Anime: Special A

When one sees visuals of “Special A” and reads that the main premise of the series follows the school days of a select group of intelligent, rich students at their prestigious school that has created an exclusive elite class for them called S.A., one can't help but to think of “Ouran High School Host Club”. Add the shared element that the wealth, insane levels of talent and skill that some of the members possess is often plastered all over the screen. The fact the group in “Special A” has one commoner among them, Hikari, quickly makes one think of Haruhi from “Ouran High School Host Club” to boot.

However comparisons end roughly there as Hikari and Haruhi are quite different characters. The relationship between the “Special A” leading couple Kei and Hikari and the “Ouran High School Host Club” couple Tamaki and Haruhi also plays out differently, and although both anime series don't have an entirely conclusive ending regarding the main pairing, the relationship between Tamaki and Haruhi does feel just that bit better paced and played out.

Spanning 24 episodes, “Special A” pulls the plot card of Kei and Hikari's love and possible relationship fairly soon in the series and even though enough episodes revolve around it, no real progress is made until the final episodes. Given that a large part of that is due to Hikari being totally oblivious to Kei's and her own feelings, her being an airhead about it may become annoying to some viewers. Especially since Hikari is no idiot but has excellent academic skills and is only dense about love, especially when it involves Kei and her own feelings.
Seeing several romantic pairings between the other characters form in the episodes in-between, perhaps it might have been better if they had only touched upon Kei and Hikari's relationship a bit later on so its pacing would not have been so slow.
Luckily the Kei and Hikari pairing is an unexpectedly good one. Childhood friends due to their fathers being acquainted, the straightforward and honest Hikari is a perfect match for the near emotionless genius Kei since she literally brings a ray of light in his else very cold and businesslike environment. No doubt that is why he has always loved her, she may not be of wealthy descent but she holds everything he lacks in that world.
The added gimmick that Hikari sees Kei as her ultimate rival and is hell bent on beating Kei in whichever task or test they perform adds some uniqueness and is the source of many jokes. Though it gets a bit repetitive towards the end when Hikari seems to desperately grab on to seeing Kei as a rival in order to not have to face up to the fact she's in love with him and always has been.

The other members of the S.A each have their own distinct personalities which offsets their more generic visual appearance, or their unique quirks which in turn leads to scenes filled with laughter but also when brought at the wrong time, can seem a little annoying when it causes the series to switch from a serious tone to a humoristic one too fast.
Throughout the series, some other characters are brought forth as seemingly purely evil influences bent on hurting the SA group, but most are redeemed as the series progresses, though it is especially Yahiro that is initially brought front as a nemesis.
One could say the final episode where Hikari pursues Kei makes it seem the rest of the cast are just dragged into it to show off their most common trait or role, but it also serves to show their group is a tightly knit band of friends that stands together.

Regardless of the romantic pairings and story, what I most appreciated in “Ouran High School Host Club” is the continuous barrage of humor and jokes that could have one laughing through their tears. Next to the romantic elements “Special A” also delivers tons of humor and jokes, however it doesn't seem to really reach up the level of “Ouran High School Host Club”. In that, “Special A” is nice but not really special since it doesn't excel. It is a nice comedy, but not the best one out there.

Animation throughout the series is decent to good, save for several scenes where corners are cut or the animation drops slightly it's always enjoyable to watch and never drops far. Typical for such a romantic school comedy are the bright colors, stylish school uniforms and extravagant settings.
A welcome change is the more realistic hair colors of the main characters, it's always nice to see a series that can have a diverse cast of characters that sport realistic hair colors.

The background music is generic for series of its genre, it does not really stand out but accompanies the scenes well. The OP songs are another matter, I must confess out of my own personal taste I found them both to be rather atrocious and soon skipped through them when watching an episode.

I have not read the “Special A” manga so I can not say how the anime compares to it or how faithful an adaptation it is.
Regardless, “Special A” will be an enjoyable romantic school comedy for everyone that they will surely enjoy and have a lot of laughs each episode!

This is a slice-of-life anime about seven geniuses and their not-so ordinary lives. The show is mostly based on humor with hints of romance/friendship/action as well. Certain parts of the series were fairly well done but the lack of focus (the protagonist role somewhat rotates between the seven) left the series with a feeling of incompleteness (much like Shuffle! Memories).

If you've got nothing else to watch then this is not bad. Don't expect it to blow you away though.

Animation:
At first, everything looked really nice. Then you notice that the people have really long, slender limbs, which is distracting at first but tolerable. Colors are a bit washed out but only a minor annoyance compared to the limbs. Other than that, the show is well done. When supposedly touchy-feely moments occur, snow-flake or lace-like patterns show up around the corner of the screen (seeming to suggest shojo?).

This show is free of fan service and ecchi moments. A nice break considering that I just finished Kanakon and Shuffle... Overall, it was well done but I think it could have been polished some more.

Sound:
Ow... the OP/EDs hurt my ears... This is one of the few series for which I actually skip the intro/outros on purpose. The actual BGM in the series isn't that bad but nothing special either.

VA's are really good (esp Hikari) and give some vibrance to the show.

Overall: Music 2/5, VAs: 4/5

Story:
This is a story about seven really smart friends (six of whom also happen to be ungodly rich) and their lives in high school. Basically, they are known as the Special A. They have special uniforms and go to class in a greenhouse (why?). Actually, you never see them go to class for the most part. They just sit around chatting in the greenhouse and occasionally Akira will bring some treats or coffee.

Each of the characters have a few episodes dedicated to character development though a good half of them focus on Hikari and her competition with Kei, who is always ranked #1.

The majority of the episodes just show the seven doing crazy antics and not-so ordinary extra-curricular activities such as traveling to Hawaii. However, most episodes do contribute to the plot (though some only minimally). There are a few supporting characters whose roles are not really apparent until near the end of the show.

The pace of the ending does not match the rest of the show (it is somewhat sudden) and the falling action is somewhat pointless, essentially rolling back the series to the status in ep 1.

I think the execution of this was probably one of the weaker elements of the series. People who are more plot-driven may drop this series due to the fact that not much happens.

Character:
This series is somewhat unique in that I couldn't really tell if it was more plot-driven or character-driven. Whenever I think one is dominant, the next episode pops up and contradicts what I thought prior.

Anyways, as previously mentioned, each of the seven main characters gets a fairly large amount of character development. Or rather it's more like character explanation. Sometimes an entire episode is used just to explain a particular trait of one of the characters, such as why Jun avoids girls.

More intimate relationships do build between some of the SA but the story behind these seem half-baked. The obvious one from the beginning of the series is that between Hikari and Kei. Kei is always #1 at everything which means Hikari is always stuck in second place. The two have been rivals since they were little kids but apparently Kei likes Hikari, who is too dense to realize it (sigh...).

Don't expect the series to be too realistic. For instance, the characters will randomly be able to memorize entire textbooks with photographic memory. A large portion of the SA also possess unbelievable strength and stamina.

Overall, the characters are portrayed fairly well though they are too hard to relate to at times. The series really didn't get me too interested in any particular character.

Value:
This series implied a few things that somewhat irked me. For instance, all the smart people = rich people, implying that money buys brain power. Also, despite being the smartest people, we often find the SA in a disorganized state and resolving supposedly simple problems in very odd, extravagant ways. Not really what I'd expect from geniuses.

As for actual series quality, as I was saying before, some parts were good but others were quite poorly executed (the pain...). For its length, you can find better series out there. If you're into the dense, hard-working girl trying to best a guy who likes her, Kaichou wa Maid Sama is a much better watch.

Story: 5/10 (Warning: potential spoilers in this section)

The initial plot reminded me of His and Her Circumstances, with a common girl trying to rival a super smart boy with a higher social standing, but this series is way more cheesier because of the slap-stick cartoony nature.

At it's core is a comedy and every other aspect is used as a means to create more comedy. The romance part is not true romance as it's doesn't ever appear to evolve out of it's comic relief state without reverting back.

The story is made up of many small stories in a slice-of-life style sequence. There are tragic moments in which you are left in suspense where you want to know what's next, but it's all filler leading up to how the relation between Kei and Hikari develops beyond a simple rivalry, which is clearly displayed in the very last episode, where everyone gives all of their support to Hikari.

The story has it's flaws, which I added to the notes section below, which take away from the overall quality of the story.

Animation: 6/10

This is essentially a cartoon dressed up like an anime.

Very sharp settings and lines throughout. It maintains it's bright theme, is attractive and pleasing to look at for the most part, but is inconsistent at times and recycles a lot of scenes (example: greenhouse fans). It's animation style fits the cartoon comedy setting quite well with the quick and jerky motions, physically impossible feats, and all.

Sound: 7/10

Very good use of sound throughout. If there's an opportunity to use a track, they used one. Almost every action had a wacky cartoony sound effect. There's hardly any dead air at all.

The OP and ED songs weren't bad at all and suit the series with the young vocals and energetic pop (and slow memory-setting tones of the initial ED).

The voice acting was good. Though, I think they sounded much older than they should have.

Character: 5/10

The bulk of the show's value lies in the characters themselves. That's not saying much... I think the characters are shallow because the character development is based off each person having a single core trait rather than a true living personality. It's about as interesting as watching someone play the Sims - they do practically the same thing every ep except when the ep focuses on them (after that ep, nothing really changes and they're back to the same). Hikari is exception though - she is the only one that is truly developed.

Value: 5/10

This is a heavily cliched high school comedy. Funny at times and not bad overall, but has no aspects which impressed me and it has relatively little depth. I enjoyed it, so I tried not be harsh with the rating, but this is dull in comparison to School Rumble which outdoes this in every way.

If it weren't for the well done visuals and audio and charming main character (Hikari), I wouldn't have continued watching this.

Enjoyment: 7/10

Overall, it's better than average - good enough to watch all the way through. It's not something I would recommend to everyone or say was memorable. If you really love high school comedies, and have watched all the other great titles, with characters going through a period of puberty and discovering the nature of the world, then you can probably get some limited enjoyment out of this.

I don't know why, but this reminds me of Tiny Toons (90's Warner Bros. cartoon), which I fondly watched during my childhood.


Notes:

After I learned more about the characters, I find that the first meeting between Kei Takshima and Hikari a pure mystery even after watching it again. Why would he visit Hikari and who's the tall person in the suit? Definitely not his dad, which rules out the dads being old acquaintances theory (though her dad knowing of Kei's skill remains suspicious). Also, I totally forgot she even had a brother since the only time he was shown was in the first ep.

If Kei is the one largely behind the huge success of Takshima Corp., why is he being "bullied" around by his own employee? His dad doesn't seem to be the type to strong arm - more like the type to beg and squeal for Kei to comply.

Just as some trivia, if you haven't noticed, Kei has the same voice actor as Lelouch from Code Geass. I really didn't see the connection until the ep with the athletic park where Hikari urges Kei to wear a jersey and he stands there and continually refuses in his unwavering and powerful manner.

Also, does it ever rain in the series? I don't remember. I figured it stayed bright and sunny the entire time unless it suited the mood.

Please rate me, and I'll promise not to turn into a demented IRS agent.  This review is based on the m.3.3.w. HD fansubs and may be revised once the DVDs are out. But I doubt it.


Quick Take: A somewhat disappointing adaptation of the shoujo manga by Maki Minami serialised in Hana to Yume, this series is directed by relative newcomer (as a director) Yoshikazu Miyao (previously a storyboarder and mechanical design specialist, though he had some director work in Ghost Slayers Ayashi), and I'm afraid they saved a lot of money on the animation and sound in this series. It's appropriate for ages 13+ due to mild fanservice.

It's not a very pretty show, and the animation is well below current average (it's a 2008 show), and with a good manga behind it, it's a disappointing outing. In particular, it felt like there were 4 people writing the material and not talking to each other. It's as if Gonzo expected it to sell and didn't have the money to do it right, or to work hard to keep the romance-shoujo fans happy. That being said, it's does have a good ending, and the seiyuu did a very creditable job, so it manages to be a decent series in the end.


Animation: Mostly average 2D animation, with very little cinematics. Action is flat. Facial movement is uninspired. Good backgrounds at times, horrible at others. No interaction with the scene, and it's mostly a talky mess. The color palatte tends toward the pastel, and it uses a lot of soft-focus, medium and close range shots to emphasize the characters.

I wish I could praise it, but the character design is the only adequate part of the animation, in my opinion. It should have been better. Not much action, and the frames are set in full light. Clothing does not drape, and hair does not move. Still frames abound, and reused backgrounds are evident. There is an evident use of super-deformation, perhaps at times inappropriately. Nope, it's not worth more than a 5, and that's a very low score for me.

Sound: The soundstage is fairly narrow, and the foley is not terribly immersive. The sound effects are generally adequate, but do not surprise. The comedy elements are telegraphed by the sounds & sfx. There is nothing exceptional about the technicals, meriting a 6 on technicals.

Seiyuu are up to the task, however, with the exceptional Jun Fukuyama (Lelouch in Geass, Watanuki in xxxHolic, etc) leading the voices as Kei Takishima. He is not given much to do by the writers, but he does it well. Paired with him in this high school romance is Yuku Goto as "Miss Number 2" Hikari Hanazono (previously heard as Mikuru Asahina in Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and Kaede Fuyou in Shuffle!), and her take on Hikari is both sweet and innocent, reminding me of Mikuru. The rest of the cast are equally interesting, and the best part of the sound, earning 8 for seiyuu.

Music: OP and ED are "Special Days" by Yuko Goto  (1st 12 eps) and #2: "Gorgeous 4U" by the seiyuuu Jun Fukuyama, Hiro Shimono, Tsubasa Yonaga, Kazuma Horie (eps 13-). The Ending Themes were "Hidamari no Gate (陽だまりのゲート)" by Jun Fukuyama, Hiro Shimono, Tsubasa Yonaga & Kazuma Horie and #2: "Special☆Gyutto Good luck! 「スペシャル☆ギュッとGood luck!」" by Yuko Goto, Hitomi Nabatame, Ayahi Takagaki (eps 13-). They are Jpop, and well montaged, and easy to sing along with, a 7 for music.

Overall, I'd give the sound a 7.



Story: Hikari Hanazono has known Kei since childhood, and always finished second to him. Secretly, Kei loves Hikari, but she sees him as a rival and childhood friend. Though everyone knows he likes her, she is clueless. They compete to be the top person in class, and she always comes in #2.  Now she attends Hakusenkan, an ultra-elite school, and Hikari and Kei are the top two students in the school, with Kei holding firmly to that number one position. The only question is, how will Kei and Hikari get together?


This has been done a ton: stoic and aloof pretty-boy loving from afar a clueless girl. It's a staple of shoujo romance. The comedy is a mixture of mistaken impressions, revealed identities, and other staples of comedy, and the romance is never fully developed. It's mostly an opportunity for odd things to happen to Hikari, with Kei being a stoic figure in the near-background. It really doesn't work as a romance, but it's funny as a comedy. The ending is cute and provides a good resolution.

I give this a 7 in my book, mostly because it works as a comedy, has an arced plot, and is not overly episodic.


Character: Don't look for a lot of character development, but it is there. The staples of shoujo are present, and the side-characters provide some nice side-story action. There are adequate moments of tension to justify calling it a romance, but it's mostly played for laughs. The side-characters were somewhat forgettable, or perhaps I got confused a bit because they looked alike. I can't say I fell in love with anyone, however, and that's a bad sign.

7 points for the average nature of the characters, and a wish they could find more money to animate the faces better.


Value and Enjoyment: I felt compelled to finish the series, but never bought the romance enough to look forward to the episodes. The series is light enough to be pleasant, but not captivating enough to qualify for DVD purchases. So, it's a 6 for value and 7 for enjoyment. I had to decide if I wanted to copy the episodes onto disc, and it was a close call.

Conclusion: Disappointing adaptation of a relatively good manga. Could have been much better. Moderately enjoyable time-waster but not much more to offer.