life line by line

Based on an hentai game / anime, Izumo - Takeki Ken no Hirameki is… well I can’t really describe it without getting an headache trying to figure what exactly it’s trying to be. There are so many cliche genres based on the first episode alone, that it’s pretty difficult to pin down the vibre of the series without watching more.

The best way I can describe Izumo is it’s a “Harem comedy meets X meets Fushigi Yuugi meets Magic Knight Rayearth… sort of.”

Update: Satoshi has his review up! Definitely go to his instead since he actually NAMES the characters, unlike my lazy self

I’m going to be brief on this as no doubt other bloggers will be reviewing and blogging the series.

• Ninja-like dude (so money that it has to be Nobuyuki Hiyama VA-ing him) owns soldiers after his arse. Apparently controls goblins/monsters?
• OP that makes absolutely no sense as of current. Lots of cute girls though
• Main Guy (too lazy to look up names but voiced by Mamoru Miyano) gets woken up in traditonal anime style
• Learn background about Main Guy and other girls (childhood friends… one very motherly-like while the other energetic little sister type). Apparently main guy lost his parents or something so his grandfather (seiyuu Kenichi Ogata) is taking care of him
• Typical walking to school. Learn that guy is in the kendo club and there is talk about who’s going to represent the school in the championships. Guy has no interest plus good/best friend is a shoe in since he’s way better.
• Meet said good friend. Rich but seems pretty nice.
• New transfer student coming back to Japan from America. Instantly spots Main Guy and latches on to him. They’re childhood friends yet guy doesn’t remember! Transfer Student shock~desu!
• The two patch things up later, with Main Guy using Charms(TM) without knowing it. Earns more brownie points with transfee
• Bit later, Main Guy is going to kendo club when little-sister childhood friend ask him about the rumors (ie. the transfer student). Pretty funny as in typical overly-attached and protective little sister type of way.
• Main Guy looks for Grandfather, who is also the coach for the Kendo Club. No find but runs into Best Friend instead. Best Friend slightly mocks him good-humorously about good fortunes with girls. Main Guy sees case to sacred sword is unlock and goes to have a feel… both are pretty amazed by quality and touch the sword. Flashbacks/future events ala X between the two, including the foreshadowed fight to the death against each other.
• One strange Eyecatch later, the two are dueling. Transfer Student Girl watches and cheers on Main Guy. Of course, since the Main Guy doesn’t really try or much loses to Best Friend.
• Back at home, looks like Transfer Student Girl is actually living with Main Guy and Grandfather. Siince they’re old friends and whatnot… anyway, Sisters friends apparently cook the meals for the family (i.e. the two males) even though they have their own home. Slight family bonding blah blah
• At night, Main Guy has dream again from scenes from the beginning episode with Maiden Girl calling for help.
• Next Day, Best Friend too has had the same dream mentioning it to all. Perverted jokes abound but no clues to the real reason behind dream.
• Classmate/friend guy (voiced by Yukimasa Obi, I think) drools over photos of Transfer Student Girl and claiming how lucky Main Guy is. Main Guy brushes it off as nothing etc etc.
• Main Guy goes to roof to relax and runs into Girl with Bird. Apparently they know each other somewhat (they are in the same class) but that’s about it. Girl slightly surprised that Main Guy could pet bird so easily.
• Best Friend practicing kendo. Forgot to mention that before hand, Grandfather announced that Main Guy would represent their school. Both Main Guy and Best Friend are all “WTF?!” Best Friend challenges rule so they’ll duel. Grandfather encourages grandson to do his best and actually try for once in his life. Anyway, Motherly Sister friend comes in asking for Main Guy but he’s not there (er.. at the kendo club). Best Friend pissed about ruling but the girl defends Main Guy saying he’s really kind and takes into account everyone else’s feelings blah blah blah.
• Time for the duel to decide who goes. Little Sister friend and Transfer Student Girl are watching from the windows as the duel begins. Main Guy gets serious, somewhat surprising Best Friend.. eventually Best Friend loses. Totally pissed.
• Motherly Sister Friend tries to consult Best Friend about lost… ends up with Best Friend looking just a tad mad and pissed at Main Guy. Goes on to say how Main Guy has “the life” so to speak… and looks like Best Friend has a thing for Motherly Sister Friend (might be vice-versa too) but in his rage at Main Guy almost hurts her. Main Guy to the rescue!
• … Bad idea. Best Friend more pissed when suddenly Maiden Girl from dreams call on him/them… All the girls introduced and the two guys start to vibrate and shake, no one having any clue what’s going on. Best Friend goes all SSJ blue transporting all those around him too!

Awesome synopisis right? Using NONE of their names at all! hahaha….

Seriously, I really don’t know what to make of Izumo. It looks like it has a somewhat decent, if already used, presence but with the way everything was presented in the first episode one can get confused by it all. Myself included. I really wish I knew more about the series, remembered the names of the characters, and knew who the female seiyuus were but alas… I’m lost. I will say however, the art production is very similar to Angel Tales and I wouldn’t be surprised if Izumo was done by the same company. Not a bad thing necessarily as the girls look very cute and distinct so there’ll be little chances of mixing up one girl for another.

Other than that, I don’t know what else I can say about Izumo. I’ll give the series a few more episodes to pan out and maybe, I’ll blog the series if there aren’t many bloggers doing it (currently only Satoshi has mentioned he would). Here’s hoping that the next couple of episodes will clear up all the images shown in the OP and give the viewers an actual clue to what the series is about.