to its mild nudity. The first season was released on DVD in six volumes, with the first being released on October 22nd, 2008, and the final being released on March 25th, 2009.

The sixth DVD volume included an original video animation episode titled "The First Errand" (Hajimete no Otsukai), which featured Kusano, Musubi, and Tsukiumi participating in a shopping race. Funimation Entertainment announced the licensing of its first season at Anime USA in 2009, and it was set to be released in 2010.

Sakurako Gokurakuin, who both wrote and illustrated the manga series, is its creator. It was serialized in Square Enix's Young Gangan, a manga magazine targeted toward the Seinen demographic, between December 3rd, 2004 and August 21st, 2015.

Throughout its serialization, Square Enix published 18 tankōbon volumes of the manga series, with the first volume being released on June 25th, 2005, and the final volume being published on October 24th, 2015. On October 29th, 2009, a video game titled "Sekirei: Gifts from the Future" (Sekirei Mirai kara no Okurimono) was released for the PlayStation 2 by Alchemist. The limited edition version included figures of Musubi and Tsukiumi with Kusano in a panda suit, a 40-minute drama CD, and an illustration of Matsu.

The story of Sekirei takes place in Tokyo, referred to as Shinto Teito (New Eastern Imperial Capital), in the year 2020. The series's protagonist is a 19-year-old named Minato Sahashi, who is incredibly intelligent but lacks confidence in himself. He has even failed the college entrance exam twice due to his low self-esteem.

On the same day as his second college entrance exam failure, Minato encounters a girl named Musubi, who falls from the sky and lands on top of him. He soon discovers that she is a member of an extraterrestrial race called the "Sekirei."

The Sekirei can contract with humans with a genetic trait called an "Ashikabi." Through a kiss, the Sekirei and Ashikabi form a bond, allowing the Sekirei to access their full power and participate in elimination battles with other Sekirei. The Sekirei are composed of 108 members, consisting of many cute girls, attractive buxom women, and bishōnen.

Hiroto Minaka, the chairman and founder of the enigmatic and powerful MBI Corporation, organizes a competition known as the "Sekirei Plan," in which they participate. The competition involves the Sekirei fighting against each other, with the ultimate goal being to determine which Sekirei will ascend and become the "One True Sekirei," granting their Ashikabi any wish they desire.

As the story progresses, Minato finds himself amid the Sekirei Plan, a dangerous competition between the Sekirei and their Ashikabi. With six Sekirei now under his care, Minato must balance his growing feelings for each of them while dealing with the dangers of the competition. The battles are intense and life-threatening, with the stakes growing higher as the match progresses.

While the plot of Sekirei is relatively straightforward, there are some mysteries surrounding the identities and motivations of certain characters and the true nature of the Sekirei Plan. However, the story largely follows the typical ecchi anime formula of a hapless male protagonist meeting a beautiful girl and becoming involved in increasingly complex and dangerous situations.

There is a good twist for the more Story-invested fans: the beautiful Musubi is one of the Sekirei that the MBI corporation has released to participate in the Sekirei Plan. Despite the ecchi anime formula, Sekirei manages to keep its pacing exciting and engaging for the most part. The plot flows smoothly, and the battles between the Sekirei keep the story from becoming overly repetitive. While the story may only sometimes stay on topic, this does not detract from the overall enjoyment of the series.

Sekirei's characters are a highlight of the series. As previously stated, "Sekirei" is an anime series about a group of superhuman beings called Sekirei, each with distinct personalities, abilities, and motivations, and a young man named Minato Sahashi who gets swept up in their conflict.

The protagonist, Minato Sahashi, shall be discussed first. After dropping out of college, Minato is revealed to be an Ashikabi, a rare human who can form bonds with Sekirei and increase their abilities. Despite his lack of success in the classroom, Minato is a thoughtful and caring person who prioritizes the happiness of his Sekirei above his own. Throughout the show, he learns what it takes to be the New Director of the New Sekirei Project and grows up to assume the position.

Musubi is the first Sekirei to form an attachment to Minato. She adores Minato and is determined to win the Sekirei Plan to grant Minato's wish. Kusano is the second Sekirei to form an attachment to Minato. Despite her young age, Kusano displays immense power in controlling plant life.

Matsu, the third Sekirei to bond with Minato, is the group's brains. She excels at gathering and analyzing information, contributing immensely to their strategy in the Sekirei Plan. Tsukiumi, the fourth Sekirei, has water-based abilities. She is fiercely independent and initially opposes having an Ashikabi but eventually warms up to Minato. Homura, the sixth Sekirei, controls fire and has a complex identity, initially presenting as a male but finally accepting both genders.

Each Sekirei possesses unique abilities ranging from elemental manipulation, such as Musubi's enhanced strength, Tsukiumi's control over water, and Homura's pyrokinesis, to more specialized skills, such as Matsu's technopathy.

The girls, as a whole, are endearing, and they each have unique skills, interests, and goals. There is a romantic undercurrent to the story, but the series' true strength lies in the chemistry between its male and female characters. The dialogue is also well-written and exciting, which helps the reader care about the characters and what happens to them.

The art in "Sekirei" is also impressive, with fluid animations, vibrant settings, and good detailing to feast your eyes upon. The series beautifully combines conventional and digital techniques, creating a vivid visual treat for the audience. The color palette is vibrant and dynamic, perfectly capturing the characters' distinct personalities and their various superhuman abilities. The character designs are unique and detailed, effectively capturing the diverse cast of Sekirei and humans.

The background art is impressive, from the bustling cityscape to the tranquil scenes of the Izumo Inn. A lot of emphasis is given to lighting and shadow effects to set the mood of each scene, ranging from light-hearted comedic moments to intense battle sequences. Animation is smooth and well-executed, focusing on action scenes that showcase the various abilities of the Sekirei.

The visual style adheres to the traditional 'Seinen' aesthetic, balancing the line between mature themes and lighter elements. This is reflected in the character design, which employs a certain level of fan service, particularly with the female Sekirei.

Overall, the art direction enhances the storytelling and immerses the viewer in the world of Sekirei. From depicting their unique powers to character interactions, Sekirei's art plays a vital role in capturing the essence of the original manga and effectively conveying it to the anime audience.

While it may not be the absolute best in terms of graphics, the overall visual style of the anime is well-executed and deserving of some praise. The expressions and emotions of the characters are particularly articulate, adding depth and nuance to their interactions and helping the creators bring the story to life.

The opening theme for Sekirei is titled Sekirei, and the ending music used for the first eleven episodes is "Dear Sweet Heart." Saori Hayami, Marina Inoue, Kana Hanazawa, and Aya Endo, who respectively voiced the Sekirei characters Musubi, Tsukiumi, Kusano, and Matsu, performed both songs. The ending song for the eleventh episode is titled "Kimi wo Omou Toki," served as a single by Saori Hayami.

The Sekirei OSTs were released on July 23rd, 2008, and I must admit they did a great job in this department. The music was generally well-received, with the opening and ending themes praised for their catchy melodies and strong vocals.

Sekirei does a fantastic job of blending different genres into one without making too much of a mess, including action, harem romance, comedy, and supernatural elements. The series balances these other elements well, keeping the story engaging and entertaining throughout its run. While it doesn't wrap up the main storyline, the announcement of a second season gives fans hope that their questions will be answered sometime in the future.

Despite its few flaws, including some repetitive comedy and an emphasis on fan service, Sekirei is still a highly recommended watch for fans of harem anime. The characters are likable, the action scenes are well-done, and the story is engaging. While it may not be the most original series, it's still an enjoyable ride!